Cindy Murphy

School City of Hammond appears to have stabilized its finances, but the school board has fired the chief financial officer who oversaw that process.

"This is a start, and that's what I want to make sure the community knows — that limited funding allows us to start this. As more funds are available, we can identify more areas," said Interim Superintendent Dr. Brent Wilson.

"It is not illegal because it's a supplemental payment," School Attorney Monica Conrad said. "Supplemental payments do not need to be negotiated."

"I've been on this board five years, and for five years, we have accepted the low increments of increasing in our kids' education," said school board member Carlotta Blake-King. "We have accepted it."

Chief Financial Officer Eric Kurtz wants to know specifically what fraud is being suspected, when it allegedly happened, which funds were believed to be involved and any other possible evidence, according to an email read during Tuesday's school board work session.

Staffing cuts continue at School City of Hammond.

As the School City of Hammond prepares to close schools and lay off staff, the stalemate over its teacher contract may be nearing an end.

Hammond School Board members may look at making another attempt at renewing the district's operating referendum, but they also wonder how much good it would do to fix its financial problems.

The stalemate over the Hammond teachers contract is becoming a stalemate over the school calendar. The school board tabled the proposed 2024-2025 calendar for the second time Tuesday, after members of the Hammond Teachers Federation complained that they weren't part of the process.

The Hammond School Board on Tuesday debated whether to continue outsourcing substitute teaching positions. School City of Hammond has paid Kelly Services almost $4.5 million dollars since 2022 to provide subs.