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MINGO JUNCTION -- A three-year deal has been reached between the Indian Creek Local School District and the Indian Creek Education Association that officials formally approved on Thursday.
Outgoing ICEA President Karen Lloyd thanked leaders during the regular school board meeting at Indian Creek Middle School as she conducted her final order of business. She shared her appreciation with the board and administrators for coming to an agreement with the teachers' union. The deal runs from Monday to June 30, 2027.
"We thought it went very well and it was very fair," she said. "The members overwhelmingly approved it. We feel we got a very clear contract and appreciate it."
Lloyd added that the 140 teachers will benefit from the contract, and she was pleased to see the cooperation continue between both parties. Board member Stephen Cowser echoed those comments, saying he believed talks with the ICEA and Ohio Association of Public School Employees were equally fruitful.
"I felt it was very professional. The ICEA committee was very cordial and it was very professionally done," he added.
Superintendent T.C. Chappelear noted the same and was thrilled with the outcome.
"We had a great process. We collaborated on a great agreement," he said. "It's good for the district, it's good for the teachers and it's good for the students."
The board later ratified the negotiated agreement. On a related note, Lloyd introduced successor Joe Hammack as the new ICEA president and was recognized for her 32 years of service in education. Lloyd said she may be involved again in the future and was considering a state role with the Ohio Education Association.
Officials decided further personnel matters with a series of staffing issues on the agenda. Among them were the hiring of Todd Herman as assistant principal at ICMS and replace Scott Abercrombie, who will serve as principal at the Jefferson County Christian School; Carolyn Knabenshue as a preschool intervention specialist at Cross Creek Elementary; Alisa Woldrom as sixth-grade writing teacher at ICMS; John Wardle as custodian at ICMS; Jennifer Kleineke as a preschool teacher at Hills Elementary; Lorrie Jarrett as third-grade teacher at CCE; Zach Crawford as physical education teacher at CCE; Lindsay McAfee as a third-grade teacher at CCE; Camryn Case as a first-grade teacher at CCE; Taylor Scott as an interactive media teacher at ICHS; Kelcie Cottis as a kindergarten teacher at CCE; Johnna Provenzano as a career technical education business teacher at ICHS; Raymond Martin as a district custodian/groundskeeper and Richard Foglia as an intervention teacher at ICMS.
The board also approved resignations from Indian Creek High School business teacher Amanda Taflan, ICMS ELA teacher Anthony Renzelli, ICMS intervention teacher Shaun Ford, groundskeeper/custodian Jay Swearingen as well as Lloyd's retirement. They also accepted resignations from ICHS cook/cashier Pricilla Redmond and custodian Kevin Gray, but Redmond will remain at ICMS while Gray was hired on the substitute list.
Among other business:
• The board approved an agreement with JD&E Inc. Construction Services to complete a renovation at the high school. Chappelear said the current media area will be revamped as a classroom to create space for a new career-technical education program called information support and services;
• The ICHS baseball team was recognized for making it to the OHSAA Division II semifinals in Akron while the football team has already been participating in activities to prepare for the new season. Chappelear also recognized ICHS student Brayden Stewart for receiving the R.A. Horn Award through the Ohio State Support Team at a banquet in Columbus;
• Board President Dr. Ted Starkey discussed legislation regarding financial literacy instruction;
• Assistant Superintendent John Belt said the scoreboard was being installed at the softball field while upgrades are underway to the HVAC and connectivity systems at ICMS this summer.