Ohio School Safety Center Unveils "Cheese"
Posted on 05/13/2026
Indian Lake Elementary students and staff are excited to be the first to meet Ohio's brand new school safety mascot!
Representatives from the Ohio School Safety Center introduced their emotional support dog named "Cheese" at the conclusion of the recent ILES Summer Reading Kick Off assembly.
James Burke from the Ohio School Safety Center explains that a few years ago kindergarteners in Mrs. Sarah Elliott's class gave him input for a school safety comic book he was developing to cover topics like bullying, bus safety, tip lines and more. The ILES students loved the hero character, a student named LJ Mac, but they felt he needed an animal friend.
Burke said, "So I got the idea, since LJ is on School Safety Patrol, one of his duties is to take of Cheese--the school's emotional support dog. That led into let's get a mascot costume and today we thought it only appropriate for the first people to be able to see Cheese were the ones who came up with the idea here at Indian Lake Elementary."
Students were able to give Cheese a hug or high-five. In addition, each kiddo will also get a copy of the brand new comic book "The Adventures of LJ Mac and Cheese--Summertime Blues."
Finally, students who complete the Summer Reading Program 30-book challenge will be put into a drawing to use their name as a character in an upcoming edition of Mac and Cheese!
Schools throughout Ohio can schedule a visit from Cheese by visiting the Ohio School Safety Center at https://ohioschoolsafetycenter.ohio.gov/