‘Excessive call-offs’ prompt closure of all Hammond schools

BJ Lutz
·2 min read

HAMMOND, Ind. — All Hammond schools were abruptly closed Wednesday “due to excessive call-offs,” district officials said in a statement posted to Facebook.

“School City of Hammond is unable to safely staff our buildings today … There will be no eLearning and the day will be made up at a future date,” the statement said.

The absences of nearly half of the district’s 685 teachers appears to be in response to the district’s Tuesday night approval of a consolidation plan that will see the closure of Lew Wallace School, Morton Elementary School and Kenwood Elementary School in a cost-saving move.

The closures will save the Northwest Indiana community around $5.6 million, according to Supt. Scott Miller, a report in the Northwest Indiana Times said. Trustees OK’d the move in a three-to-two vote following a contentious meeting with citizens.

Mayor Thomas McDermott blamed state lawmakers and the governor for the district’s funding problems and reminded that he and the city council have no control or influence over the school board under Indiana law.

“Please direct your anger and frustrations at yesterday’s decision to the people that made the decision, not at my staff,” he said in a statement. “There is no reason to yell and scream at people that have NOTHING WHATSOEVER to do with yesterday’s decision.”

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The more than 1,100 elementary school students impacted by the closures will be notified in the coming weeks of which school they’ll attend in the fall, the report said.

Instead of classes, Wallace and Morton schools will primarily be used for early childhood services, according to the report. Kenwood Elementary will mostly be used for storage, the passed resolution said.

The Times report details the district’s financial situation that has already prompted layoffs and a cut to transportation services. The district has closed five other schools in the past five years.

About 100 parents, teachers and members from SEIU Local 73 gathered in protest to the planned closure prior to Tuesday’s vote, the Times reported.

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