[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6663100,"mediaKeyId","2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f","parentId",2391510,"title","Superintendent and trustees report takeaways from NSBA visit; board highlights instruction, opposing vouchers and balanced calendar","audioSeconds",866,"startMs",733000,"endMs",1599000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f&start=733&end=1599","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f/thumbnail_733000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6663100/Indiana/Superintendent-and-trustees-report-takeaways-from-NSBA-visit-board-highlights-instruction-opposing-vouchers-and-balanced-calendar","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663100-078ff5ce810ad1129a4db156a4afd225/orig.mp4?Expires=1776553281&Signature=KFH5rzzJm4jJpGjWDh6b~F59kL6im-kbTYoLwedbs3NCSvfdwB-SIMFEsbFm51o21V7230KJJMR1Tv64jGRK4GlHmSxFDwRzkKm9iAww1C5LGS6HAeDLklMm1LmEFr6Xwp1Fa5vbq09DsdSbt2F8KgUzY8gNCq15arOXITWE-XcFVVSjUhbVwsrdDPtPvoEwkqjKg4jeYR8LC1Fjng~RwEoXTXsMGh1Ml3ohENlYab6bxivsiAjzHgJ9BYLovIDw4UFPTb5EUdzSmc63RIvwvprPoT-6eYKEDdlYjowesH6XAjrjazA8mOI-RtIlhuK2D89sTcB5FZ6VooG2gcPp0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School City of East Chicago","date","2025-02-26T02:14:43.3Z","article","Superintendent Dr. Stevens Bonet and Dr. Leslie Yanders summarized takeaways from the National School Boards Association (NSBA) conference in Washington, D.C., and trustees described legislative advocacy and district priorities drawn from that trip.

Dr. Leslie Yanders told trustees the merged advocacy and equity institute covered federal policy developments, school choice and vouchers, students’ social-emotional learning (SEL), and strategies to close achievement gaps in math. Yanders said the NSBA urged boards to oppose vouchers, to prioritize investments in teachers, to strengthen Title I and CTE funding and to promote digital access and cybersecurity. “Opposing school vouchers” was repeatedly noted as an NSBA position in the presentation.

Yanders said one session focused on expanding algebra instruction earlier, recommending algebra exposure beginning in sixth grade to improve later high-school outcomes. Trustees discussed a balanced-calendar approach as one option to reduce learning loss and improve outcomes; Trustee Gomez said the board should continue conversation on a balanced calendar.

Trustee Rodriguez and others described meetings with Indiana legislators and U.S. congressional staff while at the Capitol. Trustee Rodriguez thanked the NSBA and the Indiana School Boards Association for advocacy work and noted that state and federal legislative proposals discussed at the meetings could affect district funding.

Why it matters: The NSBA presentation framed federal- and state-level threats and opportunities for public education — particularly proposals on vouchers and changes at the U.S. Department of Education — and offered district-level practices (earlier algebra, CTE expansion, SEL supports) the board may consider.

Next steps: Trustees said more discussion would follow at future meetings and during the district’s strategic-planning process. Superintendent’s office materials and action items from the NSBA presentation are available at the administration building, per the superintendent’s report.

Ending: Trustees and administrators described the trip as informative and urged continued advocacy; no formal policy change was adopted at the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular School Board Meeting - February 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","District leaders who attended the National School Boards Association conference described priorities including advocacy against school vouchers, expanding math access, earlier algebra, investments in teachers and exploring a balanced calendar; trustees said they will pursue follow-up locally and at the statehouse.","taxTitle","School City of East Chicago, School Boards, Indiana","taxId",46609,"location","Indiana","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6663105,"Votes at a glance: School City of East Chicago trustees approve calendar and technology items; NYCHA agreement tabled",40,4470000,4510000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f&start=4470&end=4510","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f/thumbnail_4470000.jpg","/articles/6663105/Indiana/Votes-at-a-glance-School-City-of-East-Chicago-trustees-approve-calendar-and-technology-items-NYCHA-agreement-tabled","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663105-1d76f13fb3ef0ebe17466663e7c6c791/orig.mp4?Expires=1776553280&Signature=JjR~wILPHrTMvvIBM3ScyaV9vs61S5Z3DOhJhTsxUfBU2t0u7ydYPrr4-MDuEXST14eo5tH3qoQol-CZbv~nsZmqkT4DBUQwey~kG8Mh8kWB5I~FLF3LafKv~1uR6IqA9Xm4aqo8hwPaHjivegAX7MDmxP3-V9RkdigeD0I5uEjR9ECXNHyfaCGYl0llHBboa~WqPgysqeQJLobUdfRf5bXFOHXLs-1do2TbRM0vroJZhbuz3n5EEK-YBkKmOFvsqujlSQjLW5~hSn-G2m1cCeZey3Krya7vJmlrL939v~6nLOZECGJwEDhHG-cJSKpx0qBBjcZXpALqmVYboyKLcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School City of East Chicago Board of School Trustees recorded several formal votes on Feb. 25. The following items were decided by roll call during the meeting.

