Leaders discuss saving Gary schools with state senators

GARY, Ind. (AP) - Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson and other leaders have met with two key state senators to discuss how to keep the Gary Community School Corp. afloat financially after voters rejected a general fund referendum for the second time in 18 months.

Retired Sen. Earline Rogers of East Chicago and Sen.-elect Eddie Melton of Gary also attended the meetings Thursday with Senate Appropriations Chairman Luke Kenley, R-Noblesville, and Sen. Karen Tallian of Portage, the ranking Democrat on the Appropriations Committee.

Kenley told The (Northwest Indiana) Times (http://bit.ly/2fLx1MF ) on Friday that lawmakers need to get the school district out of debt and the district needs find stability in its programming and long-term direction.

Voters Tuesday rejected a tax levy that would have raised about $8.7 million annually for seven years.

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Information from: The Times, http://www.nwitimes.com