[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6640089,"mediaKeyId","2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533","parentId",2556361,"title","Board approves personnel report with one trustee dissenting over confidentiality","audioSeconds",350,"startMs",2090000,"endMs",2440000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533&start=2090&end=2440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533/thumbnail_2090000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6640089/Indiana/Board-approves-personnel-report-with-one-trustee-dissenting-over-confidentiality","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640089-53de3dce7167c3b36e5011ae5746f5a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156289&Signature=IdKy8CtAUnqkY04u2rflIZtU9fWIh2HNvn9ZNsumh9Klkt918FZ5FNTEEDt7igPlEipLEIQfdwj7jPNRVTGRASwgdAOSXcNaJtWOpJTDuORHDAnOhtdykL1se7KPLYSJ8k5hAf3GmJsA8mt0WWLBN5L3GvdapRG7G-6xE1KsPAUD-b9RUFGv3Hyin-fQzQuF8x0ZWy7tNGNiwqSjdvi8gS6F3Uh1miaHSpWATuHGHxk6e-Z8hiNHjuT~TuS2nKCJX17a8fJKFiDt5Xg9FO-9wx4xEKIUsvGdOWPMG7QB4ZWd~2xI9ZmGjVVQ50P7VbHgmcmLGAY0jScwegnh6o-NLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","School City of East Chicago","date","2025-03-12T01:15:09.127Z","article","The School City of East Chicago board voted on March 11 to approve the personnel report with one item (Item 4 under terminations) tabled at the superintendent’s request. The motion to approve the personnel report as amended was made by Trustee Joel Rodriguez and seconded by Trustee Diane Smith. The roll call vote was 4‑1, with Trustee Gomez voting no.

Trustee Gomez said the personnel report was stamped confidential and urged greater transparency: “We're a public entity. We serve the public and we're, in my opinion, hiding behind the public with a confidential personnel report,” Gomez said, adding that the public was being asked to comment on a document they could not see.

Superintendent Dr. Bourne requested that Item 4 be tabled; trustees approved the personnel report with that exception. Board members and the superintendent did not disclose the confidential personnel details during public session; the meeting record shows the specific item was tabled but does not include the contents of the confidential material.

Trustees who voted in favor said the motion approved the personnel report as amended for the public record, while the dissent registered by Trustee Gomez was entered for the minutes.

The board did not change its practice during the meeting; Trustee Gomez called for publication of the personnel report to improve transparency, and trustees agreed to continue working on how to manage sensitive personnel information while meeting ethical and legal obligations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular School Board Meeting - March 11, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Trustees voted to approve the personnel report as amended and tabled one termination item; Trustee Gomez voted no and objected that the personnel document was labeled confidential and not available to the public.","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},6640094,"East Chicago shifts secondary start times to add 30 minutes for social‑emotional learning; teachers' workday unchanged",212,3666000,3878000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533&start=3666&end=3878","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533/thumbnail_3666000.jpg","/articles/6640094/Indiana/East-Chicago-shifts-secondary-start-times-to-add-30-minutes-for-socialemotional-learning-teachers-workday-unchanged","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640094-d7c9caa249741205bf277592d2138899/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156289&Signature=kumAEeoZR6uxXiVIkaS4XkcZgBJy9qmWqcOJ0vq6T7DKJ1ShsPZoS6aBeCJ8HBcxrCK9ocXU~f3fWFRAgBkJj9K6i9Z64DjAnSYxrKElacPQg8mOFq6UCTeJtzU0RJcbHkJp5KUyCmzz6x5mEOyXUgoy7wufBoP9DgrFh8nYQzZhh7V-2s-~VGu8QO7NkHd3KKya9rTa171COPtAPZX7SsXlbABLCqrzYMqWrhgAroZ9Ak0qoU-4i9BaCcrmMYpqX23L3QKlJULNUGPy8fi5B6DWn8Rbs3u-PWSxorUSU-BvDJsbw3Khhv9MCcSzNapb8IIzkIvOW6x9hi7ZHF-UXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School City of East Chicago board on March 11 approved new start times for middle and high schools that add 30 minutes to the student day to provide expanded social‑emotional learning (SEL).

Trustee Diane Smith moved to approve item 5.04; Trustee Joel Rodriguez seconded. Trustees voted 5‑0 in favor.

Superintendent Dr. Bourne explained the change affects student start times at secondary schools and creates a 30‑minute increase in instructional time that will be used for SEL: “A 30 minute increase will be used to provide SEL, social emotional learning, as part of school day embedded,” the superintendent said. Board members and staff clarified that teachers’ workdays will not be lengthened — the district said teacher start times had been shifted in prior years and that existing professional learning communities and planning time will be adjusted to accommodate the new schedule without additional compensation.

Trustees asked about cost and scheduling impacts. The district said there will be no additional cost because staff schedules have been realigned rather than extended. The recommendation — originally developed by the Keller committee and informed by staff feedback — was described as a response to requests for more morning preparation time for teachers and dedicated SEL time for students.

