The Indian Lake Local School District Board of Education held its annual organizational meeting on Monday, followed by the regular monthly meeting.
Board members elected new leadership for the 2026 calendar year.
Gabe Wickline was chosen to serve as President of the Board, while Chad Ross was elected Vice President.
Board members approved their regular meeting schedule for 2026, which will be held at the Board of Education Office:
- Thursday, February 19 at 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, March 16 at 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, April 20 at 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, July 27 at 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, August 17 at 5:00 p.m.
- Monday, September 21 at 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, October 19 at 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, November 23 at 5:30 p.m.
- Monday, December 21 at 5:30 p.m.
The district’s regular January Board of Education meeting immediately followed the organizational meeting, with a light agenda.
Indian Lake Board of Education members celebrated a milestone award and received a special education update.
The district PBIS Team announced that Indian Lake Elementary School was awarded a Gold Rating for the long-time Laker Zone program.
PBIS stands for Positive Behavior Incentives and Supports.
District PBIS leader and ILES Co-Principal Pam Scarpella credits the staff and students for this top-level achievement.
“My PBIS team-my tier one team- everyday we continue to practice the Laker Zone, reminding and teaching kids the expectations. The tier two and tier three teams have been able to take negative behaviors and turn them into positives for the kids.” She continued, “I’ve seen increases in students’ attitudes and their learning. It’s just been great all around!”
ILES has been using the Laker Zone system for decades, continually improving the methods to make a greater impact on behaviors and significantly reduce discipline referrals to the office.
Indian Lake Special Education Director Krystal Loy also presented her annual update.
She says the district continues to diligently serve the nearly 20% of IL students who are on individual education plans or 504 plans for enhanced, specific instruction.
Loy says challenges ahead include an increasing special education population and greater needs for this group.
Finally, the board accepted several donations and gave a first reading to the proposed 2026-27 calendar.
The calendar is open for public comment until the February meeting.
Donations were accepted, including:
- $100 from Mary Royer to the Joshua Keith Scholarship Fund
- $100 from Connie Hall in honor of Elba Post and Karen Schwaderer to the Elementary Clothing Closet
- $86,133.92 from Indian Lake Moose gaming proceeds
- $34,070.09 from Indian Lake Eagles gaming proceeds for athletic and academic programs
- Three $1,000 donations to the Student Needs Fund from an anonymous donor, Dave Campbell, and Deb Campbell
The next regular meeting of the Indian Lake Board of Education is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. at the Board of Education Office in Lewistown.
