NEW TEACHERS — The Indian Creek Local School District recognized its latest staff during a Reception prior to the Aug. 21 regular school board meeting. Nine new instructors began this year with many attending the event. Joining Superintendent T.C. Chappelear, left, were Jules Giovengo, Amanda Speece, David Guess, Maribeth Arlia and Christopher Parker. Makenzie Householder, Tera Parrish, Abigail Copeland and Ken Herron also are new to the staff. -- Contributed

MINGO JUNCTION — Indian Creek Local School District recognized its newest teachers during a reception prior to the Aug. 21 regular school board meeting.

Nine names were added to this year’s staff roster, many of whom attended the gathering at the Indian Creek Middle School cafetorium in Mingo Junction. District Food Service Director Nicole Marshall and the school cafeteria staff provided refreshments and school leaders were on hand to meet the new educators. Superintendent T.C. Chappelear welcomed the group and wished them well as they began their career in the district.

“We’ve done this for the past 11 years and it gives board members a chance to put a face to the name,” Chappelear said. “Welcome to Indian Creek and we hope your stay is a happy one. I hope you find Indian Creek as great a place as we do.”

Among the new teachers were Makenzie Householder, who returns to instruct first grade at Cross Creek Elementary; Jules Giovengo, physical education teacher at CCE; Tera Parrish, a first-grade teacher at Hills Elementary; Abigail Copeland, who will teach fifth-grade English/language arts at ICMS; David Guess, ELA teacher at ICMS; Christopher Parker, financial literacy and modern history teacher at Indian Creek High School; Amanda Speece, art teacher at ICHS; Maribeth Arlia, Algebra II and intro to college math teacher, ICHS; and Ken Herron, math teacher at ICHS.

Personnel matters continued to be the theme of the subsequent school board meeting, which included resignations for ICMS cook/cashier Randa Bright, bus driver Sara Santille and head softball coach Angela Penner; the employment of CCE cook/cashier Ashley Rager, Hills cook/cashiers Kristina Gabel and Pamela Dodds, CCE paraprofessional Madison Hoobler, ICMS cook/cashier Ashley Huber; before and after school care staff at Hills, CCE and ICMS, including teachers Ruth Rees, A.J. Renner, Amy Roe, Robyn Scott, Angela Brncic, Kristi Sciarra, Natalie Ujcich, Staci Copeland, Richard Foglia, Stacey Zink, Brenda Hyde, Christina Keyser, Marie Cline and Linda Scarabino with coordinators Mary-Lil Giusto at CCE, Renner at Hills and Zink at ICMS; naming Logan Baker a volunteer for ICHS E-Sports for the 2025-26 school year; supplemental contracts for Andy Waggoner for ICHS freshman boys’ basketball, John Brettell and Clay Edgerly for ICMS eighth-grade boys’ basketball (1/2), Joe Pulver, Tom Winland and Austin Walter for ICHS assistant boys’ basketball and Sam Robinson for ICMS wrestling; extra-duty supplemental contracts for Virginia Pawelczyk for ICMS seventh-grade boys’ basketball and Ruth Edgerly-Rees as Hills after school activities coordinator; and approvals for classified substitutes Katherine Harris, cafeteria and secretary; Kelly Lamantia, cafeteria, secretary and paraprofessional; BethAnn McCord, cafeteria and paraprofessional; and Susan Pierpoint, cafeteria.

Officials entered into an agreement with the Jefferson County Educational Service Center for Title I and staffing services for 12 months from Aug. 1 to July 31. JCESC also was authorized to be the district hiring agency for those certified/licensed substitute employees who are not utilized through the Ohio Substitute Teacher Services.

In other matters, the board:

• Recognized board President Dr. John Figel as a Distinguished Board Member through the Ohio School Boards Association. Figel, who has served separate terms totaling 30 years, received his latest honor for 20 years of dedication but will not seek re-election when his term expires;

• Heard project updates from Assistant Superintendent John Belt about parking lot work at Hills and ICMS with restriping at CCE for safety purposes, while plans will be made for crack fill, sealing and restriping at each school. He said ICMS received new gym lights that will save money but will need to replace two air handlers in the building;

• Heard from OAPSE President Judy Johnson, who thanked leaders and transportation director Brenda Staffilino for coordinating bus routes for the year. She also thanked Belt and staff for projects and custodians for their work prepping the buildings;

• Heard from District Food Service Director Nicole Marshall that a new serving bar will be installed at Hills in September;

• Approved the cost of before care at the rate of $2 per child/per day and after care at for $5 per child/per day;

• Entered into an agreement with the Trinity Health System School of Nursing to provide nursing students clinical learning experiences from August to December;

• Approved a one-year agreement with Chrysalis Health commencing Aug. 1;

• Approved an agreement with the Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities effective July 1 through June 30.