The Indian Lake Board of Education received a state report card update and gave the go-ahead to explore expanding air conditioning at the high school during their October regular meeting.
Indian Lake Curriculum Director and Gifted Coordinator Kelli Tebbe briefed the board on the results of the 2020-21 Ohio School Report Card for the district.
Superintendent Rob Underwood said the results reveal that despite a pandemic and quarantines, kids need to be in school, in person.
“We’re happy to report that in all areas but two, Indian Lake was above the state average. Our graduation rate is high, as it has been for many years now. Schools across the state were lower with last year’s test, which can be expected especially given Covid and the high chronic absenteeism rates across the state.”
“For Indian Lake, our absenteeism rates were a little bit higher as well, so we can attribute our lower scores overall to the breaks in kids being here. We know that’s really what this year’s tests told us, that kids need to be in the classroom to perform at their best.”
Tebbe explained that no district will receive an overall letter grade on the state report card, like in the past.
In addition, Tebbe detailed Indian Lake’s implementation of the I-Ready program, which uses responsive learning technology to educate students where they are in a subject.
The board also considered using federal covid money to improve overall air quality at Indian Lake High School. Superintendent Underwood and the district’s facilities directors will now begin investigating costs and planning for that upgrade.
Finally, the board heard from Cynthia Defibaugh from the Indian Lake Development Corporation. She invited everyone to attend the grand opening of the brand new all-inclusive playground at Fox Island, once the project is completed at the end of the month.
In other action, the board:
• extended supplemental contracts to Thomas Taylor and Steven Major, middle school wrestling coaches;
• accepted the food service resignation of Heather Griffin, effective Oct. 15;
• approved Dean Elliott as a Thursday night school monitor to be paid at the rate of $15 per hour;
• approved the property and fleet insurance policy with Ohio School Plan for Nov. 6 to July 1, 2022, in the amount of $48,466;
• accepted the following donations: $400 from the Indian Lake Chamber to Key Club; $75 from the Indian Lake Chamber to boys soccer; $1,000 from Bud’s Marina to the IL FFA Pole Barn/Farm Project; $100 donation from Hollanshead Kinsey Insurance to the IL FFA Pole Barn/Farm Project; $603 donation from Iron City to the IL FFA Pole Barn/Farm Project; and $1,000 anonymous donation to the IL Student Needs fund;
• accepted and created the fund for the $4,000 local grant from the James Forsythe Milroy Foundation; and
• authorized the debt service payment of $2,121,743.75 for the building bonds due Dec. 1, 2021.
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Nov. 15, at at the board office, 6210 N. State Route 235, Lewistown.