The beleaguered School City of Hammond Superintendent Scott Miller is leaving the district to join the city as Mayor Tom McDermott’s Chief of Staff, the city and Miller announced Tuesday.
Miller, who’d been with SCH for 23 years in various capacities before landing the superintendent spot in 2019, replaces Phil Taillon, who took over the top spot at the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority in May. McDermott said in the announcement that Miller “wanted a change of scenery” and that he’s happy to have chosen Miller out of the “many” applicants for the job.
“Scott is a perfect fit for my administration, and I’m excited to have him as part of our team. He’s operated as an executive with the School City and he brings that experience with him to the city,” McDermott said in the release. “The School City’s loss is the City of Hammond’s gain.”
In an email he composed after the city made the announcement, Miller touted his accomplishments while acknowledging he’d become a polarizing figure for the schools.
“I’m incredibly grateful for all the relationships we’ve developed over the years and the friendships that have blossomed through our shared work,” Miller said. “The SCH family is one-of-a-kind and arguably the best part of school community. Though I’m moving on, I will always consider you family and friends.
“Leading through COVID, consolidating schools (three times) and the loss of a referendum has been a challenging experience. I am proud that through all of the attacks, I was able to maintain my integrity and still point us in a positive direction.”
McDermott also acknowledged Miller’s unpopularity but laid SCH’s financial difficulties on the voters who didn’t vote for the referendum in November.
Frank O’Bannon elementary school third-grade teacher Jennifer Young holds up a sign during a public Hammond School Board meeting on Tuesday, January 9, 2024. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune)
“Mr. Miller has recently endured much of the criticism over the announcement of the closure of several elementary schools and the potential layoffs of teachers and other personnel after the most recent referendum failed to pass. I’ve said it publicly and I will say it again: The referendum needed to be supported and the voters didn’t support it,” McDermott said.
“That’s how the supermajority has the process set up. If you want to keep your schools running in Indiana, you must pass funding referendums; when you don’t, bad things happen like laying off teachers and closing schools. That’s not Scott’s fault — it’s the fault of those that didn’t vote or didn’t support the referendum.
“I’m sure this unfair criticism is part of the reason Scott is becoming Chief of Staff and I’m happy he’s coming over.”
Miller said in the city’s release that he’ll do “everything in his power” to help the transition but his “focus will now shift to serving and supporting the City of Hammond.”
Miller, who received a $28,000 raise in 2022 when the School City of Hammond Board of Trustees renewed his contract, leaves behind a base salary of $178,000, according to Indiana Gateway, though OpenPayrolls listed his 2022 salary as $250,813.04 for 2022. Because he’s leaving of his own accord, SCH won’t need to buy out his contract, SCH Board of Trustees Spokeswoman Donna Petraits said.
Taillon, meanwhile, made $145,841.02 in 2023 according to Gateway.
School Board of Trustee President Lisa Miller said in a statement Wednesday that the board has accepted Miller’s resignation. She too acknowledged the difficulties Miller faced during his tenure.
“Mr. Miller has faced an incredibly difficult time in the history of our district. His cooperation with the school board in carrying out the hard decisions has tested him in ways I’m sure he never dreamed of when he was hired,” Lisa Miller said. “He has remained steadfast through it all and always prioritized what was best for our children. On behalf of the trustees, I thank him for his dedication and service to the School City of Hammond. We congratulate him and wish him great success in his new position.”
Miller is expected to start with the city in July, the city’s release said, but his start isn’t set in stone because the board needs to appoint an interim superintendent. Petraits said the board is currently interviewing candidates and hopes to announce the interim superintendent at its July 16 meeting.
As for the new superintendent, the board is discussing how it will proceed with the process, Petraits said. Whether the new hire will receive the same benefits, however, “remains to be seen,” she said.
Hammond Teachers Federation Local 394 President Lou Gikas didn’t return a request for comment.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
