Indian Creek Local board approves payments, $1.5 million bond appropriation and broad personnel slate; schedules June 30 fiscal meeting

The Indian Creek Local School District Board of Education met May 21, 2026, at Indian Creek Middle School and approved routine minutes and financial items before taking a package of fiscal and personnel actions.

The board voted 5–0 to approve the April 16, 2026 meeting minutes and the district’s April financial report and bank reconciliation. By motion #35‑05‑26 the board approved payment of invoices listed on the agenda and supplemental appropriations that included $200,000 to the Permanent Improvement (003‑9009), $2,000 to Hills (018‑960E) and $1,500,000 to a Bonds fund (002‑9009). The board also approved two transfers to cover Tax Anticipation Note payments due June 1, 2026: $6,561.00 from 003‑9009 to 002‑9019 and $10,998.03 from 003‑9009 to 002‑9022.

The agenda included vendor and service items such as bus camera purchases (Pro Vision), prom rental, and other invoices; motions on those items were approved as part of the consent/business package. The board approved a recommendation to switch employee health insurance to Medical Mutual of Ohio for the 2026–27 plan year and approved agreements with JCESC (staffing for summer school), SORSA (liability/property insurance participation) and OME‑RESA (fee and service structure) for the coming school year.

The board also approved administrative items including selecting OSBA Capital Conference delegates and granting conditional transportation releases for two students — Braden and Juliana Wanchik and Olivia Ickes — contingent on their release by Steubenville City Schools for transportation purposes only.

Under other business the treasurer requested and the board set a special meeting for 7:00 a.m. on June 30, 2026, at the district office to finalize fiscal‑year closing resolutions and any last‑minute personnel or business items.

Nut graf: The meeting’s principal fiscal actions were a grouped approval of vendor payments and transfers to fund debt service coming due June 1, plus a carry‑forward of multiple personnel renewals and hires that the board approved in a single motion. The minutes record one personnel recommendation later in the agenda without a recorded vote; the minutes do not specify a final tally for that item.

Personnel actions approved in bulk included renewal of multiple teaching contracts (continuing, multiyear and one‑year lists), hiring of many extra‑duty and supplemental positions across schools (coaches, advisors, coordinators), several classified substitute approvals, and administrative contract revisions (including the contract revision for Keith Swearingen from ICHS Assistant Principal to ICMS Principal, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029). The board approved personnel items A–Q excluding item P by motion #36‑05‑26 (vote 4–1; Ms. Schoolcraft recorded a no vote).

The agenda included the district’s proposed IDEA participation statement, presented for compliance with federal IDEA guidelines. The statement on the record reads in part: "The Indian Creek Local School District Board of Education encourages and supports public participation as its goal to provide full and complete services to all handicapped students in the District." This text was part of the recommended participation statement before the board.

Reports and briefings during the meeting included union and association remarks (I.C.E.A. and O.A.P.S.E.), a facilities update and OFCC visit report from administrative staff, and food‑service updates. Treasurer Mr. Lewis updated the board on the closing of a bond refinance; Assistant Superintendent Mr. Belt reported construction progress and said the middle school will need a new bell system.

The board adjourned at 7:50 p.m. (motion #38‑05‑26, all yes).

Votes at a glance - #31‑05‑26: Approve minutes (April 16, 2026) — 5 yes, 0 no - #32‑05‑26: Approve bills/financials (April 2026) — 5 yes, 0 no - #33‑05‑26: Enter executive session for appointment — 5 yes, 0 no - #34‑05‑26: Adopt addendum to agenda — approved 4 yes, 0 no, 1 abstain (Mr. Cowser) - #35‑05‑26: Approve New Business items A–M — 5 yes, 0 no - #36‑05‑26: Approve Personnel items A–Q excluding P — 4 yes, 1 no (Ms. Schoolcraft) - #38‑05‑26: Adjourn — unanimous

A recommended employment for Matthew Cowser as ICHS assistant principal appears in the minutes as a superintendent recommendation; the provided segments do not record a vote or outcome for that specific recommendation.

Sources and provenance: actions and vote tallies are taken from the minutes as recorded in the provided transcript segments for May 21, 2026.