• Approval of 2025–26 school calendar (agenda item 6.02): Motion passed by roll call; Trustees Gomez, Smith, Rodriguez, Taylor and President Gibson King voted yes (5–0). The board approved the district calendar for the 2025–26 school year.

• Approval of two-year hotspot contract for 2025–26 (agenda item 6.03): Motion passed by roll call; Trustees Gomez, Smith, Rodriguez, Taylor and President Gibson King voted yes (5–0). The board approved purchase/contracting for hotspot service for the district.

• NYCHA agreement for internet and wide-area-network services (agenda item 6.04): Trustee motion to table the item was approved by roll call. The board voted to table action on the NYCHA agreement; trustees who voted yes on the table included Gomez, Smith, Rodriguez, Taylor and President Gibson King (unanimous). The board did not take a final vote on the agreement and deferred further action.

• Network solutions for Lincoln Elementary access point (agenda item 6.05): Motion to approve passed by roll call; Trustees Gomez, Smith, Rodriguez, Taylor and President Gibson King voted yes (5–0). The board authorized network/access-point procurement for Lincoln Elementary.

• Consent agenda and related routine approvals: The consent agenda and other routine items were approved by roll call earlier in the meeting (recorded as approved). Specific consent items were not debated at length.

Why it matters: The approvals cover operational items — academic calendar, connectivity tools and school networking — that affect instruction, student access to digital resources and school scheduling. The NYCHA agreement was tabled, delaying a vendor arrangement for internet/wide-area-network services until the board receives more information.

Ending: Several operational items were approved without extended debate. The NYCHA agreement will return to the board for future consideration after additional information or clarification is provided.","At the Feb. 25 meeting trustees approved the 2025–26 school calendar and a two-year hotspot contract, approved a network solution for Lincoln Elementary, adopted the consent agenda, and tabled an agreement with NYCHA; roll-call tallies are listed for each action.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6663110,"Board approves personnel report amid public grievances and calls to table multiple items",548,3770000,4318000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f&start=3770&end=4318","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f/thumbnail_3770000.jpg","/articles/6663110/Indiana/Board-approves-personnel-report-amid-public-grievances-and-calls-to-table-multiple-items","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663110-90668a1684df312bedf6d7f706ed3ca2/orig.mp4?Expires=1776553280&Signature=N4OrqlxqauHvuyGXGMB~2HpFgDYViOZxBqi5gK64nXwjpdoSDkCzdrITX8wqZ5L9Yd5JdVNqUf5CqFqiYzkkvt2pbyA1anNqW8R6CE61Bqg6H-hOEdYgTEOkrsQ~kmA8CrbEVQvbTC12UMzsOAqFfS8QK0XWwrXrPxQrtGVNUcB69lINP~warfxXp0fRNtUWBrwn3G4wBzh1Th9IQ3QcUuglD~-56f38B~QwvGvgbHNK1cre8hcDAdF0V1konx98Di6eZ1eS5tr4yPwmPXxjvtwtgoyj-8DcdOJroIe9GxRNfEMpkf6vW8E1pMpgGjzyfa~vRADIuuyZHs142ktrHQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Trustees approved the personnel report during the Feb. 25 meeting after a public commenter asked the board to table several line items that the commenter said were subject to grievances or to contract posting requirements.

A community speaker who identified himself as Mr. Castillo asked the board to table line item No. 8 because he said an involuntary transfer had advanced to pre-arbitration. He also requested that line items Nos. 4, 5, 6 and 7 and Nos. 9 and 10 be tabled because those positions are union-held and, he said, the collective bargaining agreement with SEIU Local 73 requires postings for 14 calendar days to allow seniority bidding. He cited “article 6, section 1 and 2” of the contract.

During board discussion, Trustee Gomez asked the district attorney to address the claims. Attorney McCain (board counsel) said he had not previously heard of these specific grievances and would need to study them. Human-resources personnel (Dr. McJackins/McJunkin — recorded in the transcript with variant spellings) responded that the full-time custodian positions were posted internally and that Mr. Castillo had applied. Chief Finance Officer Mrs. Simmons also confirmed administration had been involved in the process.

