Lew Wallace High could face wrecking ball

Battered Gary Lew Wallace High School, closed since 2014 and vandalized repeatedly, will likely be demolished next year.

Recently, the school was the backdrop for a raunchy YouTube video that depicted young men running naked through the school, lighting fireworks and using a stun gun on each other. They entered the school with backpacks intending to spend 24 hours inside, according to the video.

School officials maintain shuttered schools have security, but the young men said in their video they spent 17 hours inside the school without disruption before departing. Gary police are investigating the incident and Cmdr. Jack Hamady said Friday they were working to file charges.

Eric Parish, an official with MGT Consulting which manages the Gary Community School Corp., told the Distressed Unit Appeal Board on Thursday that Lew Wallace attracts the most 911 calls, per authorities.

He said about $1 million in a school improvement fund made possible through deferred state loan funds, will be used for the demolition.

School officials also provided an update on the sale of other vacant schools.

Lead manager Paige McNulty said “sold” signs will be going up soon on 20 buildings.

“We did have 32 properties and now we’re down to 12,” she said. “We are going to be closing on some properties in the near future.”

Specific schools being sold weren’t identified.

McNulty said security is a constant struggle. “As quickly as I can board those buildings up, the boards come down.” She said security has been increased and cameras are being used. She’s spoken with Mayor Jerome Prince and authorities concerning the vandalism incidents.

Despite security, many of the schools have broken windows or doors offering easy entry and grounds are littered with debris and weeds.

Named for Indiana-born author and Civil War General Lew Wallace who wrote Ben Hur, Lew Wallace was built in 1926 and served as the cornerstone of the Glen Park community.

The Gary School Board hastily voted to close Lew Wallace in 2014 along with five other schools as the district faced mounting debt and a shrinking enrollment. Earlier, it appeared the venerable school would be spared. The closing of six schools left 2,200 Gary students in search of a new school and many turned to charters, which have outpaced the school district in enrollment.

There were just 101 graduates at Lew Wallace’s final graduation in June 2014. Despite a $6 million infusion of federal improvement money, the school couldn’t shake its “F” grade status with the Indiana Department of Education.

Lew Wallace graduates include John Bushemi, a Post-Tribune photographer who was killed in action while serving as an Army photojournalist in the Pacific during World War 2.

Other graduates include Mayor Jerome Prince, NFL coach Hank Stram, former Duke University basketball coach Vic Bubas and NBA players Branden Dawson and Tellis Frank.

Lew Wallace also boasted three sisters who hold 15 state championship track medals in hurdles, sprints and relay events. They led Lew Wallace to three state track championships.

Sariyu Shittu-Suggs, Kimberly Shittu and Lutisha Shittu were inducted in the Indiana Track and Cross County Hall of Fame.