Senate Bill 544 Summary

• Converts East Chicago school board from appointed to elected positions, effective July 1, 2011.

• Establishes a nine-member school board consisting of six members elected from districts and three members elected at-large on a nonpartisan basis.

• District boundaries for school board elections align with the city's common council districts under IC 36-4-6.

• First elections for the new board occur at the primary election in 2012, with subsequent elections every four years thereafter, with four-year terms beginning July 1.

• Requires candidates for district seats to submit petitions with 20 registered voter signatures and at-large candidates to submit petitions with 100 registered voter signatures.