Should the Miller neighborhood have its own school district separate from the Gary Community School Corporation? (Portage: transfer to)

[Northwest Indiana]

Miller group proposes setting up own school district

I have discussed this before on other threads how I feel that this would be a benefit for the Miller neighborhood and possibly help bring more young families with children back to the neighborhood (at some point). However, it seems that it is only now that this idea is really being proposed. I am actually surprised that the folks quoted in the article are not criticizing this idea and hearing it out.

Thoughts?

[cobra86]

While the Gary school system is a mess, I would say no as it would give a perception of the 'haves vs the have-nots'. If, a big IF, Miller were to secede from Gary than it would be obviously viable. Neither of which are likely to happen.

[Northwest Indiana]

Originally Posted by cobra86

While the Gary school system is a mess, I would say no as it would give a perception of the 'haves vs the have-nots'. If, a big IF, Miller were to secede from Gary than it would be obviously viable. Neither of which are likely to happen.

If Miller got its own school district, it would be in a more advantageous position to try to incorporate as its own municipality. As far as the "haves vs have nots", I understand the concern but Gary has been dealing with that with nearly every bordering school district.

[svillechris]

Originally Posted by cobra86

While the Gary school system is a mess, I would say no as it would give a perception of the 'haves vs the have-nots'. If, a big IF, Miller were to secede from Gary than it would be obviously viable. Neither of which are likely to happen.

Why hide from the fact that the Miller Beach folks are the "haves" of the City of Gary overall? It's the truth, and basing a decision on not wanting to create a certain perception of something that is true doesn't make much sense to me. I'm not sure of the mechanics behind how they'd make it all work, but if the Miller Beach residents find a way to do it and become independent from Gary Schools, more power to them.

It would be great for the property values for people who've stayed committed to their neighborhood when it would be easier to flee.

[Northwest Indiana]

Miller has always been more of a prosperous area of the city; however, the city also had the Ambridge Mann area right by the hospital as well as the Morningside subdivision in Glen Park as the "haves" areas. After Hatcher was elected and flight from the city sharply increased, many of the "haves" who still desired to stay in the city moved to Miller. And this was during a time when most of the schools were still open and residents were assigned to their neighborhood school (before No Child Left Behind where if one school in the district was failing, you were automatically permitted to transfer to another school in the district). To sum it up as far as high schools, kids from the westside went to West Side (after it was built) or Horace Mann, kids from Midtown went to Roosevelt, kids from Glen Park went to Lew Wallace, and kids in Miller went to Wirt. There was always the divisions by class and race (as far as Roosevelt goes). Shoot, Black Oak which was incorporated into the city against residents wishes still attend schools in Lake Ridge because they did not have to join GCSC. And that was 100% based on race because most of the Black Oak residents were "White Have Nots" whom had less than many of the Black families on the west side.

At this point, it is about making Miller a viable area again for more middle-income families with school-aged children. A lot more low-income housing just became available in Miller due to GHA's acquisition of Woodlake Village last year. Middle-income residents in Woodlake were forced to leave if they made over $30/35K annually and many of them moved OUT of Gary to Portage, Hobart, Valpo. So while Miller is still the most prosperous area of GI, there is probably more diversity in income than in the rest of the city.

[jvr789]

At this point anything that can help that area of NWI should be considered. You have to start somewhere and push out from there if successful. Gary is a failed school system. It's over. No need to weep if somebody wants to try to reorganize and make a portion of it better.

[Northwest Indiana]

It came down to either West Side or Wirt...and I think everyone knew that Wirt would be the school to close. The decision needs to be approved by DUAB on 3/2/18 but there is no indication that it would not be approved. Some implications are:

1. 20-30 min drive from Miller to West Side High School (depending on traffic)
2. Probably over an hour bus ride for students.
3. Same as above for Miller residents to get to Bailly Middle School.

This is needed but just sad. I can see Miller residents attempting to secede from Gary.

Gary's Wirt-Emerson school recommended for closure at end of school year