Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, speaks during the Gary Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee forum at Ivy Tech in Gary, Ind. Thursday July 11, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

Harold Jones of D.A.D.S. asks keynote speaker Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, (not visible) about monetary expenses during the Gary Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee forum at Ivy Tech in Gary, Ind. Thursday July 11, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, (right) takes audience questions as Chuck Hughes, Gary Chamber of Commerce executive director, listens during the Gary Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee forum at Ivy Tech in Gary, Ind. Thursday July 11, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

New Gary School Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt (left) talks with Joyce Miles, president of Special Nees PTA of Northwest Indiana, (right) after Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, spoke during the Gary Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee forum at Ivy Tech in Gary, Ind. Thursday July 11, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

Chancellor William Lowe (center) listens as Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, speaks during the Gary Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee forum at Ivy Tech in Gary, Ind. Thursday July 11, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media

Bill Hill, (from left) Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, Gary Schools Superintendent Cheryl Pruitt, and Barbara Leek of the Gary School board, listen as Tony Bennett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, speaks during the Gary Chamber of Commerce's Education Committee forum at Ivy Tech in Gary, Ind. Thursday July 11, 2012. | Stephanie Dowell~Sun-Times Media