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WINTERSVILLE -- The Indian Creek Local School District has earned its fourth consecutive four-star rating through the Ohio Auditor of State's Star Rating System, or StaRS.
The district received the highest achievement for open and transparent government from Ohio Auditor of State Keith Faber. The rating covers the period from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
District Treasurer/CFO Adam Lewis said the distinction recognizes the district's efforts to respond to public records requests and fulfill the state's recommended best practices, including proper documentation for audits, timely responses and complete responses.
"This is a component of our financial audit and we review our compliance with public records requests. It means that we’ve been open to any public records request and our policies and procedures are in place providing the public with access to records," Lewis said. "This is the fourth consecutive year our district has earned the highest possible rating. We received four stars for Fiscal Years 2022, 2023, 2024, and now 2025. Prior to that, we earned three stars for the 2021 fiscal year. That consistency matters. It shows that this is not a one-time result--it is the product of deliberate, ongoing work by our staff and board of education."
Lewis said the StaRS rating, which began in 2020, evaluates how well public entities comply with Ohio Sunshine Laws and whether they go beyond minimum requirements by adopting additional best practices.
"A four-star rating means we not only meet every legal requirement for public records and open meetings, but we have also implemented five or more of the recommended best practices that make government more accessible to the public," he added. "Transparency is not optional for a school district. Our community has a right to know how their tax dollars are managed, how decisions are made, and how records are handled. This recognition affirms that we take that responsibility seriously every day."
Lewis thanked his team in the treasurer's office, including assistants Pam Watson, Aimee Glenn and Jackie Scott, as well as the district's administrative staff and school board for their commitment.
"We will continue to hold ourselves to this standard," he concluded.
Superintendent Dr. T.C. Chappelear attributed the honor to the work Lewis and his staff do each day to keep the district moving forward.
"Mr. Lewis does a great job with making sure that Indian Creek is transparent, compliant, and fiscally responsible," Chappelear said.