The board voted to adopt the new start times; staff said specific bell schedules and operational details would be implemented at the school level.","Board approved a change to middle‑ and high‑school start times to add 30 minutes of school‑day time for social‑emotional learning; the district said teachers’ contracted work day is not being extended and there will be no additional cost.",{"_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},6640098,"Board approves revised E‑Rate internet agreement after arbitration clause removed",180,3600000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533&start=3600&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533/thumbnail_3600000.jpg","/articles/6640098/Indiana/Board-approves-revised-ERate-internet-agreement-after-arbitration-clause-removed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640098-59e6e06a7088ae7e7ca21f4300257fdd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156289&Signature=XhK1OSu3qN2HGMJVC4NLkvBscUJONxXD3WOJ8lk5opO0f7qKADxXNO-HoHhJkXvQrhfGmMLznRZCfYOiQl3PLnJDwCY5yRWdLL7buh5sXNq-RsYqYbi6u8y7RqvQi84f02hyk6yJWkBVk1MQpM6GI6evcy49Om8sjNCF~COSlU273libtvw4ptnBIzAKbhCY7cZ~vRtfVx6zxKNIpfs~t3y4bz7bi5CAxvEPRfuNJ2YsOkFQmsOuYAoVEnYgVC18uJlFJJqcqQz0Ir16yBUdyQ~mKQEyMHqku0JZUJBm1p9FNlsDnHb3S4DsE8v2syrGu60n5ynQ7rYNXLZg3zoShg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School City of East Chicago board voted unanimously March 11 to approve an updated E‑Rate wide‑area internet agreement after the district’s counsel reported successful negotiations removed an arbitration requirement and improved termination provisions.

Attorney Drew Harris told trustees the district had requested changes and received agreement from the vendor’s attorney: “The primary change was to remove the arbitration requirement,” Harris said, adding that other timing and notice provisions were revised to be more favorable to the district. He recommended approval of the version presented to the board.

Trustee Joel Rodriguez made the motion to approve item 5.03; Trustee Diane Smith seconded. The roll call vote was 5‑0 in favor.

Board members confirmed the changes had been negotiated with the vendor’s counsel and that the current document reflected the agreed‑upon revisions. No further substantive debate occurred at the meeting.","The board approved item 5.03 after district counsel said negotiations eliminated a binding arbitration requirement and improved termination‑notice terms; the vote was unanimous.",{"_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},6640103,"Board approves MOU with workforce nonprofit to develop Carrie Gosch 'Opportunity Collaborative'",1255,2327000,3582000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533&start=2327&end=3582","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533/thumbnail_2327000.jpg","/articles/6640103/Indiana/Board-approves-MOU-with-workforce-nonprofit-to-develop-Carrie-Gosch-Opportunity-Collaborative","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640103-b5dad4f25e67c9a829d4be54c76bf419/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156289&Signature=aMGYof5Oa82eF001c4-7XN-OfHRiSVgQZdry5U0Z23mHruFvJs7QcRI~iSzX71cROjaywIBZBrCySZYN5R0mQIikl5A09TbB4ngStpCs3T-n33W~LoKrZ9yJ46W3BnMU~tEvNrwThykyxt12GcVrUCM4glQ-zVRChkcvsm7uJ~L~lYtls7IQTRJqz-AsYZmNo3P2TOCF~238dDBEuzP85ajZSjiEAWx5cWaMxMkehgc7mQ2W56pEQk2MLqC6TWKb8y0IKaCCVeEU7BdOs~CNcmn8x1Hs~Nab~pizR82LeRx4CWFuP7BFJP7hl-2fG4Cbt1OYnE~TW~UIC6FiutUMAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The School City of East Chicago board voted unanimously on March 11 to approve an MOU with Career/Workforce Innovation partners to advance planning for an “Opportunity Collaborative” at the Carrie Gosch facility, a workforce and community hub presented by regional nonprofit NWI Works.

Trustee Joel Rodriguez made the motion to approve item 5.02; Trustee Jesse Gomez seconded and the roll call vote was 5‑0 in favor.

A representative for NWI Works and a consultant from Insight Strategic Concepts told the board they are moving toward a phase‑1 environmental study and a full building assessment to inform capital needs and programming. The presenters said they have budgeted an initial $6,000,000 for rearranging and outfitting the building, and that the overall project budget could exceed $9,000,000. They described major prospective tenants and services to be co‑located, including employer‑driven adult training, unified case management and wraparound services for families.

“We have just, we're in the process of ordering a phase 1 environmental on the property, so that we can meet the requirements of many of the tenants who would be within the facility,” the presenter said. The building assessment was expected by mid‑April, and the environmental study was estimated at about five weeks.

Consultants named specific prospective tenants and partners who are already engaged in similar regional hubs and are participating in planning here: Center for Workforce Innovations (CWI), Goodwill, United Way, NOVA (youth programs), Boys & Girls Club and the YMCA. The team said Geminis (a prospective tenant) is planning for 15,000–18,000 square feet of program space and that kitchen/culinary training, an event/assembly area and a makerspace are among proposed uses.

