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East Chicago district outlines $6.5M‑plus capital projects including HVAC, bathrooms and accessibility upgrades
Summary
Chief Finance Officer told the School City of East Chicago board the district plans spring/summer 2025 work at Central High and other campuses, estimating more than $6.5 million in projects and tapping $1.8 million in underruns to expand the scope.
Mrs. Simmons, chief finance officer for the School City of East Chicago, told the board on March 11 that the district is preparing a series of capital projects to begin in spring and summer 2025, starting with major HVAC and accessibility work at East Chicago Central High School.
The district plans to replace an aging HVAC air handler that serves the pool area, upgrade the buildingwide HVAC system, remodel Central’s restrooms and add an ADA elevator to the gym area, Mrs. Simmons said. She said pool ventilation and roof warranty work, tennis‑court repairs and playground overhauls at Lincoln are also scheduled. Carrie Gosch Early Learning Center will receive a new chiller after the district rented temporary equipment last year.
“This is over $6,500,000,” Mrs. Simmons said when describing the initial package of projects. She told trustees the district has $220,000 in previously retained funds that were returned and an additional $1,800,000 freed up from projects that came in under budget, which the district plans to apply to the work.
The CFO said the district will begin work in Central’s commons area over spring break and address the most urgent systems first, including the nonworking air handler tied to the pool and mold and humidity issues caused by inadequate pool ventilation. She described an option to place an elevator at the ticket‑booth side of the gym to provide safer stretcher access to the second floor.
Trustees asked about tennis‑court work and whether or how to accommodate pickleball courts; Mrs. Simmons said lighting work will be done first while the district seeks a third bid on court resurfacing. Trustee Gomez asked for confirmation that the tennis court project was definite; Mrs. Simmons replied, “No, I’m definite on a tennis court,” and said resurfacing and lighting would be pursued in stages.
The projects described by Mrs. Simmons span several facilities and systems and are intended to be funded as part of the district’s capital program for summer 2025. No formal bond vote was recorded at the March 11 meeting; the CFO framed the presentation as planning detail for anticipated capital work.
District contacts and staff said bids, timelines and grant/contract approvals will determine final start dates and project scopes.
Less critical project items and planning steps — including bid solicitation on the tennis court and a decision about fencing and playground security at Lincoln — were discussed near the end of the presentation.
