Ind. Code ch. 20-23-12.1

in effect

Ind. Code § 20-23-12.1-0.5 Purpose

Sec. 0.5. The general assembly recognizes the following: (1) The Gary Community School Corporation has achieved financial and operational stability. (2) The Gary Community School Corporation is expected to meet the conditions for termination of distressed status in the near future. (3) The Gary Community School Corporation no longer requires special state oversight by the distressed unit appeal board. (4) That it is appropriate to transition to a new governing body. (5) The state should continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of the governance structure. As added by P.L.184-2023, SEC.42.

Ind. Code § 20-23-12.1-1 "School corporation"

Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "school corporation" means the Gary Community School Corporation. As added by P.L.184-2023, SEC.42.

Ind. Code § 20-23-12.1-2 Gary community school corporation governing body; appointment; terms and expiration; chairperson

Sec. 2. (a) The governing body of the Gary Community School Corporation consists of the following five (5) members: (1) One (1) member appointed by the executive of the city of Gary. The member appointed under this subdivision must reside within the boundaries of the Gary Community School Corporation. (2) One (1) member appointed by the common council of the city of Gary. The member appointed under this subdivision must reside within the boundaries of the Gary Community School Corporation. (3) Three (3) members appointed by the secretary of education. Of the members appointed under this subdivision: (A) at least one (1) member must reside within the boundaries of the Gary Community School Corporation; and (B) at least one (1) member (in addition to the member described in clause (A)) must reside in Lake County. In appointing members under this subdivision, the secretary of education may consider whether a candidate has experience and expertise in kindergarten through grade 12 education, financial management, career development, or higher education. (b) The initial members appointed under subsection (a) shall serve staggered terms beginning July 1, 2023, as follows: (1) The initial member appointed under subsection (a)(1) must be appointed for one (1) year. (2) The initial member appointed under subsection (a)(2) must be appointed for two (2) years. (3) Two (2) of the initial members appointed under subsection (a)(3) must be appointed for one (1) year. (4) One (1) of the initial members appointed under subsection (a)(3), who is not appointed to an initial term described in subdivision (3), must be appointed for two (2) years. (c) A member's term expires June 30 in the applicable year of expiration. Thereafter, subject to subsection (d), each member shall serve for a term of two (2) years. A member appointed under subsection (a) may be reappointed to an unlimited number of successive terms. (d) A member of the governing body serves at the pleasure of the appointing authority of the member. Vacancies in the appointments to the governing body shall be filled by the original appointing authority in accordance with the term requirements established in this section. An appointed member serves for the remainder of an unexpired term. (e) The chairperson of the governing body shall be appointed by the secretary of education from the members appointed under subsection (a). As added by P.L.184-2023, SEC.42.

Ind. Code § 20-23-12.1-3 Gary community school corporation governing body; advisory capacity; selection of superintendent or executive leader; library board voting

Sec. 3. (a) The governing body appointed under section 2 of this chapter shall serve in an advisory capacity to the distressed unit appeal board and the emergency manager appointed by the distressed unit appeal board under IC 6-1.1-20.3, until the later of: (1) July 1, 2024; or (2) a date on which the school corporation's status as a distressed political subdivision is terminated. (b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the governing body appointed under section 2 of this chapter may select a superintendent or executive leader for the school corporation whose employment would begin on the later of: (1) July 1, 2024; or (2) a date on which the school corporation's status as a distressed political subdivision is terminated. (c) Notwithstanding subsection (a), the governing body appointed under section 2 of this chapter may vote to make the appointments to the library board under IC 36-12-2-9(3). As added by P.L.184-2023, SEC.42.

Ind. Code § 20-23-12.1-4 Gary community school corporation governing body; powers and duties; annual budgeting

Sec. 4. (a) On the later of: (1) July 1, 2024; or (2) the date on which the school corporation's status as a distressed political subdivision is terminated; the governing body appointed under section 2 of this chapter assumes all the powers, rights, duties, and obligations of a community school corporation as set forth in IC 20-23-4-26. (b) For the purposes of annual budgeting, IC 6-1.1-17-20 does not apply to the governing body. The governing body is considered a governing body with the majority of members elected for the purposes of annual budgeting. As added by P.L.184-2023, SEC.42.

Ind. Code § 20-23-12.1-5 Gary community school corporation governing body; submission of financial position and operation report to distressed unit appeal board

Sec. 5. Not later than October 31, 2025, and each October 31 thereafter, the governing body shall submit to the distressed unit appeal board a report summarizing the financial position and operations of the school corporation for the previous state fiscal year. The report shall include any additional information requested by the distressed unit appeal board and be in the form specified by the distressed unit appeal board. As added by P.L.184-2023, SEC.42.

Ind. Code § 20-23-12.1-6 Gary community school corporation governing body; submission of report to distressed unit appeal board and budget committee

Sec. 6. Before July 1, 2026, the governing body shall also submit a report to the distressed unit appeal board and the budget committee. The report required by this section must address each of the following topics: (1) Finances. (2) Operations. (3) Academics. (4) The effectiveness of the governance structure. The distressed unit appeal board shall present the topics addressed by the report to the budget committee before November 1, 2026. As added by P.L.184-2023, SEC.42.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://iga.in.gov/laws/2026/ic/titles/20Fetched: 10/17/2026