school takeover

Democrat Gabrianna Gratzol, planning to challenge Republican Sen. Linda Rogers in the November elections, says action is needed to improve public schools but removing locally elected school board members in South Bend is not the answer.

Granger Republican State Sen. Linda Rogers Thursday filed a bill, effective July 1, to replace the elected South Bend Community Schools board with one appointed by the governor-appointed Indiana Secretary of Education.

The state board charged with overseeing Gary schools voted to extend its management contract with MGT Consulting Group while committing to focus on improving academics.

The state took over the Gary schools five years ago when the district was in dire financial trouble. Indiana lawmakers still don’t have a plan to return control to residents.

Indiana lawmakers are calling the budget they passed this legislative session "historic," largely because of the education funding included in it, but the…