School Board Meeting: February 14, 2012

Overview

Steve Segura’s record of the February 14, 2012 East Chicago Board of School Trustees meeting centers on routine governance actions plus major updates: a strategic plan update tied to online, monthly PDF postings; IDOE legislative/accountability changes including Indiana’s A–F grading system; and operational decisions impacting students and staff. The board also approves items including personnel actions (excluding non-certified item B3), American Fidelity Insurance stop-loss reinsurance (quoted to save $17,311), Board Policy 0168 work sessions (first reading only), a disaster preparedness mass prophylaxis drill site change (Central High School with a POD drill on April 4, 9 to 11 a.m.), and a human relations legal counsel contract (Freel and Freel) with added attendance requirements for executive sessions.

Key takeaways

Indiana’s newly adopted A–F grading system is described as coming into effect after spring testing, with grades expected in summer, creating uncertainty for how No Child Left Behind consequences (including waiver details) will ultimately apply.
East Chicago’s self-insured health plan uses a stop-loss structure requiring $225,000 first-dollar coverage per employee, then switching to specific and aggregate catastrophic coverage; the board highlights an estimated aggregate exposure around $8.5 million and cites $17,311 savings from American Fidelity.
The strategic plan update model shifts reporting to an online software workflow with monthly PDF postings and physical bookmarks/trifolds for libraries and schools, aiming to support parent/community awareness and building site planning.
Implementation delays for special education iPads are attributed to grant auditing/tagging compliance: devices and iTunes accounts must be managed so teachers cannot independently download/purchase, with rollout expanding beyond current limited K–4 coverage.
Public comment reveals recurring board-level concerns spanning safety logistics (dismissal timing and violence spillover risk), language/cultural staffing needs for Spanish-speaking community members, and operational safety for bus drivers (camera/aide presence and student ID practices).

Chapters

0:00 Call to order, pledge, and prayer opening

Regular meeting called to order for February 14, 2012, with board agenda presented for action.
Pledge of allegiance followed by a prayer asking for wisdom guiding decisions in the best interest of East Chicago students.

1:10 Agenda approval: striking letter H

Motion to approve the agenda with revision to remove letter “H.”
Vote taken with “aye/oppose/abstain” structure; motion carries.

2:00 Approval of board minutes (November 22, 2011; December 13, 2011)

Minutes approved one at a time: November 22, 2011, then December 13, 2011.
Each approval includes a motion, second, and vote; both motions carry.

3:00 Strategic plan update: core team progress samples + monthly online PDFs

Core team reviewed strategy updates; board members were shown sample visuals for multiple strategies.
Plan includes online software access, monthly website updates as PDFs, and bookmark/trifold materials to be distributed to libraries and schools.

4:10 Strategic plan communications and site planning support

Bookmarks and trifold-style mission/tactics/action-plan summaries are planned for district and building site planning.
Strategic plan leaders and strategy-specific team reminders will accompany online updates once Technology completes migration.

5:20 IDOE legislative updates: Indiana A–F grading and No Child Left Behind waiver context

Indiana State Board of Education adopted A–F grading; implementation depends on spring testing and summer grade release.
Discussion includes waiver mechanics, probation/waiver elements (six to four years reduction), and ongoing uncertainty about which No Child Left Behind sections are waived.

6:30 Summer school funding change and IREAD-3 policy details

Summer school funding category changes shift more financial burden to local districts for remediation and elective/graduation-related courses.
IREAD-3: assessment for all third graders March 19 to 21, with a June retest; listed parent presentation sessions at Lincoln (Feb 16), McKinley (Feb 20), Harrison (Feb 23), Washington (Feb 23), and a later listed district building (Feb 24 at 10).

8:40 Personnel report approval with exclusion of non-certified B item 3

Motion to approve the personnel report minus “B under non-certified item number three.”
Rationale given: financial difficulties and confidence that existing district staff can cover the excluded position.

9:20 Medical reinsurance renewal: American Fidelity stop-loss for catastrophic losses

Stop-loss coverage for specific and aggregate risks recommended via American Fidelity Insurance Company.
Bidding process described: third-party administrator BAS marketed to nine companies; best offer returned from American Fidelity with a cited $17,311 savings versus last year.

