The Indian Lake Local School District Board of Education on Thursday, Feb. 19, approved multiple longtime retirements, honored a champion middle school speller, and examined the district’s long-term financial outlook during its regular board meeting.
Treasurer Brady Hipsher presented the district’s required four-to-five-year financial forecast, noting that recent and anticipated legislative changes are expected to affect school funding. Superintendent Dr. Rob Underwood said the district is preparing for a period of flat revenue growth in the years ahead.
“We know that our funding is going to be pretty much flatlined at the rate of inflation,” Underwood said. “And we also know that the emergency levy is going to be rolled into the 20-mil floor and will eventually go away, so we are planning for how we can adjust for those income changes in the future.”
Student achievement was highlighted as the board recognized Indian Lake Middle School seventh grader Calin Headings with a certificate of achievement after winning the Logan County Spelling Bee. Headings is a three-time Indian Lake Middle School spelling bee champion and is preparing to compete again during his eighth-grade year.
Personnel matters were a major focus of the meeting, as the board approved resignations, retirements, and multiple supplemental and volunteer contracts.
The board formally accepted resignations for purposes of retirement of three longtime district employees: Julie Grider, an eighth-grade science teacher retiring effective June 1, 2026, after 34 years of service; Barb Keykens, high school guidance secretary retiring effective Feb. 28, 2026, following nearly 30 years with the district; and Pam Scarpella, elementary co-principal retiring effective July 1, 2026, after 25 years of service as a teacher, PBIS leader, and administrator.
Superintendent Underwood described the retirements as bittersweet.
“We are extremely happy for those individuals,” he said. “It just speaks volumes of our district and the culture we have here that they’re willing to spend nearly three decades with us caring for our kids and community.”
The next regular board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, March 16.
In other action, the board:
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Approved the financial report ending Jan. 31, 2026, the financial forecast with assumptions as of Feb. 19, 2026, and board bills as presented.
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Approved modifications to estimated resources and appropriations and adopted the district’s Permanent Improvement Fund Plan.
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Accepted donations totaling more than $20,000, including $5,452.80 from AMVETS Post #39 for eighth-grade trips to Washington, D.C.; $2,500 from Deb Campbell to the Student Needs Fund; $5,000 from Donald and Karla Stevens to the Girls and Pearls Student Activity Account; $1,000 from James Kelly to the girls bowling program; $3,715.12 from the Blackbaud Giving Fund on behalf of the McKesson Group to the Elementary Student Needs Fund; and donations to the Joshua Keith Memorial Scholarship in memory of James Staley from Jo and James Hudson ($50), Harrison Township ($100), and Traci and Matthew Roderick ($25).
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Approved the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center substitute teacher and substitute educational assistant lists effective Feb. 19, 2026.
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Approved resignations including Morgan Kaser, seventh-grade educational assistant, effective at the conclusion of the 2025–26 school year; Dave Coburn, substitute bus driver, effective Feb. 9, 2026; and Carissa Heminger, fifth- and sixth-grade show choir director, effective March 13, 2026 (contract amended).
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Approved supplemental and volunteer contracts, including an amended fifth- and sixth-grade show choir director assignment (75 percent Carissa Heminger and 25 percent Ashtyn Jackson, both Category 6, zero years’ experience); Caitlyn Brown as head girls soccer coach (Category 3, zero years); Nick Brown as volunteer baseball coach; and Phillip Golden as volunteer wrestling and volunteer track coach.
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Approved the 2026–27 school year calendar.
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Authorized overnight student trips to the DECA State Convention in Columbus (Feb. 24–25, 2026), the DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta (April 25–28, 2026), and a Symphonic Band trip to Cleveland (May 8–10, 2026).
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Approved a resolution authorizing Ohio High School Athletic Association membership for students in grades 7–12 for the 2026–27 school year.
