MINGO JUNCTION — The Indian Creek Local Board of Education advanced plans for a community innovation center after accepting funding and approving an architectural firm during the Sept. 19 regular session.

During the meeting at Indian Creek Middle School, leaders approved a grant agreement for more than $6.5 million, which will be used to establish a site for public health and workforce development the Mingo Junction campus, plus they selected Sol-Harris/Day Architecture of North Canton to serve as the design professional and provide related construction services for the Indian Creek Innovation Center project. The grant is part of the estimated $88 million Appalachian Community Innovation Centers Program that was established with the Ohio General Assembly and funded through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. District officials learned of the allocation this summer and took the first step to make it a reality.

“We will select a construction manager and also approved work with Sol-Harris/Day, so we’ll begin the design phase and start to work with our partners on the design of the building,” said Superintendent T.C. Chappelear. “I’m excited. I think we’re going to be able to provide a great service to the residents, community and surrounding school districts.”

The funding will be used to create full-service centers for public education, community health services and career development in Appalachian Ohio and district leaders have partnered with Trinity Health System, the Jefferson County Educational Service Center, Jefferson County Department of Job and Family Services and the Jefferson County Community Action Council to provide services for students and residents. Officials want to develop a 14,000-square-foot, single-story building to include a health monitoring facility in partnership with Trinity Health System; space for JCESC’s Quest Center to offer alternative educational placement for Jefferson and Harrison County students; and a workforce development program in conjunction with JCCAC. The health facility would accommodate a day treatment program for students in grades K-8 while Trinity Health System will provide a walk-in health clinic for local residents and the Quest Center, which is currently based in Steubenville, typically supports about 15-20 students per day and ensures that they receive the educational tools they need to learn. Additionally, the workforce development site would provide an Ohio Means Jobs access point for resume assistance and life skills training services for adults and dislocated workers.

Program guidelines included being a grades K-12 school district, joint vocational school district, regional council of government or other political subdivision located within the 32-county Appalachian region of Ohio, and applicants with multiple partners had to identify a single organization as lead applicant. Among local units of government or government-related entities were townships, villages, cities, school districts, libraries, community improvement corporations, county governments or council of governments. Educational institutions and nonprofits were also eligible and the lead applicants must operate in, and the project occur within the 32 counties.

Eighty-four applications were submitted for funding and Indian Creek was among only a dozen chosen. Chappelear said work must be completed when the grant concludes on Dec. 31, 2026.

The construction or renovation projects must combine the three components for K-12 education, health care for physical or mental health services and job-related programming and preference was given to expansion projects for applicants that currently house at least two of the three components, such as existing school-based health centers. Up to $85 million is available for construction and no local match is required; however, applicants must locally fund any project costs exceeding the grant amount.

“The school districts are excited about the day treatment program for students and we are looking forward to working with all of our partners,” Chappelear commented. “We know in the end it’s going to be a great benefit to our community.”

In other matters, the board learned of results on the Ohio State Report Card which was released on Sept. 13. Chappelear said the report was still being reviewed but highlights included 4.5 stars for Indian Creek High School and four stars for the fifth-and sixth-grade classes at ICMS. Officials will discuss the report card further at the next session.

“We’re excited to see the improvements and students working hard. In the coming months, we’ll look more in-depth and have plans underway to continue to make strides in all areas. We look forward to that challenge.”

Among other action, the board:

• Adopted permanent appropriations for fiscal year 2025;

• Entered an agreement with the Jefferson County Juvenile Court for a liaison officer through Aug. 31;

• Approved a variety of personnel include after school care teachers and classified staff, classified substitutes, continuing classified contracts and extra-duty supplemental contracts; accepted the resignations of Tom Mort as ICHS after school activities director and intervention head department chair for the current school year due to a teaching reassignment at ICMS; Michele Moscufo as cook/cashier at Cross Creek Elementary and added her as a classified sub; Cathleen Darling as cook/cashier at ICHS; and hired Nicholas Knopf as a long-term substitute teacher for the 2024-25 school year;

• Heard from Assistant Superintendent John Belt, who said the HVAC upgrade was ongoing at the middle school and the high school track was resurfaced but still needs restriping;

• Set the next regular session for 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at ICMS.