District sells 10 parcels of land

TIFFIN --- At Monday's Tiffin City School Board meeting, the board authorized the sale of real property located at 0 Front St. The property, which was donated to the school district by a long-time Tiffin resident, was sold to Wendy Fey of Tilford Properties, LLC., for $20,000 cash, according to the vacant land purchase agreement. The property had 10 parcels. The future of the property is unknown at this time, as Superintendent Ben Richards said he wanted to allow the new owner to reveal her plans. Also, at the meeting, Richards discussed the 2023-2024 school year so far. "We have just finished with the first week and a half of school and I couldn't be more thrilled with how our staff, our principals and everybody involved with Tiffin City Schools has responded," he said. "There is a different type of energy in a positive way to start the school year." He also said Friday was one of his favorite days at the district as he walked around the buildings and got to see the energy there. The high school also led a pep rally that was designed by the leadership class at Columbian. "It's been a wonderful beginning to the school year. We still have some things that we've gotta work at. We always get better as the school year goes on." Richards said while school was closed Thursday due to the anticipated high heat, the district lost electricity, water and internet throughout the day. There were also flooded roads Thursday morning. He said the communications committee, which is made up of parents and staff members, had its first meeting. From that meeting, the district is planning to work on updating its website, particularly the school calendar. "We will be working with TEA (Tiffin Education Association) to do that process, but I think we will also be looking to try to get some feedback from parents and community members to get their thoughts on what our calendar should be for next school year. "I think we really need to explore our start date for Tiffin City Schools," Richards said. "We keep starting earlier and earlier. There's some logic in that, that we're trying to get in more instructional days before state-mandated testing at the end of the year. But my experience has been August seems to be warmer and that's where our worst days are." The board also approved the following action items: 6.01 - Approved the tentative agreement with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE Local #570) for a new 2023-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement with TCS Food Service Employees 6.02 - Approved the tentative agreement with the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE Local #571) for a new 2023-2025 Collective Bargaining Agreement with TCS Educational Aides 6.03 - Approved the bus stops, as of Aug. 12, 2023, subject to change, for the 2023-2024 School Year 6.04 - Approved the employee and substitute pay scales for the 2023-2024 Contract Year 6.05 - Approved the Tiffin Education Association settlement agreement adjusting the premium share for the health insurance plans offered to teachers, authorizing the same adjustment of premium shares for all other Tiffin City Schools employees, and authorizing the treasurer to make payment to TEA members and district employees who carry medical insurance coverage upon board approval of the settlement agreement with TEA 6.06 - Approved a compensation increase of one step, effective with the 2023-2024 Contract Year, for all returning administrators, supervisors, and management-level employees, who were employed pursuant to O.R.C. 3319.02 during the 2022-2023 Contract Year and who have not already received a step increase 6.07 - Approved the agreement with Pitney Bowes for the lease of a mail machine 6.08 - Approved the 2023- 2024 excess cost agreement with the Seneca County Board of Developmental Disabilities 6.09 - Approved the contract with Wellness Counseling Solutions for school-based counseling services for the 2023- 2024 school year 6.10 - Approved the SLP agreement with Resilience Therapy Services 6.11 - Approved the SLP agreement with Wheeler Pediatric Speech Therapy 6.12 - Approved the SLP agreement with Connie English 6.13 - Approved the Strategic Solutions proposal for professional services and imaging software 6.14 - Adoptd the resolution authorizing the sale of real property located at 0 Front Street 6.15 - Not consent to the requested resignation of Ms. Cottom because it was submitted after the July 10 deadline provided by statute (R.C. 3319.15). The next meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 25 at the Tiffin Middle School Auditorium. A work session is scheduled for 5:45 p.m. the same day.