The Indian Lake Board of Education appointed a member, accepted a sizable donation and heard about an ongoing art project at the elementary school during a jam-packed January regular meeting.
First, Indian Lake Treasurer Coleen Reprogle administered the oath of office to Scott Staley.
Superintendent Rob Underwood explained that there was a vacancy on the board after no one successfully ran for the open seat during the November general election. In December, the board accepted letters of interest from three interested individuals.
“They worked through that process at the last meeting and ultimately decided to appoint Scott Staley. He has served on the board previously and he actually had filed to run for the position and his petition was disqualified due to a slight error on that petition.
“So given those factors and the fact that he has served on the Ohio Hi-Point Board of Education, he was reappointed to our board.”
Superintendent Underwood also accepted a check and thanked Abbi Hastings with the Indian Lake Watershed. The $4,000 donation is from the annual Nashville Hitmakers Concert in the summer that raises money to support the health of Indian Lake’s water quality and Indian Lake Schools music programs.
Indian Lake Elementary Art Teacher Terry Nelson gave board members an update on the Ohio Arts Council Artist In Residence grant project that began in 2019 with polymer clay artist Melissa Terlizzi.
The project highlights the plants and animals in the wetland behind the school. Clay letter tiles and a book explaining each one will be unveiled this spring.
Board members also considered the 2022-23 Indian Lake Schools calendar that was chosen by staff members and presented by Superintendent Rob Underwood. After a period of public comment, they will vote on the calendar at next month’s meeting.
Finally, board members enjoyed cupcakes in honor of January as School Board Appreciation Month in Ohio.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the resignation of Sandra Knotts, bus driver, with an effective last day of Jan. 21;
• accepted the supplemental contract resignation of Zach Newcomb, girls JV basketball coach,
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Kaylee Shelton, girls JV basketball; McKenzie Thorpe, head boys soccer coach (2022-23 school year); Dylan Knotts, assistant high school wrestling; Dean Elliott, JV softball; Jason Schwaderer, ninth-grade softball; Kaylee Shelton, assistant varsity softball;
• accepted the Logan County Electric Co-op Grant for the FFA Pole Barn Project in the amount of $4,974.85;
• accepted the anonymous donation for the FFA Pole Barn Project in the amount of $3,000,
• accepted the $400 donation from Tyler Rode for the Class of 2015 Memorial Scholarship Fund; and
• accepted the two Logan County Electric Cooperative Energizing Education (LCECEE) grants that total $727.69, and established those grant funds.
The next meeting is 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22, in the Board of Education Office, 6210 N. State Route 235 N, Lewistown.