HAMMOND | Superintendent Walter Watkins learned a lesson during the four public forums on the merits of building a new high school in Hammond.

"School closings and consolidations are controversial issues, and they are near and dear to the hearts of people," Watkins said. "The board provided an opportunity for individuals in different sections of the city to state their issues, observations and concerns."

Hammond administrators are proceeding with plans to build a new structure to replace Hammond and Gavit high schools. Gavit would be reconfigured as a sixth- through eighth-grade middle school.

Funding for the new high school is locked in at $75.5 million, a figure determined during a state-mandated hearing in late 2001.

The board on Wednesday held the last of its forums to tell residents about the project and get their feedback. Those who spoke against the project cited taxes, location, timing, student performance and gang problems as reasons for not consolidating the two schools.

School Board member Becky Ward said the forums were "wonderful," but believed the people who were against the high school "were the same six all the time."

"The thing that most amazed me is that we have 14,000 students and in all four forums there were less than 200 people that came forth," said Ward, a Morton High School graduate. "As far as I am concerned, it is a silent majority that went for the high school."

Watkins spoke to the timing of the project.

"It wasn't a good time when the property tax debacle surfaced, and we'll hear that same statement if we wait two years or five years," Watkins said.

Of the problem with gangs, Watkins said he was "amazed that we should let the behavior of young people dictate the future of this community."

"What we need to do is work with the community, with parents, with police more steadfastly to address those issues," he said.

"Every kid is not in a gang, and all kids shouldn't be punished or denied the educational experiences they need because of a handful few who are in gangs."

With the decision to move forward, School Board members will meet with committee members for review after spring break, Watkins said.

The plans then will advance to the Department of Local Government Finance for a final decision.

"These are tough times and we're all aware of that, but in tough times, we have to make tough decisions," Watkins said. "We are ever mindful of the impact it will have on the larger community, but kids come first. That's our charge."