To the editor:
Tipp City schools say they are operating in a 2.2-million-dollar deficit. The school administration and the board are not being honest with the taxpayers.
They got rid of staff under what they called a reduction in force, saying it was necessary to fix the deficit. Then they hired more staff than they got rid of. They let a principle retire and then rehired him back into a made-up position in administration with a much larger salary. They got rid of the Human resource director and then gave two administrators substantial raises. Then they increased all administrator’s pay.
The board approved a DRAFT copy of the teachers’ contract at the August 20th meeting without the addendums of their wages included for anyone to see. The FINAL document, without final approval, was signed by the board president on August 30th with the pay schedules attached. Everyone got raises and will each year for the next 3 years of the contract. How can this money be promised if we are in deficit spending?
The board in the September meeting approved over $264,000.00 to be paid for 3 gifted instructional staff members from Midwest Regional ESC. We pay their salary, all their benefits, including retirement, even their mileage. The company, not our school personnel, evaluates their work and sets their schedules. We have no idea if they are working one hour a week or one week a month. We have no idea what they are going to do. The board approved those contracts- no questions asked.
The board canceled their September work session because they said they had nothing to discuss but put 20 items on the consent agenda to be approved all at once. This month they abruptly rescheduled their work session so it is right before the regular meeting giving less time for the public to look into anything they decide to discuss which they will most likely approve during the regular meeting.
Read the minutes to this year’s board meetings. This board has spent a lot of money on things that weren’t necessary and contracts they did not inquire about. Most items are hidden in the consent agenda, so they are not discussing them in front of the public.
It is past time to wake up and pay attention. Demand the board stop the hemorrhaging of your money and put a halt to the crazy spending. Speak up!
Kathy Bone
Tipp City
