The School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees voted on July 8 to reject the personnel report on the meeting agenda after trustees raised questions about missing names, hiring procedures and whether the board received required documentation.

Trustees convened at the district administration building and debated the personnel packet before a roll-call vote. Trustee Diane Smith and several colleagues asked for details about interview committees, licensing and experience for a promoted employee; Attorney Harris and Superintendent Dr. Bonet acknowledged the board’s policy requires an unredacted personnel listing and said the administration would replace the document on the public board portal.

The vote on the personnel report was called after a motion to approve the full personnel report and a second. President Gibson King cast a dissenting vote during roll call; the board secretary stated that the tally produced a failed approval.

Why it matters: Personnel approvals determine who holds day-to-day operational leadership in schools and who is placed in positions that affect instruction, special programs and grants. Trustees said they could not make an informed decision without names, interview reports and evidence that applicants met license or certification requirements.

Board discussion and context: Trustee Smith said the board needed specifics before approving a high-profile position, asking whether a committee interviewed the candidate, how the person scored in interviews, how many years of experience they had, whether the state requires a license for the post and what measurable impact the person produced in prior roles. Smith asked that HR provide those answers before the board votes.

Trustee Gibson King and other trustees pressed for enforcement of the board’s transparency policy requiring personnel names to be available to the public prior to the meeting; Attorney Harris advised the board that the policy’s intent was to provide unredacted personnel listings and that the current public packet did not comply.

Superintendent Dr. Bonet told the board the administration would update board docs once the approved personnel report replaces the current posting and said the district would follow policy moving forward.

Action taken: A motion to approve the full personnel report failed on roll call. Separately, trustees sought to table a single promotion for more detailed consideration and to take the matter up in a follow-up session; the board directed staff to provide the requested documentation and hold further discussion in a work session or executive session as appropriate.

Next steps: Trustees asked for a follow-up meeting to review the promotion and for HR to deliver names, interview records and licensing documentation in advance. Multiple trustees said they want a special or work session to avoid repeating last-minute disclosures at regular meetings.

Ending: The board moved on to other agenda items after the vote. Trustees set a follow-up schedule so the personnel questions could be addressed before any replacement approvals are considered again.