GARY | The Gary School Board overwhelmingly voted against renewing the contract of Superintendent Mary Steele-Agee.

Steele-Agee, who has been superintendent since May 2004, had a five-year contract which will expire June 30, 2009. Although the search has not yet begun, district leaders said they hope to have someone in place by July 1.

The vote was four in favor, two abstentions and one absent. School Board president Nellie Moore, along with members Ken Stalling, Marion Williams and Jesse Morris were in favor. Barbara Leek and Michael Scott abstained and board member Darren Washington was absent.

Gary School Board President Nellie Moore said Wednesday state law requires that superintendents be notified by Dec. 31 of the year in which their contract ends whether it will be extended or not. She said Steele-Agee was a Gary student and rose through the ranks, first serving as teacher, then building level administrator, district administrator and superintendent.

Moore said Steele-Agee will have the opportunity to go to any position she is certified to hold, including building level or teacher, but a decision has not yet been made.

"We respect the work and contributions the superintendent made to the district in her role," Moore said.

The district, which just announced a wide range of consolidation, reconfiguration and the closing of 12 schools over the next two years, has lost thousands of students to charter schools and nearby districts.

Moore said the district is looking for someone who has vision and can take the district beyond where it is today, advancing it academically and stabilizing the enrollment.

She said the district has not yet decided if it will hire a firm to search for a new candidate, but it will involve all of the stakeholders, including teachers and parents.