Feb 13, 2008 - Three weeks ago one of the board members of the Gary School Board of Trustees was arrested for interfering with a police investigation after shots were fired outside a school where a board meeeting and class were in session. The board suspended the police officer for arresting the belligerent board member, Jesse Morris, who interfered with the investigation of gunplay outside a school.
Prior to the board suspension, Gary police Sgt. Anthony Titus was put on paid suspension while, as the Post-Tribune put it, "various officials close to Morris attempted to pressure Titus to rescind his complaint."
The arrest report states Morris interfered while Titus questioned one of the teens who had been dodging bullets outside the school building minutes before. As Titus asked Morris to leave the office, Morris allegedly flashed his Lake County deputy sheriff's commission and threatened to arrest Titus.The newspaper criticized their conduct.
Lake County police have the badge that Titus confiscated and are conducting an investigation to determine if Morris abused his authority.
Morris has the badge because he is a bailiff in Gary City Court, where he works in the drug court program.
Last night the board president apologized for any inappropriate conduct. Morris did not apolgize. He did, however, call for a contract settlement for the approximately 25 union members in the audience holding red signs with the statements such as "We'd love time to teach not test" "We'd love more support with student discipline" and "We'd love a contract settlement" printed inside hearts.
The union representative apologized that bad weather reduced the size of the teachers demonstration.
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ONLINE RESOURCES
Gary Community Schools Board of School Trustees site. You won't be surprised to learn there are no board minutes online, but there are links if you want to sell something to the district or find out what's currently up for bid.
FROM GREATSCHOOLS: There are nine high schools in the Gary Community School district. Of the five that could be rated by GreatSchools.net four of the schools rate 1 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being best.)
In Lew Wallace High School - Grade 9 testing
English/language arts percentage passing was 17%.
The state average is 66%.
In Math, 20% passed.
The state average is 70%.
There are 954 students.
Only 2% Hispanic
In Theodore Roosevelt High School - Grade 9
English/language arts percentage passing was 18%
In Math, 17% passed.
There are 937 students.
Less than 1% Hispanic
The other two high schools range between 23%-30% for English and about the same for math.
The school district pays $11,046 per student for this abysmal performance. (Statewide = $8,919 )
Make sure to visit the school district web site with the stock pictures of happy, smiling, beautiful children. And then ask yourself whether Oprah Winfrey will stop in Gary, Indiana on a her way to South Africa to tout her school in South Africa for underprivileged children - the girls only school.
When will it matter?