11:00 Stop-loss mechanics: $225,000 specific retention + aggregate around $8.5M

Self-insured plan pays first $225,000 per covered employee; catastrophic costs above that threshold shift to specific reinsurance.
Aggregate reinsurance target estimated around $8.5 million total medical bills (including prescriptions), with coverage for spending above the aggregate amount.

12:20 Board Policy 0168 work sessions: first reading only

Policy presented as first reading with no immediate action; second reading and adoption planned for a later meeting.
Board members can send comments to Steve Segura and Rhonda for consensus and discussion before the next vote.

13:00 Facilities request for disaster preparedness POD drill (April 4, 9 to 11 a.m.)

East Chicago Department of Public Environmental Health requests district cooperation for a mass prophylaxis drill using a point-of-dispensing (POD) approach.
Block Junior High designated POD site; Central High School approved for April 4, 9 to 11 a.m., with support encouraged as it does not interfere with students.

14:20 Approval of legal counsel contract: Freel and Freel human relations services

Contract for human relations legal services approved with changes including minimum attendance at two executive session meetings before each monthly pair of regular meetings.
Amended proposal accepted after motion, second, and a vote; motion carries.

15:10 Superintendent announcements: academics, athletics, recognitions, and attendance

Academic competitions: science Olympiad regional in Middlebury (23 schools; finished seventh), then sectional; listed coaches/teachers and DeMasa Flores noted for valedictorian and team involvement.
Athletics/recognitions: sectional champions in girls’ basketball with regional at Valparaiso High School (11:30 a.m. vs Elkhart Memorial); teacher David Tokars recognized by Lakeshore Chamber of Commerce; Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame inductions on March 21 for Ron Kivjak (1960 grad) and Isaac Washington (Silver Anniversary team).

17:00 State accountability metrics, attendance rules, and transition program outcomes

Attendance report: all schools range from the 94th–96th percentile; AYP requires 95.
Attendance guidance clarifies excused vs unexcused absences; excused includes verified illness, family funeral, maternity leave, and military deployment/return situations, among other legitimate cases.

18:40 Transition program for retained students and graduation-rate gains

Transition program for students retained two or three times uses interventions like Fast Forward and Read 180 plus a Learning Lab environment.
Outcome reported: 10 eighth graders moving to the Freshman Center next week with orientation; graduation rate reported at 67% for Central High School after transformational model work.

20:00 Black History Month events, wellness screening, and weather-postponed basketball

Library events: Freedom Fighters tribute to the Tuskegee Airmen shown 5 to 7 p.m. at Columbus Drive main library on Feb 16 and Feb 23.
Wellness screenings offered free for employees, families, and retirees through BAS; schedule published across administration building and schools; boys’ varsity basketball postponed game held Feb 15 with JV at 6 p.m.

22:30 Community discussion on A–F impacts, iPads for special education, and PD for Mac/MacBook

Board/community questions revisit national vs state graduation rate context and how ESEA/A–F interacts with No Child Left Behind waiver outcomes.
Special education iPads: devices present in Ed Building pending grant auditing/tagging; iTunes accounts added per building; teacher professional development described via train-the-trainer Apple model, instructional coach lead training, ongoing spring sessions, and additional Promethean board training.

25:00 Public forum: coalition concerns, administrator climate, safety, staffing accommodations, and bus issues

Wanda Gordills and coalition advocates for education reform, urging calm and bridge-building; requests include avoiding personnel naming in public comments and submitting issues by letter.
Reverend Brian Hill emphasizes fully elected board support and accountability; Bert Flores raises student safety concerns tied to dismissal times and need for Spanish-speaking support roles (social workers, counselors, nurses) to serve Hispanic families; Leon Gross describes bus-driver safety/security issues and requests support rather than termination.

27:00 Wrap-up announcements and adjournment with next meeting notice

Next board meeting scheduled for February 28 with executive session at 4:30 p.m. and public meeting at 6:00 p.m., according to late agenda communication.
Adjournment motion and second taken; meeting ends with vote in favor.

Summary, takeaways, and chapters were generated by AI from the video's transcript and may contain errors. The video belongs to its creator, Steve Segura.