Careers@ILS has expanded this year for students at Indian Lake High School and Indian Lake Middle School, featuring activities to suit a variety of interests, from computers to fitness, science exploration, gardening, art, book clubs, robotics and more.
The multi-faceted, after-school program was the focus of Indian Lake’s Monday evening board of education meeting.
Careers@ILS began year two in October at ILHS and ILMS and will continue the rest of the school year. Activities are funded by a competitive five-year, 21st Century federal grant worth $850,000 awarded to Indian Lake Schools in 2019.
ILMS math teacher Eric Finke is serving as the site coordinator at ILMS.
“The main goal of the program is to get kids involved,” Finke said. “We try to reach out to those students who aren’t in athletics or music and get them to enjoy learning in a different and new way.”
Finke says more than 70 ILMS students are consistently attending the wide variety of programs offered on Monday and Wednesday after school this fall, including Computer Club to Garden Club, Math Investigations, Language Arts Workshop, Science Investigations, Book Club and Fitness Club. Students will be surveyed at the end of the first session to determine what other programs might attract even more interest for the second session beginning in January.
Meantime at ILHS, site coordinator Matt Steinbarger said on any given day approximately 50 students are attending programs offered after school Monday through Friday.
New programs like Book Club and old favorites like Judo Club and Improv Club (now offered under the Careers@ILS umbrella) are bringing in big groups. The Yoga Club and E-sports have a solid foundation of followers, as well as the Welding, Art, Robotics, ACT Prep and Science Clubs.
Steinbarger said his focus at this time is attracting students who could use tutoring to catch up on work or gain an advantage with their grades.
“I’m working on getting the Journalism students to create a video to spread the word about the benefits of academic tutoring. In addition, I’m adding science to the list of subjects available for tutoring.”
The grant provides snacks for students staying after school and bus transportation home, if needed. In addition, grant money has recently been used to purchase related equipment including additional welders, Judo mats, garden boxes, a 3-D printer and other technology used in several clubs.
Finally, ILHS educators David Snapp, Ryan Stanford and Principal Kyle Wagner are working with the Welding Club on the early stages of designing the boardwalk that will stretch into and allow for further study of the wetlands at Indian Lake Elementary School.
Careers@ILS is the second 21st Century Grant of its kind to be awarded to the Indian Lake School district. From 2015 to 2017, Indian Lake High School operated a similar program on a more limited basis.
Students may sign up for Careers@ILS programs in the school office.
Also at the meeting, the board approved an agreement with the Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services Board of Logan and Champaign Counties, which includes a reimbursement of $19,802.50 to the school district to provide K-12 Prevention Education services to students during the 2020-21 school year.
The board also entered executive session to consider complaints against public employees and to consider the employment of public employees. Members invited Rob Underwood, Terry Brentlinger, and Dominic Williams into executive session. The board will issue a response as outlined in the negotiated agreement.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the retirement resignations of Warren “Bud” Stillwagon, elementary custodian, effective Feb. 1; and Paula Fout, elementary teacher, effective at the end of the 2020-2021 contract, Aug. 15, 2021;
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Ryan Lillard, head baseball; Dave Snapp, junior varsity baseball; Josh Shelton, assistant varsity baseball ; Chad Lones, head softball; Dean Elliott, Megan Dungeon, assistant softball; Brian Levingston, junior varsity softball; Justin Metzger, head track; Joe Teague, Kristen Soos, assistant track; Nick Richardson, Amy Richardson, Eric Finke, Ron Borgerding, middle school track;
• approved the following volunteer coaches: Chuck Ellerbrock, Renee Metzger, track; and Justin Metzger, Joe Teague, Kristen Soos, Don Thompson, Nick Richardson, Amy Richardson, indoor track;
• appointed Scott Staley to the Ohio Hi Point Board of Education for a three-year term commencing Jan. 1; and
• accepted the donation of $50 from Logan County Ohio Horseman’s Council to IL Food Service Department for student lunches.
The next regular meeting for the Indian Lake Board of Education is Monday, Dec. 21.