School City of Hammond board holds public hearing on proposed superintendent contract

The School City of Hammond Board of Trustees held a public hearing May 19 to review a proposed three-year contract for Mr. Salinas as superintendent, with a final vote scheduled for June 16, 2026.

Board counsel Attorney Dixon summarized the posted contract and the legal basis for the public hearing, saying, “It will be once again, it'll be effective, 07/01/2026. It is a 3 year contract. It is a base salary of a $195,500 with a 6.5% into the superintendent's base salary into a 403b plan.” Dixon said the contract was posted in accordance with Indiana statute 5-3-1 and the hearing was held under Indiana Code 20-26-5-4.3.

The contract highlights Dixon reviewed include a base salary of $195,500, a 6.5% contribution to a 403(b) plan, a $300 monthly car allowance, participation in the district insurance plan, a life insurance benefit equal to three times the base salary (capped at $300,000), sick leave and three personal business leave days, and the ability to join educational organizations with board approval.

The board opened public comment for remarks specific to the proposed contract but recorded no speakers and closed the comment period. After the presentation, a motion to adjourn was made by a meeting participant identified in the transcript as speaker 5 and seconded by the board president (speaker 15); the board voice-voted 'Aye,' and the meeting adjourned.

The board president completed roll call during the meeting; the transcript records Trustee Spencer, Trustee Stanford and Trustee Guerra as present and Trustee Candelaria as absent. The next formal action on the proposed superintendent contract is the board vote scheduled for June 16, 2026.

No other actions or amendments to the contract were taken at the May 19 hearing.