The Indian Lake Local School District Board of Education conducted its annual organizational meeting Monday, Jan. 12, followed by its first regular board meeting of the new year.
Gabe Wickline was unanimously voted board president for the tenth year in a row, while Chad Ross was chosen to serve as vice president for the ninth straight year.
Board members Scott Staley and Shannon Reese were also sworn in after being re-elected in last fall’s general election.
District treasurer Brady Hipsher administered the oaths of office.
The board designated the Sidney Daily News as the district’s official newspaper of record and WPKO as its official radio station of record. The Indian Lake Education Association and the Indian Lake Association of Classified Employees were formally recognized as employee bargaining units.
A $15,000 Board Service Fund was established, and board members were approved to participate in the district’s health, dental, and vision insurance plans at their own expense. The board also approved annual funding for the Board Flower Fund, supported by 20 percent—or another agreed-upon percentage—of each building’s picture commission proceeds, for employee and immediate family bereavement, hospitalization, and births or adoptions.
School-affiliated organizations recognized for service and liability insurance purposes included Indian Lake Athletic Boosters, Indian Lake Music Boosters, the Indian Lake FFA Alumni Chapter, and the Indian Lake Elementary School PTO.
The board affirmed its support for administrative involvement in educational, civic, and service activities throughout the community and county. Additional approvals authorized the treasurer to pay bills within appropriation limits, make necessary fund transfers and advances subject to board ratification, invest interim funds, and secure advances from the county auditor when available.
Superintendent Rob Underwood was designated as the district’s purchasing agent and authorized to participate in federal and state grant and entitlement programs, accept donations on behalf of the district, and make personnel decisions in emergency situations. Construction fund capital expenditures funded by security proceeds were approved to count toward annual capital improvement and maintenance set-aside requirements. The student activities and athletic director was designated as purchasing agent for that department.
District treasurer Brady Hipsher was appointed as the board’s designee for required public records training. Board member compensation was set at the maximum amount permitted by law per meeting, including regular, special, and committee meetings, not to exceed 12 meetings annually.
The board also established its regular meeting schedule for 2026, with meetings to be held at the Indian Lake Board of Education Office, 6210 State Route 235 North, Lewistown, on the following dates and times:
• Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, at 5 p.m.
• Monday, March 16, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, April 20, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, May 18, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, June 22, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, July 27, 2026, at 5 p.m.
• Monday, Aug. 17, 2026, at 5 p.m.
• Monday, Sept. 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, Oct. 19, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, Nov. 23, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
• Monday, Dec. 21, 2026, at 5:30 p.m.
Committee assignments, which remain unchanged from last year, were approved as recommended by the superintendent.
Appointments were also made to external boards and liaison roles, including:
• Ohio School Boards Association – Mr. Staley (delegate) and Ms. Reese (alternate)
• Association Student Achievement Liaison – Ms. Reese
• Ohio Hi-Point Career Center Board – Mr. Staley (term Jan. 1, 2024, through Dec. 31, 2026)
• Russells Point Parks and Recreation Board – Ms. Shannon Reese
The organiztional meeting was followed by the body’s first regular meeting of 2026.
Approved was a financial report ending Dec. 31, along with board bills as presented, and minutes from the Dec. 15 regular meeting.
The board approved modifications to estimated resources and appropriations and approved a contract with PowerSchool for records application and implementation fees. Several donations were accepted, including a $100 contribution from Mary Royer to the Joshua Keith Scholarship Fund; a $100 donation from Connie Hall in honor of Elba Post and Karen Schwaderer to the Elementary Clothing Closet; $86,133.92 from Indian Lake Moose gaming proceeds and $34,070.09 from Indian Lake Eagles gaming proceeds for athletic and academic programs; and donations totaling $3,000 to the Student Needs Fund, including $1,000 from an anonymous donor and $1,000 each from Dave and Deb Campbell.
The board approved the Midwest Regional Educational Service Center substitute employee list dated Jan. 12. All contracts are contingent upon completion of required background checks and placement on the salary schedule by the treasurer in accordance with applicable labor agreements and district procedures.
The board also adopted a resolution in accordance with Senate Bill 216 amending Ohio Revised Code Section 3301.0711(G)(4), permitting the district to administer third-grade English Language Arts assessments in paper format during the 2026–27 school year.
Board members celebrated a milestone award and received a special education update at the meeting.
The district Positive Behavior Incentives and Supports Team announced that Indian Lake Elementary School was awarded a Gold Rating for the long-time Laker Zone program.
District PBIS leader and ILES Co-Principal Pam Scarpella credits the staff and students for this top-level achievement.
“My PBIS team-my tier one team- everyday we continue to practice the Laker Zone, reminding and teaching kids the expectations,” Scarpella said, adding, “the tier two and tier three teams have been able to take negative behaviors and turn them into positives for the kids.”
“I’ve seen increases in students’ attitudes and their learning. It’s just been great all around!”
ILES has been using the Laker Zone system for decades, continually improving the methods to make a greater impact on behaviors and significantly reduced discipline referrals to the office.
Indian Lake Special Education Director Krystal Loy also presented her annual update. She says the district continues to diligently serve the nearly 20-percent of IL students who are on individual education plans or 504 plans for enhanced specific instruction. Loy says challenges ahead include an increasing special education population and greater needs for this group.
The board accepted several donations and gave a first reading to the proposed 2026-27 calendar. The calendar is open for public comment until the February meeting.
The next BOE meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19 at the board office.
*Jamie Ross, ILS, provided information for this report.
