MINGO JUNCTION — The next steps were formally taken with Indian Creek’s Community Innovation Center as school board officials approved agreements for the project during the Oct. 18 regular session.

During the meeting at Indian Creek Middle School in Mingo Junction, the board overwhelmingly approved resolutions with North Canton-based Sol-Harris/Day Architecture as the design professional and Hammond Construction of Akron as construction manager. In addition, district Treasurer Denise Todoroff was given the green light to establish an account and appropriate more than $6.5 million in grant funds to finance the project.

The district received an Appalachian Community Innovation Centers grant totaling $6,515,272 to construct the one-story, 14,000-square-foot facility at the entrance to the campus in Mingo for mental health, education and workforce development services. The grant program was established with the Ohio General Assembly and funded through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) and Indian Creek is among 14 recipients sharing the estimated $88 million windfall. The district is collaborating with Trinity Health System, the Jefferson County Community Action Council and the Jefferson County Educational Service Center’s Quest Center to provide resources for the community and work should get underway this spring.

Superintendent T.C. Chappelear said the process is continuing through the design phase and stakeholders were providing input into the look of the space to best suit their needs.

“We’ve had meetings with the partners from Trinity, Jefferson County CAC and the ESC which were facilitated by Sol/Harris-Day,” he added. “These were preliminary meetings, but we’ll continue with the design phase and eventually (the architects) will have their renderings.”

The center will house a walk-in health clinic and may also accommodate a day treatment program for students in grades K-8 while JCESC’s Quest Center will serve students from Jefferson and Harrison counties and JCCAC will provide an Ohio Means Jobs access point with resume assistance, life skills training and other resources for adults and dislocated workers. Chappelear said groundbreaking should occur around June with the center to be up and running during the summer of 2026.

In other matters, district Food Service Director Nicole Marshall said more students were taking advantage of school meals and numbers showed that 50,084 meals were served between August and September, compared to 42,553 meals at the same time last year. Marshall said that was an increase of 7,531 meals and it could be attributed to various reasons, such as the district’s involvement in the free and reduced lunch program to the many food options students are receiving.

“I feel the participation has been fantastic and the kids are excited, and I have more teacher participation,” she added. “I’m trying to listen to what the kids have to say and we do a six-week menu cycle and get input for meals. I want to try to expand their palates and try something they may not get the opportunity to try at home.”

She noted that pork chops, specialty pizzas and theme days such as Taco Tuesdays and Pasta Thursdays were offered and she also speaks to students and parents through youth and parent advisory committee meetings, which will be brought back to try and critique foods to obtain input and encourage parent involvement.

Among other action, the board:

• Heard from ICMS Principal Holly Minch-Hick about activities in her building, including Sycamore Stars and STEM afterschool programs, a visit from Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Career Workforce Specialist Carina Aulicino addressing students and an eighth-grade visit planned to the Cardinal power plant. Minch-Hick also mentioned a Leader in Me-inspired club day event planned for Nov. 1 to encourage students to join clubs. An arena-style activity is set in the morning and students may select their top three choices for organizations and meet representatives. The goal is to give kids leadership qualities and give back;

• Heard from Indian Creek Education Association President Joe Hammack who reported that it was a good start to the year and building representatives have been established while officials noted the first labor meeting was also held;

• Accepted the resignation of Indian Creek High School art teacher Lucinda Phillippi, who will retire June 30 after 38 years of service. Chappelear congratulated and thanked her for her dedication;

• Hired Miranda Bednarek as cook/cashier at Cross Creek Elementary;

• Accepted the resignation of Kim Mark as district representative to the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School Board of Education and will appoint her replacement at a later date;

• Congratulated the junior and senior high football and volleyball teams as well as the cross country team for their great seasons;

• Heard from Todoroff that the district’s 2023-24 audit was underway;

• Learned from Assistant Superintendent John Belt that the Lester Carney Track at the Robert Kettlewell Memorial Stadium would be closed one day for striping while the school buses’ MARCS radios that were used for safety had outlasted their usefulness and need to be replaced by next summer. He was seeking grant funds to finance the upgrade;

• Heard from Chappelear that the new Creek Squad student IT program was getting underway and members were assisting with Chromebook repairs and other tech help at district buildings. He said it was a great start to the school year with plenty happening at Indian Creek schools;

• Set the next meeting for 6 p.m. Nov. 21 at ICMS.