The School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees on Sept. 9 approved the personnel report after trustees asked the administration to remove several extra‑duty stipend items and provide clearer documentation about homebound services and mentor assignments.

Trustee Diane Smith moved to approve the personnel report and later amended that motion to remove extra‑duty items numbered 45–49 and to defer items 41 and 42 pending further information. Trustee Gomez seconded the amendment. The board then voted to approve the personnel report with those items removed.

During discussion, a community member, Helen Steinbach, raised concerns that homebound service opportunities are not being widely offered and that mentor positions tied to a new TAG grant were being assigned without broader notice. Ms. Steinbach said some teachers who qualify for homebound or mentor duties were not given the opportunity to apply.

Human Resources staff explained the roles: one listed entry is a coordinator role (an extra duty stipend) and separate entries are homebound service assignments. District staff confirmed the teacher referenced by trustees has been providing homebound instruction in students’ homes for several years and noted they will add the physical service location (home, library, facility, etc.) to future personnel reports to improve clarity.

Board members approved removing items for further discussion so services would not be interrupted. Trustees asked Human Resources and the superintendent’s office to provide the requested clarifications in writing — including where homebound services are delivered and which positions are mentor assignments tied to grant funding — before those items are returned to the board.

Why it matters: Parents and staff rely on clear personnel records to know who provides homebound instruction and how stipend funds tied to extra duties and grants are allocated. Trustees said they do not want services disrupted and asked staff to ensure continuity while clarifying documentation.