The School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees approved a one-year contract July 8 to purchase IEP-writing support as the Indiana Department of Education transitions student special-education records to PowerSchool IEP.

Special-education and technology staff told trustees the state’s migration dumped files into the new system rather than mapping each field, which requires teachers of record to transfer or rewrite many elements of prior IEPs in the new platform. District technology manager Miss Johnson described the change as a “massive undertaking” that will require teacher time and district support.

To ease the transition, the board approved a contract (agenda item 5.08) for a retired special-education teacher to assist with writing and migrating records for the 2025–26 school year. The contract covers up to 146 IEPs and is not to exceed $21,900 for the year; speakers said the arrangement is intended as a one-year bridge while teachers receive training and the district stands up internal “super-user” supports.

Why it matters: IEPs are legal documents that set special-education services for students. District staff said the statewide move to PowerSchool IEP will require substantial data work and training; trustees approved temporary outside help to reduce service interruptions for students and to support new teachers.

Board action: Trustee Gomez made the motion to approve the contract; Trustee Rodriguez seconded. The roll-call vote recorded the contract renewal as approved.

Administration’s plan: Staff said the hired specialist will assist new teachers, support migration into PowerSchool and help complete case-conference paperwork. The district said PowerSchool will provide statewide trainers but that local ‘‘super-user’’ capacity will also be needed. The contract is a one-year renewal and staff said they do not expect it to be required the following year once teachers are trained and the migration is complete.

Ending: Trustees approved the contract and directed SPED and technology staff to proceed with training and migration work so teachers can access accurate IEPs at the start of the school year.