The Special School Board Meeting held by the School City of East Chicago on November 7, 2024, focused primarily on discussions regarding teacher salaries and compensation structures. The meeting highlighted the need for competitive pay to attract and retain quality educators in the district.

During the meeting, Miss Tymek presented last year's salary ranges, revealing a minimum certified salary of $47,500 and a maximum of $81,920. The board discussed the implications of a new contract that would increase the overall compensation by approximately $650,000 compared to the previous year. This increase includes $1500 stipends for teachers and adjustments to the salary schedule, which has not been updated since 2012 due to changes in bargaining rights.

Trustee Rodriguez raised concerns about the competitiveness of the district's salaries compared to neighboring areas. Current starting salaries in nearby districts range from $49,000 to $56,000, indicating that East Chicago is striving to improve its position. The board confirmed that the new contract would ensure a minimum base salary of $50,000 for certified teachers, reflecting a 5% increase from the previous minimum.

Additionally, discussions touched on extracurricular activity (ECA) stipends and coaching salaries, which have not seen increases in several years. The board acknowledged that while some ECA stipends were adjusted in the past, they still lag behind those offered by other districts.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further evaluate and enhance compensation structures to ensure that East Chicago remains competitive in attracting and retaining educators. The board's next steps will involve finalizing the personnel report and continuing discussions on salary adjustments.