EAST CHICAGO | The School Board gave East Chicago administrators the go-ahead to begin due diligence on a proposal to look at moving administrators out of the current central office building and into the former Field Elementary School.

The School Board has not approved the move. However, it has asked officials to work with architects to determine how much it would cost to transform the building into an administration center.

Field school was closed more than a year ago and the majority of its students and staff were moved to Franklin Elementary. Field currently houses the alternative school and the Title I program. Those programs likely would stay.

East Chicago School Treasurer Frank Ramirez said the current administration building was built in 1968. He said it's old and needs some work.

"Field is a wonderful building, and it's in good condition," he said.

Ramirez said officials had no idea how much it would cost to make the transition. He said determining the cost and the possibilities would be the first phase. That will include determining what will need to be done to make Field an office building.

He said the first phase should take through the end of the year. If approved, the entire project -- including the move -- will take about 18 months, Ramirez said.