The School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees on Oct. 14 approved a series of budgetary items, grants and operational resolutions in roll-call votes.

Highlights:
- The board adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget (Form 4) by roll call (motion by Trustee Rodriguez, second by Trustee Gomez; vote: Gomez yes, Smith yes, Rodriguez yes, Taylor yes, President Gibson King yes).
- The capital projects plan budget for 2026 and the school bus replacement plan for 2026 were approved (motions by Trustee Rodriguez; roll-call votes unanimous among trustees present).
- The board approved two instructional grants: a formative assessment grant for $22,798.44 for 2025-26 and a digital learning grant for $33,497.25 for 2025-26 (motions moved and seconded; roll-call approvals).
- A Purple Star resolution for McKinley Elementary School was approved to continue the district's partnership supporting military-connected families.
- A professional development request was approved after trustees removed a single subitem (item 9) for further discussion; the rest of item 6.04 passed on roll call.
- A procurement to replace cafeteria seating (quote for 32 cafeteria tables) was approved.
- The consent agenda was approved after trustees voted to remove item 5.03 from the consent package for separate consideration.

What passed and vote details (at-a-glance):
- 2.01 Approval of agenda: motion Gomez; second Smith. Vote: Gomez yes; Smith yes; Rodriguez yes; Taylor yes; Gibson King yes — APPROVED.
- Consent agenda (after removal of 5.03): Motion to remove 5.03 (Rodriguez; second Gohman). Motion to approve consent agenda as amended passed on roll call — APPROVED.
- 6.01 Formative assessment grant, $22,798.44 (motion Gomez; second Rodriguez). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.02 Digital learning grant, $33,497.25 (motion Gomez; second Smith). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.03 Purple Star resolution for McKinley Elementary (motion Rodriguez; second Gomez). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.04 Professional development request (motion Smith to remove subitem 9; second Bowman). Motion to approve 6.04 without subitem 9 passed on roll call — APPROVED (6.04 minus item 9).
- 6.05 Budget adoption FY2026 (Form 4) (motion Rodriguez; second Gomez). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.06 Capital project plan budget 2026 (motion Rodriguez; second Gomez). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.07 School bus replacement plan 2026 (motion Smith; second Rodriguez). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.08 Resolution to transfer funds (education fund to operation fund) (motion Gomez; second Rodriguez). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.09 Quote for cafeteria tables (32 tables) (motion Smith; second Gomez). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.11 Personnel report (motion Rodriguez). Roll call: unanimous — APPROVED.
- 6.12 First reading approvals and removal of policy 1520 (motion Gomez; second Rodriguez; roll call: unanimous on the package with 1520 removed) — APPROVED AS AMENDED.
- 6.13 Repeal/approval of existing policies 4112 and 9150: motion carried to place on agenda and discussion occurred; recorded roll call: Gomez yes; Smith no; Rodriguez no; Taylor no; the item did not pass as a unanimous package.

Why this matters: The budget and capital approvals set spending priorities for the district for fiscal 2026 and authorize capital projects and bus replacement. Grant approvals allocate state/federal funds to curriculum and digital learning initiatives.

Next steps: The adopted budgets and plans will be posted to the district website per staff statements; items removed from consent or tabled will return for further consideration at a future meeting.