Tipton School Board Briefs: April 14, 2026

Submitted by Tipton Community School Corporation

Tipton Community School Corporation Board Briefs is designed to share highlights from the most recent School Board of Trustees monthly meeting. Official minutes of each Board meeting are posted on the district website and are available for public viewing.

The next scheduled meeting of the Board of School Trustees is May 12. School board meetings are conducted from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the TCSC Board Room at the Administrative Offices and are open to the public.

Blue Future Awards

Superintendent Dr. Ryan Glaze recognized TES students’ Atlas Jackson and Meridan Smith for earning perfect scores on the IREAD Assessment.

TMS Principal John Ayars and TCSC Board of Education Member Kim Fague recognized the following swim team members and coaches:

Brianna Bannon, JJ Adams, Maggie Boyland, Xander Beech, Jayda Cast, Dean Biedermann, Cami Condict, Chase Browder, Oliva DeFoe, Luke Conwell, Evelynn Fague, Cas DeFoe, Sophie Fakes, Brody Fakes, Annie Hare, Carson Hughes, Collette Hiatt, Reid Hughes, Piper Hughes, August Short, Jannaleigh McClish, Merrill Smith, Zoie McMahon, Jaxson Stout, Genevieve Pearson, Aiden Walker, Ayesha Sharma, Harlow Stewart, Monroe Stewart, Lilah Tragesser, Evellynn Uitts, Aubry Walker, Kelsey Weaver, Abigail Wesner, Hallee Whitehead, Kinley Woelfert, Mikella Woelfert, and Assistant Coaches, MacKenzie Hoover, Jie Phifer, Erin Stiner, and Coach Kendrick Vester.

Superintendent Report

Dr. Glaze shared the following facilities update:

Pool deck work is nearing completion, with the new deck installed, the Dectron system operational, pool painting underway, starting blocks scheduled for installation in the next two weeks, and drainage pump and circuit board repairs in progress.

Reroofing continues with metal work finishing on the Inferno, Connector, and Band/Choir areas, and crews now transitioning to the Vocational Wing; roofing is projected to be completed by the end of April, with metal work wrapping up in early May.

The TES playground project begins June 1 with demolition, followed by a four-week installation starting June 8 or 15, targeting completion in early July and including a groundbreaking ceremony.

Estimated cost reductions for 2026-2027 presentation

Dr. Glaze shared a detailed presentation with an in‑depth review of TCSC’s financial landscape, outlining the structural pressures created by state funding changes, declining enrollment, and rising operational costs that now require a multi‑year, districtwide cost‑reduction plan. Highlights of the presentation included:

• Quick Review of School Finance: TCSC operates three primary funds: Education, Operations, and Debt Service.
• Debt Service and Operations are supported by local revenue (property tax, remaining LIT, auto excise, commercial vehicle tax). Debt Service can only be used for capital improvements, not salaries.
• The Operations Fund covers daily district needs – transportation, utilities, maintenance, insurance, and administration – and supports limited staffing costs (about 37 percent transportation/maintenance and 15 percent central office/administration). Most remaining costs are fixed.
• The Education Fund, supported solely by the state funding formula, must be used to educate students. Teacher salaries/benefits make up about 68 percent, and when all building‑level staff are included, about 89 percent of the fund supports personnel. Remaining dollars cover curriculum, PD, classroom materials, instructional technology, and supplies. Up to 15 percent may be transferred to Operations annually. TCSC currently transfers about 7 percent of Education Fund dollars to Operations, but SEA 1 (2025) is already increasing the need for transfers compared to last year. By 2027, the district will be forced to transfer the maximum 15 percent just to keep up with costs.
• Responding the Tipton Way. TCSC’s Expense Reduction and Review Committee is examining all district spending to identify what is academically essential, particularly core instruction, and to recommend reductions within a four‑year plan that assumes no new revenue. Every area of the district will be affected.

In summary, TCSC has implemented significant cost reductions for 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 in response to the new Homestead Exemption, declining enrollment, and the projected $2.7 million revenue loss tied to SEA 1 by 2029.

Early reductions total $398,560, followed by $847,307 in 2026-2027 through the elimination of administrative, certified, and classified positions; consolidation of technology and software; reduced transportation and curricular spending; and strategic use of attrition.

These measures – along with anticipated reductions in staffing, extended contracts, and stipends in 2027-2028 and 2028-2029 – will reshape programming, class sizes, staffing levels, transportation, and extracurricular offerings as the district works to maintain long‑term fiscal stability without additional revenue.

New Business

The Board addressed a range of action items under New Business, approving updates to academic materials, district partnerships, insurance coverage, technology staffing and compensation, and upcoming academic calendars.

• Public School Foundation Support for Tipton Blue Devil Athletics Foundation Approved: The Board approved a resolution allowing two Board representatives, authorizing fund transfers with notification, and permitting free facility use for student-focused Foundation activities.
• THS English Language Arts Materials Approved: The Board approved supplemental novels for THS ELA following a full committee review by teachers, parents, administrators, community members, and board representatives.
• TMS ELA Curricular Materials Adoption Approved: The Board approved Savvas My Perspectives for TMS ELA, an IDOE-approved, standards-aligned program recommended by a review committee of staff, parents, and board members.
• Property/Casualty Insurance Renewal Approved: The Board approved the annual renewal with a 6.67 percent base increase and added wind/hail coverage and higher liability limits, resulting in a total premium of $276,549.
• Technology Team Reconfiguration and Compensation Adjustments Approved: Following the decision not to replace the Middle School Technology Specialist, the Board approved a $2 per hour increase for Technology Specialists and extended the Director of Technology’s contract, aligning compensation with KASEC districts and generating $41,500 in savings.
• Academic Calendar Updates Approved: The Board approved modifications to the 2026-2027 calendar and adopted the 2027-2028 Academic Calendar as recommended by the Academic Calendar Committee.

Important Dates

• April 23: TESO Father-Daughter Dance, 5 p.m.
• April 25: THS Prom
• April 28: Internet Safety Meeting, 6 p.m.
• May 1 to 3: THS Musical Annie
• May 4 to 8: Staff Appreciation Week
• May 6: TCSC Employee Banquet
• May 8: TES Spring Music Program, 5:30 p.m.
• May 9: YO Reunion Concert
• May 10: Mother’s Day
• May 11: TMS Spring Choir Concert
• May 12: Monthly Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m.