The Indian Lake Board of Education awarded the district’s first ever Indian Lake Local Schools Distinguished Alumni Award to a beloved teacher and active member of the community during their Monday evening meeting.
Superintendent Rob Underwood presented the award to retired Lakeview Elementary music teacher Judy Grubbs on her 80th birthday.
Mrs. Grubbs, who thought she was attending the meeting for a friend’s scholarship presentation, was brought to tears at the surprise honor.
“This has touched me greatly. I feel so blessed my whole life that I have been a part of this school with the boys and girls that went here. This will be one of my treasures,” Grubbs said.
The award recipient graduated from Huntsville High School and taught at Lakeview Elementary for 27 years. She created the fifth-grade show choir, The Stingers, that performed at events all over the state of Ohio for more than 25 years.
In retirement, Grubbs has volunteered for numerous organizations, created a scholarship fund for Indian Lake Music students and is a fixture at all school activities from concerts to sporting events.
Board President Gabe Wickline nominated Grubbs for the award.
“Judy knew how to put on a show that everyone enjoyed,” he wrote in his nomination letter. “She has hundreds of alumni from her Stingers group who are grateful for the opportunity to have learned under her leadership.
“While her accomplishments as a teacher are impressive, her accomplishments as a human being far outweigh anything she could do in a classroom….Judy has donated her time and resources to practically every cause or organization in our area.”
Most recently, Grubbs has assisted with school levy campaigns and helped emcee the anniversary concert celebrating 50 years of Indian Lake High School.
Underwood explained that earlier this year, the Board of Education established the Indian Lake Schools Distinguished Alumni Award to celebrate alumni who have gone on to make significant contributions to their professions and service to society.
Details of the award and a nomination form are now included on the district’s website, ils-k12.org, under the Board of Education tab.
As the first ever recipient, Grubbs received an individual award and hers will be the first name listed on the Indian Lake School Distinguished Alumni Plaque to be placed inside the entrance to Indian Lake High School.
Also during the meeting, board members approved the district’s remote learning plan that must be submitted to the state this month.
The board also approved the Virtual Learning Academy teacher pay rates at $7 per completed lesson. Payment is only for courses covered outside of the regular teaching day. All current, board-approved, licensed teachers are eligible to teach VLA.
Members approved a resolution for the exchange agreement between the district and Lewistown-Trinity United Methodist Church to acquire land related to its cross country course in exchange for land that will no longer be needed for school purposes
In other action, the board:
• approved META Solutions to advertise and receive bids for the purchase of one or more 78-passenger school buses;
• extended a one-year limited contract to Jenna Bertke, elementary intervention specialist;
• approved Pam Scarpella as the PBIS district coordinator for a $500 stipend to be paid with Title IVA grant funds or Wellness Funds
• approved Jana Core, middle school robotics coach, to be paid $500 through Honda Transmission Manufacturing Robotics Grant upon completion;
• approved the following staff members for advancement on the salary schedule: master’s plus 45 — Krystal Loy; master’s plus 25 — Mike Maurer, Christina Fullerton, Todd Dietz; master’s plus 15 — Alexis Scheiderer;
• approved Robert Ball and Lori Carpenter as middle school lunchroom monitors;
• accepted the supplemental contract resignation of Jenifer Ignarski, Key Club, and extended the Key Club adviser supplemental contract to Lisa Seeley;
• extended a supplemental contract to Zach Newcomb, JV girls basketball; and
• approved the 2020-21 bus routes and authorized the transportation director to adjust as needed.
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21, in the board of education office, 6210 N., State Route 235, Lewistown.