Board Of Education Tables Staff Reductions…For Now

At the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 23rd, Board members tabled, in an emotional atmosphere, a request to cut 6 positions (non-teachers) from the schools’ staff. However, a further reduction of 18.5 teachers and 2 administrators lurked in the background for a future board meeting.

The auditorium at L.T. Ball school, where the meeting was held, was about half full of teachers and their supporters, protesting the potential cuts. The group stood up when Brenda Mahaney, president-elect of the Tipp City Education Association teachers union, spoke to Board Members. She said that the proposed cuts were a surprise and were excessive, representing 13% of the total staff. Mahaney also said she believed “other avenues to budget cuts had not been explored” and “why cut teachers while adding new positions?”. Mahaney finished her remarks, and the room erupted in applause.

Board member Rick Mains gave an emotional response, saying “I don’t like what’s going on, I think we need more time to study the numbers again. I don’t like what the proposal is, and as far as suspension of any contracts, I’m opposed to it. That’s my statement and I’m sticking to it”. Again, the room erupted in applause. Several other board members gave similar, heartfelt responses.