Indian Lake Schools officials conducted their Monday evening meeting in a non-traditional format, with the session closed to the public, but streamed live via social media because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Video of the meeting is still available on the district’s Facebook page.
While the school district and others around the state are closed through at least April 5, members approved a new program that will be available for kindergarten-age students next year — Bridge School.
Elementary School Principal Molly Hall said Bridge School will be offered as a full-day, two-year kindergarten program for pupils with spring and summer birthdays who might not be ready for traditional kindergarten and might score a little lower on their baseline assessment.
“We’ll offer the same curriculum, but we’ll go at a little slower pace to introduce concepts to students,” Hall said. “It’s not a preschool program, but it’s not our traditional kindergarten, so we’re calling it ‘Bridge School’ to focus on students’ transition to elementary school.”
She related that the district modeled its program after the Begindergarten program implemented at Bellefontaine Elementary School this year. Indian Lake Elementary’s program will hinge upon interested families and student enrollment, Hall said.
Also at the meeting, members approved a $450,837 construction contract with Waibel Energy Systems for installation of HVAC upgrades at each of the school buildings.
Payments will be made over a 36-month payment period.
The board approved a new Distinguished Alumni Award, nomination and selection process so that members can officially honor those graduates who have gained distinction through significant achievements since attending Indian Lake High School.
A grievance settlement also was accepted with the Indian Lake Education Association to clarify the terms and conditions relative to earning compensation for Performance Pay according to Article 6.3 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
The board approved the annual FFA overnight trip to the State FFA Convention in Columbus on April 30 and May 1.
In other action, the board:
• extended the supplemental contract for varsity softball assistant Dean Elliott;
• accepted the resignation of Sherry Poe, high school guidance counselor, effective at the conclusion of the 2019-20 contract;
• approved Brian Sutton as the 21st Century Grant Student Supervisor to paid at a rate of $40 per hour by the 21st Century Grant;
• approved the transfer of Todd Dietz, middle school intervention specialist to middle school regular education classroom for the 2020-21 school year.
• approved modification of the Wilma Jacobs scholarship,
• accepted the following donations: $600 to the Eighth-Grade Trip account from the family of Jean Newmeyer to sponsor a student in her memory, $500 from Osgood Bank to the High School Student Fund to support PBIS, $100 from Elizabeth Madigan and Glenn Emalko to the Student Needs fund so assist with any issues that may arise during the school closure, and
• approved membership to the Ohio SchoolComp OSBA 2021 Workers Compensation Group Rating Program.
The next board meeting is 6:30 p.m. April 20, in the Board of Education Office, 6210 N. State Route 235, Lewistown.