Cindy Murphy

Outsourcing substitute teaching has helped the School City of Hammond increase fill rates, but the school board president wants more specifics if that arrangement is going to continue.

"I'm appealing to the board to allow the union stewards and management to sit down and have a discussion about bringing some custodians back," said Service Employees International Union steward Larry Hardy.

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.