Board approves MOU for Excel Center, HVAC construction‑management bid and law‑firm renewal; trustees debate short‑term staffing contract

The School City of East Chicago board voted on a set of consent and new‑business items at its Dec. 9 meeting, approving an MOU with the Excel Center, a construction‑management bid for the East Chicago Central High School HVAC project, an AARP renewal with McKinley Elementary, multiple professional development requests, personnel report items, a first reading of several policies, a 45‑day short‑term service agreement with Massey/Mazi Education, and a contract renewal with Harris Law Firm.

Votes at a glance

- Item 5.01 (MOU with Excel Center): Motion to approve by Trustee Rodriguez; second by Trustee Smith. Roll call: Gomez yes, Smith yes, Rodriguez yes, Taylor yes, President Gibson King yes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 5.02 (Construction‑management bid for East Chicago Central High School HVAC): Motion by Trustee Smith; second by Trustee Gomez. Roll call: Gomez yes, Smith yes, Rodriguez yes, Taylor yes, President Gibson King yes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 5.03 (AARP renewal with McKinley Elementary School): Motion by Trustee Smith; second by Trustee Gomez. Roll call: Gomez yes, Smith yes, Rodriguez yes, Taylor yes, President Gibson King yes. Outcome: approved.

- Item 5.04 (Professional development requests): Motion by Trustee Rodriguez; second by Trustee Smith. Roll call: majority yes (board recorded affirmative votes by Smith, Rodriguez, Taylor, Gibson King). Outcome: approved. Trustees requested full PD summaries and conference documentation.

- Item 5.05 (Personnel report): Motion by Trustee Smith; second by Trustee Gomez. Roll call: Gomez yes, Smith yes, Rodriguez yes, Taylor yes, President Gibson King no. Outcome: approved (4–1).

- Item 5.06 (First reading of policies P05315 and P03030): Motion by Trustee Smith; second by Trustee Gomez. Roll call: Gomez yes, Smith yes, Rodriguez yes, Taylor yes, President Gibson King yes. Outcome: first reading approved.

- Item 5.07 (Short‑term service agreement with Massey/Mazi Education, 45 days): Motion by Trustee Smith; second by Trustee Rodriguez. Board discussed that the consultant will support Title I/federal grants for 45 days. Trustee Gomez and others expressed concern that if the district's director returned from leave while the contract is active the district would be "locked in" and asked for contract language to clarify the end date or condition. Staff and legal counsel suggested the district could include language limiting service to the time necessary or to end upon the director’s return; trustees asked for ongoing updates during the 45‑day period. A roll-call outcome for this item was recorded as approved during the meeting.

- Item 5.08 (Contract renewal agreement with Harris Law Firm): Motion by Trustee Rodriguez; second by Trustee Taylor. Board attorney Joel Harris explained the contract terms, including a $4,500 retainer that covers routine board meetings and communications (approximately 30 hours of services) and itemized invoices for additional work. Roll call: majority yes (a quorum recorded affirmative votes including Smith, Rodriguez, Taylor, Gibson King). Outcome: approved.

Contract language and fiscal questions

Trustees debated whether contracted professional services require public posting (board attorney Joel Harris explained contracted services do not carry the same posting requirement as employment positions) and asked for transparency in invoices. Trustee concerns about the Massey/Mazi 45‑day arrangement centered on potential duplication of services if an internal director returns; trustees asked counsel to consider contract language that ties contract duration to the district’s operational need or the returning staff member’s status.

The board asked staff to provide summaries of PD requests and invoices on claims docket items that trustees had questioned earlier in the meeting.