Lisa Miller resigned from Hammond school board
Miller steps down from Hammond Board of School Trustees
Contributed By: The 411 News
Surprise resignation comes with 4 months remaining in office
Lisa Miller, president of the School City of Hammond Board of School Trustees has resigned.
Miller’s resignation is effective immediately, Donna Petraits, Communications Consultant for the district said in an email statement Tuesday.
The announcement comes as a surprise with only 4 months remaining in Miller’s term. She was not seeking re-election.
Miller was appointed to the Board when Trustee Marilyn Jones resigned in 2018, then won a full term in 2020. She served as vice president in 2021 and 2022 and in 2023 she became Board president.
“Miller served the district through some of the most challenging times in SCH history,” the statement said. “And while she cited the continued Board dysfunction as her primary reason for stepping away, she sees the recent approval of the cost containment plan and rising fund balances as positives for the future of the district.”
That ‘board dysfunction’ was on full display at public meetings with decision making often moving at a snail’s pace.
The 5-member board voted in 2 blocs. On one side, president Miller, vice president Cindy Murphy, and secretary Manny Candelaria; the other side Carlotta Blake-King and Kelly Spencer.
Blake-King often criticized school superintendent Scott Miller and board president Miller. The two are not related.
Away from the confines of the board, Blake-King called for superintendent Miller’s resignation.
Lisa Miller’s resignation may also be an indirect consequence of the $30 million cost containment plan as was the resignation of school superintendent Scott Miller in early July. Scott Miller was replaced by Interim Superintendent Brent Williams in August.
The cost containment plan was mandated by Indiana’s Distressed Unit Appeal Board when it found the district’s revenues could not sustain its operations.
Trustee Cindy Murphy will take over as Board President. Murphy is on November’s ballot for another 4-year term.
The Board will have 30 days to select another Board member to replace Miller.
Individuals with an interest should submit a notice in writing to Ana Lopez, executive assistant to the superintendent, at the district offices at 41 Williams St. or online at amlopez@hammond.k12.in.us.
Story Posted:09/04/2024
|
