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Parents and community members ask for clearer tax explanations and raise IEP communication concerns at Hammond board meeting
Summary
During two public-comment periods on May 26, residents urged fiscal restraint, asked for clearer public education about county versus district tax impacts, and a parent said she has exhausted district channels seeking resolution for her child’s IEP concerns.
Speakers during two public-comment periods asked the board to clarify budget choices and improve community outreach.
Mary Ellen Slaysac told trustees she was alarmed by the red numbers in the financial pages and urged the district to “learn to do it less” when budgets shrink, advising the board to use internal staff rather than relying on outside consultants. Dr. Michaela Spangenberg of the Gary Education Coalition thanked the district for conservative budgeting and urged public education explaining how county-level actions (she cited a recent county overdraft issue) differ from the district’s responsibilities; she asked the district to widely publicize hearings and provide another opportunity for in-person input so parents and community members can participate.
In the second comment session, Kelly Evans, a parent at Hammond Central, said she has reached out to multiple district contacts about her daughter’s special-education services and IEP and has not received returned calls; staff apologized and the superintendent invited the parent to remain after the meeting to follow up.
Board members acknowledged the comments; the superintendent and finance presenter said the district will prepare explanatory materials about circuit breakers and tax credits to help residents interpret their county tax bills and district reports.
