The School City of East Chicago Board of Trustees approved a memorandum of understanding with the Dunes Learning Center, adopted a new nurse salary scale and, after a heated procedural debate, approved its personnel report at a combined Nov. 26 work session and regular meeting.

Trustee Rodriguez moved to approve the MOU with the Dunes Learning Center for field trips in the 2026–27 school year; Trustee Smith seconded and the board voted unanimously to approve the item. Board staff described the MOU as an academic‑support activity for elementary students.

The board discussed a construction manager‑as‑constructor bid for an HVAC renovation at East Chicago Central High School but tabled the item after trustees and the district attorney flagged numerical inconsistencies in the bidder’s cost breakdown. Attorney Harris and Trustee Gomez asked staff to request a corrected submission; the board voted to table the bid so staff can obtain clarified figures and staffing breakdowns.

Trustees then considered a nurse salary scale proposed by district nursing leadership. Nurse Bobo explained that the schedule adds distinct salary categories for certified nursing assistants (CNA), qualified medication aides (QMA), licensed practical nurses (LPN) and registered nurses (RN), introduces experience steps and is intended to apply to current staff and future hires. Staff confirmed the scale would be retroactive to the start of the 2025 school year (July 1). Trustee Smith moved to approve the schedule; the motion passed on a roll call vote.

A lengthy discussion followed over the personnel report. Trustee Gomez moved to table portions of the personnel report citing a district policy the trustee read to require a 30‑day waiting period before reconsidering measures that previously failed. Attorney Harris said he would review whether the current packet was ‘‘substantially the same’’ as the prior report and noted that the board could, in limited circumstances, suspend internal rules. Trustees debated whether minor edits made the packet a new document or whether tabling was required. After procedural votes, the board took roll call on the personnel report. The final tally recorded Trustee Gomez and President Gibson King voting No; Trustees Smith, Rodriguez and Taylor voting Yes. The personnel report passed by majority vote.

What’s next: Staff said the corrected HVAC bid will be resubmitted before the board’s next regular meeting and that the district will follow up on invoice details and contract durations flagged during the claims‑docket review.

Quotations: Trustee Rodriguez summarized the finance work and emphasized transparency, saying the district is ‘‘committed to diligent financial stewardship’’ after a finance workgroup discussed strategies to meet a required $3.2 million reduction by 2027. Attorney Harris cautioned that verification of prior documents is needed before revisiting previously failed actions.

Votes at a glance:
- Consent agenda: approved (motion by Trustee Rodriguez; second by Trustee Smith; roll call: all present voted Yes). Provenance: topicintro SEG 2460, topfinish SEG 2479.
- 6.01 MOU with Dunes Learning Center: approved (motion by Trustee Rodriguez; second Trustee Smith; roll call Yes). Provenance: topicintro SEG 2490, topfinish SEG 2506.
- 6.02 HVAC construction manager bid (East Chicago Central): tabled pending corrected submission (motion to table by Trustee Rodriguez; second by Trustee Smith). Provenance: topicintro SEG 723, topfinish SEG 1637.
- 6.03 Nurse salary scale: approved (motion by Trustee Smith; second by Trustee Gomez; roll call Yes). Provenance: topicintro SEG 815, topfinish SEG 2560.
- Personnel report: approved after procedural motions and roll call (roll call result: Gomez No, Smith Yes, Rodriguez Yes, Taylor Yes, President Gibson King No). Provenance: topicintro SEG 1122, topfinish SEG 2877.

Speakers (selected): Trustee Rodriguez (first referenced SEG 011), Trustee Gomez (SEG 014), Trustee Smith (SEG 015), Trustee Taylor (SEG 019), Madam President Gibson King (SEG 021), Attorney Harris (SEG 576), Mister Peña (SEG 318), Nurse Bobo (SEG 816).