Trustee Smith moved to pull the disputed personnel items pending HR clarification; that motion was later withdrawn. After further discussion and public comment, the board took a roll-call vote on the personnel report. The roll call recorded Trustee Gomez and Trustee Rodriguez as voting no and Trustee Smith, Trustee Taylor and President Gibson King voting yes; the personnel report passed by a 3–2 vote.

Why it matters: Public commenters alleged the administration had not complied with the SEIU Local 73 collective bargaining agreement’s posting requirements, and they asked the board to delay action while grievances advanced. The board did not table the overall personnel report but heard the grievance claim and asked HR and counsel to follow up.

Clarifications and next steps: Board counsel said he would review the grievances and advise the board. HR stated that at least some positions had been posted internally and that the most senior applicant had been selected for at least one listed position; the board requested additional clarity from HR. The board did not specify which individual assignments in the personnel report would be re-opened for further action.

Ending: The personnel report was adopted 3–2. Trustees asked for follow-up from counsel and HR to clarify the posting process and any outstanding grievance matters.","Trustees approved the personnel report after public comment urging that several line items be tabled because of pending grievances and a claimed violation of the SEIU Local 73 collective bargaining agreement; the board voted 3–2 to adopt the personnel report after debate and requests for additional HR clarity.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6663114,"School City of East Chicago approves $6.5 million bond for HVAC upgrades",1202,3506000,4708000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f&start=3506&end=4708","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2391510-091689380920733044b78a7bc0de8a3f/thumbnail_3506000.jpg","/articles/6663114/Indiana/School-City-of-East-Chicago-approves-65-million-bond-for-HVAC-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6663114-244accaf290d350d2d79d409bdbad5e0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776553280&Signature=iU5a-vtwJTtuxKUmzOTKsBDMV9mdZKxd-HxfE44ebMGEoonQoYFmNG-Qbh7rVyqupUuZmpi1NjHk301fttMmuzxTwGk-p0zf86siQ6ljtwbNYH6h0qaGC0wtnJ5cNZwpgR4ZGX0Vif91Uo9niONxqtJB7DZjBBigLsWYjKNAUQeZmiyMdSCz5i5h3azAWWjm9M2Ev03K7DQ03REqHWkFxNDukN8nKc0nCEA5y2qYlowCIsycnPs0PdUBYmWXQGxOoglk6nSi1isjN-uePqjj6y5nrcGYgLFMoXM-JXMrftvsZN9XEuudsLYiTdYRifteaJLwimQPlRYatyfUe3JzGw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School City of East Chicago Board of School Trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a 2025 bond package that will allow the district to issue $6,500,000 in general-obligation bonds to finance heating, ventilation and air-conditioning upgrades.

The measure was introduced under new business as agenda item 6.06. Bond counsel James Shanahan of Taft Law told the board the interest on the bonds “are exempt from income tax,” a feature that provides lower borrowing costs. Shanahan said the plan contemplates maturities of roughly five to seven years and that the issuance is intended to be tax-rate neutral — timed so new debt will replace existing debt as it falls off the district’s tax rolls.

Board President Gibson King asked for public comment during the required hearing; no members of the public addressed the bond after the presentation. Trustee motions to approve were seconded and the board approved the bundled resolutions that (1) set project parameters under state law, (2) authorize bond issuance, and (3) appropriate proceeds for spending.

Why it matters: The district said the bonds will pay for “much needed HVAC improvements” at district schools. Board members and bond counsel framed the financing as the most cost-effective borrowing option available because of the tax-exempt status. Bond counsel also noted the district last pursued similar financing in 2023.

Details and next steps: Attorney Shanahan said one resolution in the package sets statutory parameters for the projects, a second authorizes issuance of the bonds and the third appropriates proceeds so the district can spend the money once received. The board adopted all three resolutions in a single vote.

No implementation schedule or construction timeline was specified at the meeting. The board did not attach any additional conditions to the appropriation during the vote.

Ending: With the board’s adoption, district staff may proceed with closing steps for the bond issuance and later bring back any required contracting or appropriation details for specific projects. The board did not set a separate timeline for project bidding or completion during the meeting.","The School City of East Chicago approved a $6.5 million general-obligation bond resolution to fund HVAC improvements across district schools; bond counsel said the debt will be tax-exempt, 5–7 year maturities and tax-rate neutral.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Superintendent and trustees report takeaways from NSBA visit; board highlights instruction, opposing vouchers and balanced calendar

Votes at a glance: School City of East Chicago trustees approve calendar and technology items; NYCHA agreement tabled

Board approves personnel report amid public grievances and calls to table multiple items

School City of East Chicago approves $6.5 million bond for HVAC upgrades