Tipp School Board to drop TCEP, discusses stadium replacement

At their work session on Monday, July 27th, board members continued their “facility opportunities/safety and accessibility” discussion from last month. They decided to focus their attention this meeting on short-term solutions for the football stadium at City Park. Since Tipp City owns the stadium but Tipp Schools maintains it, any significant accessibility upgrades must be agreed upon by both parties and the Miami County Conservatory District, since the stadium sits in a floodplain. But does Tipp Schools want to pour money into a facility it doesn’t own, or should it consider building a new stadium near Tipp High School? Superintendent Aaron Moran agreed to contact an architect to get cost estimates for the stadium improvements, which could be ready for the 2027 football season, talk to the City Manager Eric Mack about the potential improvements, and draft some communications for Tipp residents. Moran also noted that accessibility improvements for the softball field could be completed this Fall, 2026.

Board members then turned to discussing safety considerations at the stadium, focusing on the current procedure of allowing football stadium attendees to continually enter, leave, and re-enter the stadium throughout games. What are attendees bringing in, and what are they doing while outside the stadium? Is it safe for kids to be running around during games? Superintendent Moran said several extra security people would be hired for the football games, and he would draft a new policy restricting stadium attendees from continually leaving and re-entering the stadium, and from bringing food or drink into the stadium. Moran said he would present the new policy for approval at the next board meeting.

Superintendent Moran discussed the Sub Teacher Pilot Program, for grades K through 4, with the Board, and all agreed that the Program had been very successful. Moran suggested that they should extend the Program to grades 5 through 8, and Board members agreed.

Board members then heard that Tipp Schools’ Tipp City Enrichment Program (TCEP) would be discontinued over the next several years, due to lack of space during PK-8 construction, demolition of Broadway and Middle School, and renovation of L.T. Ball. TCEP is an independent childcare and early childhood education organization operating in cooperation with Tipp City Schools.

At their regular meeting, Superintendent Moran gave an update on the PK-8 building construction progress. Moran said the Section A skeleton of the building is almost complete, and water storm line connections are being tested. The high school’s new flooring is almost complete, furniture deliveries are in process, and the gym floor moisture control and repairs are nearly done.

Board President Angie McMurry said the updated Student/Parent 2026/2027 Handbooks are completed and available. Superintendent Moran suggested a future revamp of the Handbook to make it more readable and ensure it adheres to Tipp Board and Ohio Revised Code policies.

Superintendent Moran noted that 2026/2027 student lunch meals increased by $0.25, adult meals increased by $0.30, and milk increased by $0.10 from last year. Lunch Fees are as follows: $3.50 for K-8, $3.75 for 9-12, $0.75 for milk, and $5.00 for adults.    

Treasurer Dave Stevens said the 2026/2027 school year financials are closed, and Tipp Schools performed very, very well, ending the year with a positive cash flow of over $2M. Benefits, purchased services, applied materials, and capital outlays all came in under budget.

The Board then approved the following items:

-          Consent Agenda Items (numerous items reviewed and approved by board members prior to the board meeting, available at the Board of Education)

-          New hires and athletic game workers (see extensive lists at the Board of Education)

-          Substitute Pilot Program for grades K-8 (see details at Board of Education)

-          Tipp Schools Air Monitoring Program (Environmental Doctor) includes biannual indoor air quality testing at all five district buildings, for total cost of $14,215.00.

-          For PK-8 building, $423,706.21 for the labor, material, and equipment required to remove the existing storm pipes and install a larger con-span bridge and erosion control measures.

-          Retire, repurpose, and/or recycle outdated and obsolete instructional material per board policy 7310.

-          Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), effective July 1, 2026, between the Center for Advancing Student Achievement, Inc. (dba Center for Career Empowerment and Student Success), Tipp City Schools, and Tippecanoe High School.

-          2026-2027 bus schedule, subject to administrative review and any necessary revisions.

-          Salary schedules for the 2026-2027 school year for substitute staff (see salary schedules at Board of Education).

The Board then went into Executive Session “to consider the employment of a public employee(s) or official(s)”, and afterward, adjourned.