East Porter County school board approves three-year superintendent contract, lists $201,338 in annual provisions

The East Porter County School Corporation Board of School Trustees approved a three-year employment contract for its incoming superintendent during a special meeting that followed a public hearing, voting unanimously 7-0.

At the start of the hearing, the board president read the official summary of the proposed agreement, saying the superintendent’s annual base salary would be $150,000, with an annuity of $4,500, an auto/state expense allowance of $3,600, a technology stipend of $1,200, and an annual board contribution to group health, dental and vision for a family plan of $25,263 (as of June 1, 2026). The president said the total of listed contract provisions is “$201,338.” The agreement was described as a three-year contract with a possible extension unless a party objects before July 1; it can be canceled by the board for the reasons listed in Indiana Code 20-28-7.5-1E, and the superintendent may resign with 90 days’ written notice.

The contract calls for 260 working days per school year and specifies leave allowances, including three personal days, 10 sick days, 20 paid vacation days and listed holidays. The president said salary changes would be tied to performance evaluations using categories applied to other certified staff: highly effective, effective, improvement necessary or ineffective.

When the president moved to enter the motion, he read the hiring as for “Dr. Lee Eames” effective July 1, 2026. Shortly afterward a board member moved to approve the employment contract and used the name “Dr. Reed Amons” when making the motion; other members seconded the motion. The transcript contains inconsistent renderings of the candidate’s name between the reading of the contract summary and the verbal motion. The board voted by raised hands and the president stated the motion passed 7-0.

Board members briefly described the superintendent search, saying there were 20 applicants with six interviews and praising the candidate’s experience in Northwest Indiana schools, including earlier roles in Portage Township Schools, as a building-level administrator and in personnel leadership for Merrillville Community School Corporation. Assistant Superintendent Alicia Schmuttekin and others were acknowledged for their help with the search.

With no public comments signed up during the hearing, the board moved on to the special meeting business, approved the contract, adjourned and invited attendees to a reception for the superintendent and family.

The board said a complete copy of the contract will be available on the district website. The transcript does not resolve the inconsistent spoken name of the superintendent candidate between the contract summary and the motion; the board’s official posted contract should be consulted for the final, authoritative name and contract text.