The School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees approved multiple contract renewals and memoranda of understanding at its July 8 meeting for the 2025–26 school year, including speech services, STARBASE programming, occupational therapy, deaf services, an alumni MOU and counseling services.

Actions and approvals: On roll call the board approved the following items presented on the agenda: speech services contract renewal with Parallel Learning (5.02); a memorandum of understanding with STARBASE (5.03); an MOU with East Chicago Central Alumni (5.04); non‑certified employee agreements (5.05); occupational therapy renewal (5.06); deaf services contract with Tradewinds (5.07); the IEP-writing contract (5.08, covered separately) and Infinity Counseling renewal (5.11). Trustees also approved a first reading of a draft policy on artificial intelligence (agenda item 5.09).

Silver/Sylvan tutoring: The meeting included discussion of Sylvan Learning Center (listed on the agenda for private-school tutoring at St. Stan’s). Superintendent Dr. Bonet said the district would not be recommending Sylvan for district tutoring next year; nonpublic schools may continue to access title funds for outside providers.

Infinity Counseling: Staff described Infinity Counseling as an established provider that places counselors in district schools; staff said the counseling is provided at no cost to the district unless a student requires paid day treatment services (district share reported by staff as approximately $75 per day when placement is needed). Trustees approved the renewal on roll call.

Why it matters: The renewals preserve in-school support services — speech, occupational therapy, counseling and deaf services — that the district said serve students with specialized needs. Trustees requested follow-up on internal controls for donations in the alumni MOU and on program outcome data for vendors previously hired for tutoring.

Administration follow-up: Attorney Harris and district staff agreed to report back on internal controls related to alumni donations and record-keeping for third-party providers. Superintendent said program-renewal outcomes (for example for Sylvan) will be presented in a future work session when the full set of program renewal data is available.

Ending: With the renewals approved, the district’s contracted providers will continue services for the coming school year; trustees asked for additional outcome data and internal-control procedures on some items at a follow-up work session.