Few attend latest meeting Roosevelt meeting with turnaround company

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Updated: February 19, 2012 8:21AM

GARY — After disappointing turnout at several community meetings, EdisonLearning is redoubling its efforts to engage the public on the future of Roosevelt Career and Technical Academy.

Only a handful of people have turned out at the three meetings EdisonLearning has held at the W.E.B. DuBois branch of the Gary Public Library over the past month.

Senior Vice President of Educational Services Vanessa Ronketto said they’ve been working with local clergy and other community groups to get the word out about the meetings.

Ronketto and William Polite,
who is a vice president of development for EdisonLearning, said they plan
to hold a meeting at a local church
soon, as well as hand out fliers to residents of the neighborhoods around Roosevelt including the Delaney housing project.

Polite said he’s surprised at the lack of turnout especially after the passionate interest displayed at a September meeting at the school.

The next meetings at the library, 1835 Broadway, are scheduled for 4 p.m.
Jan. 31, 10:30 a.m. Feb. 14 and 4 p.m. Feb. 28.

EdisonLearning already has conducted more than 30 focus groups with various stakeholders — teachers, students, parents, administrators, janitors, security officers, clergy and other community members.

EdisonLearning is evaluating the struggling school in an effort to turn around its academic performance.

The district is in charge of the school this year, but starting next fall, the state’s chosen turnaround school operator will be in charge of the school and all of its operations for the next four years.

Ronketto said EdisonLearning hopes it will be chosen as operator, but until the state signs a contract with EdisonLearning, the company doesn’t want to assume it will.