The private firm that manages the Gary Community School Corp. picked up a $100,000 state incentive award Wednesday for exceeding a graduation rate benchmark at the West Side Leadership Academy.

The state Distressed Unit Appeal Board unanimously approved the incentive award based on West Side’s 2023 graduation rate of 82.6%, up from 79% in 2022. Last year’s state rate was 89%.

MGT Consulting, a Florida-based company, is in the final months of a $7.8 million, two-year contract to operate the district that fell under state control in 2017. MGT has managed the district since 2017.

The state based its contract awards, in part, on the success of incentives such as financial, academic and operational improvements.

The latest incentive comes as school officials admit they’re struggling to improve daily attendance in Gary that’s at the bottom of the state.

Deputy manager Mavis Snelson said all Gary schools are below the district’s 90% goal. The middle and high school are the most concerning, she said. Attendance has suffered statewide since the coronavirus pandemic.

Gary hopes to turn around its attendance record with a $500,000 federal community engagement grant that runs through October 2028.

Snelson said the district recently hired a community engagement coordinator to work with parents and schools on attendance and truancy issues through research-based programs.

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.