DISCUSSION — Members of the Indian Creek High School Creek Squad made a presentation during Thursday’s school board session and discussed their roles in assisting students and faculty at district schools by servicing their technology. Among those taking part in the meeting were, from left, Nathan Pemberton, Markus Beisel, Issac Thornton and Ethan Dyrdek. -- Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — Students ruled the school during Thursday’s Indian Creek Board of Education session.

Indian Creek High School Career-Tech Education Department Head Dave Moffat and Creek Squad members Issac Thornton, Ethan Dyrdek, Markus Beisel and Nathan Pemberton gave a presentation about their program during the meeting at Indian Creek Middle School in Mingo Junction and discussed and how it is making a difference in the district. About a half-dozen tech-savvy students spend time at ICHS, ICMS and Hills and Cross Creek Elementary schools repairing Chromebooks and helping teachers troubleshoot issues within their systems, and to date they have completed more than 300 repairs. Moffat explained that he, district CTE Coordinator Dan Hartman and Superintendent T.C. Chappelear wrote an Ohio Career-Tech Education grant and received $150,000 to help develop the Creek Squad as well as acquire two FANUC robotic arms.

“Chappelear said the school had this need and I was running the tech support services program. The grant helped expand the program and focus on new fields we’d see in Ohio,” he continued. “We also do programming for the FANUC robotic arm, which is the same one used at the new (Form Energy) battery plant in Weirton. (The students) can get certified and get a job.”

Drone aircraft certification will be offered next year. For now, Moffat said the tech leaders provide an exceptional support and service within the community and he only hopes to see it grow with at least 12 members and more opportunities.

“They earn industry credentials now such as CompTIA Plus and it’s projected that in the next few years there will be 1.5 million jobs with drone technology,” he noted. “It includes freshmen to seniors, but we’re trying to make it so the juniors and seniors can be released to come to the buildings.”

Moffat said his role was more as oversight while the tech leaders take it upon themselves to work at the four schools. Additionally, they earn 250 work-based hours which is required for graduation. During discussion, the board learned that the tech leaders service hardware 80 percent of the time with the remainder spent on software. The students said many were a five-minute fix, but they really enjoyed interacting with the faculty and pupils. Several noted how they and the schools have benefitted.

“It’s been so impactful that without it, we’d be so far behind. I think helping at all of the schools is the best thing we could do — to help everybody,” said Beisel.

“Since I’ve been in the program, I’ve been coming to school almost every day,” added Pemberton. “I want to go to Kent State to study technology.”

Moffat said officials wanted to ensure the students took more ownership of the technology they service. Another goal is to conduct a Tech Tuesday where the students train the teachers.

“The students and teachers like the Creek Squad students. This has been a gamechanger,” he added. “There’s no other school district (I’m aware of) that has students serving the schools. As this goes on, we will focus on Chromebooks but they will be servicing a lot more technology.”

“The vision is to have academics in the morning and Creek Squad activities in the afternoon,” Dr. Chappelear commented.

Assistant Superintendent John Belt said Moffat and the Creek Squad members made a presentation that week to 40 members at the Local Professional Development Committee meeting.

“All of the people were really engaged, so it’s pretty obvious we’re doing something unique,” Belt said.

In related matters, the board recognized coach Steve Eft and members of the ICHS girls’ basketball team for a successful season, which concluded last month at the OHSAA Division IV regional semifinals. The season included 100 wins for Eft and the second district win in the school’s history. Officials lauded the team for their hard work.

“We appreciate the effort the coaches and players have put forth, and hopefully we’ll be seeing more to come. Congratulations,” said board President Dr. John Figel.

“With determination, pride and grit, you were successful and made everybody in the community really proud,” added board member Stephen Cowser of the three-time OVAC champs.

Among other matters, the board:

• Learned that the food service program has seen increased participation and ala carte sales and was conducting activities for faculty, staff and students, plus officials were preparing for upcoming reviews;

• Learned from district Treasurer Adam Lewis that Indian Creek was on track with the five-year forecast and he was preparing for an upcoming 7.9-mill levy renewal. He added that the district was going through a grant review and the board had to affirm compliance and uphold conflict of interest policies. The measure was adopted on the agenda and unanimously passed;

• Heard student achievement reports praising the girls’ basketball team while spring sports was starting. Chappelear mentioned that 11 teams will take part in a track meet at ICHS on Saturday. Meanwhile, the sports boosters held a spring meeting on March 12 and were attempting to start a boys’ soccer program this year and may have a reserve team, for now. Further talks centered on developing a weightlifting schedule into seventh and eighth periods to benefit student athletes;

• Belt said the district buses were updating their 911 radio systems and the replacement should occur this summer, while the phone systems were also being moved to a Cloud platform during Easter break;

• Chappelear said two longtime educators were retiring this year, including high school art teacher Cindy Phillippi and CTE financial literacy teacher Julie Robinson, who were going to be missed. They will be succeeded by new hires Amanda Speece and Christopher Parker. Also mentioned were the upcoming Indian Creek Foundation Reverse Drawing on April 25 and the AI Summit to be held at ICHS on May 7;

• Accepted resignations Diane McAfee and Dawn Carson, both for the purpose of retirement; approved a resignation from custodian John Wardle, effective May 26; and accepted classified substitutes Pamela Dodds, cafeteria; Matthew Hawk, bus driver; Ashley Rager, cafeteria/custodian/secretary; and Dan Shaffer and Holli Carney, cafeteria/secretaries.