Presenters warned of a delayed REDI grant process that had slowed seed funding and said they are expanding fundraising efforts while awaiting decisions on state/regional allocations. They also described the typical long‑term lease structure envisioned for a community hub — often multi‑decade agreements to support sustainability and capital amortization.

Board members asked about prior environmental work on the property and utility cost responsibilities; presenters said they did not have all historical documentation on hand and that environmental reports older than six months would need to be refreshed. Trustees requested continued updates to the planning team and that the lead nonprofit return with firmer cost estimates once the assessment and phase‑1 environmental are complete.","Trustees approved an MOU with Career/Workforce Innovation partners after a presentation from NWI Works and consultants on plans for a multi‑tenant workforce hub at the former Carrie Gosch site; phase 1 environmental and a building assessment were reported as next steps.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6640108,"East Chicago district outlines $6.5M‑plus capital projects including HVAC, bathrooms and accessibility upgrades",515,1503000,2018000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533&start=1503&end=2018","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2556361-779e543427c87d33009d6dc1ff8df533/thumbnail_1503000.jpg","/articles/6640108/Indiana/East-Chicago-district-outlines-65Mplus-capital-projects-including-HVAC-bathrooms-and-accessibility-upgrades","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6640108-765417eb5968fb846f99cdfcf78882fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156289&Signature=Ug1li28QgPEs4Sv7SqcucjjLrHazIvu998apJ7A5BerLdvq5wisyD9GayCJqLjMgNHdPLRyxWE9xYRZqXUzWhVv1f7uALAL6fl5tFc-ZjGanrO9ohb6FRCWfG1ztp7GXMipv1ZP-BysuD5GKKCPqvXVLaQBHJg9aSX21hH4iV0sCyQ~IW-PLL0e~rONhQuSeR61GgHx981di6ekN0KTdgevF82sOWEW33ERfuLXifKFeH7ta4FiSx1MvUw4XoPR~t0QQhF0Y9-X4sFiSLr8emi2O8IW9b6xp3Qh6kJZ2yb3TjN1ZkhDDlmrgGeytCEzzZ9UtE-pXK7Q7dxBUhAp6CA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mrs. Simmons, chief finance officer for the School City of East Chicago, told the board on March 11 that the district is preparing a series of capital projects to begin in spring and summer 2025, starting with major HVAC and accessibility work at East Chicago Central High School.

The district plans to replace an aging HVAC air handler that serves the pool area, upgrade the buildingwide HVAC system, remodel Central’s restrooms and add an ADA elevator to the gym area, Mrs. Simmons said. She said pool ventilation and roof warranty work, tennis‑court repairs and playground overhauls at Lincoln are also scheduled. Carrie Gosch Early Learning Center will receive a new chiller after the district rented temporary equipment last year.

“This is over $6,500,000,” Mrs. Simmons said when describing the initial package of projects. She told trustees the district has $220,000 in previously retained funds that were returned and an additional $1,800,000 freed up from projects that came in under budget, which the district plans to apply to the work.

The CFO said the district will begin work in Central’s commons area over spring break and address the most urgent systems first, including the nonworking air handler tied to the pool and mold and humidity issues caused by inadequate pool ventilation. She described an option to place an elevator at the ticket‑booth side of the gym to provide safer stretcher access to the second floor.

Trustees asked about tennis‑court work and whether or how to accommodate pickleball courts; Mrs. Simmons said lighting work will be done first while the district seeks a third bid on court resurfacing. Trustee Gomez asked for confirmation that the tennis court project was definite; Mrs. Simmons replied, “No, I’m definite on a tennis court,” and said resurfacing and lighting would be pursued in stages.

The projects described by Mrs. Simmons span several facilities and systems and are intended to be funded as part of the district’s capital program for summer 2025. No formal bond vote was recorded at the March 11 meeting; the CFO framed the presentation as planning detail for anticipated capital work.

District contacts and staff said bids, timelines and grant/contract approvals will determine final start dates and project scopes.

Less critical project items and planning steps — including bid solicitation on the tennis court and a decision about fencing and playground security at Lincoln — were discussed near the end of the presentation.","Chief Finance Officer told the School City of East Chicago board the district plans spring/summer 2025 work at Central High and other campuses, estimating more than $6.5 million in projects and tapping $1.8 million in underruns to expand the scope.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves personnel report with one trustee dissenting over confidentiality

East Chicago shifts secondary start times to add 30 minutes for social‑emotional learning; teachers' workday unchanged

Board approves revised E‑Rate internet agreement after arbitration clause removed

Board approves MOU with workforce nonprofit to develop Carrie Gosch 'Opportunity Collaborative'

East Chicago district outlines $6.5M‑plus capital projects including HVAC, bathrooms and accessibility upgrades