Tipp City Schools has been working for years to address aging buildings and classrooms that have served our community well. A bond to construct a new PreK-3 building on the Broadway site failed in 2016. Another bond to renovate LT Ball Intermediate School with a wrap-around of new classrooms for students in grades K-5 failed in 2019. Since then, costly maintenance needs and projects have increased substantially.
Our community values high-quality schools that provide an excellent education for our children, protect our property values, and strengthen our community. A tradition and reputation for great schools have made Tipp City an ideal place to live, raise a family, and do business.
However, the district's schools are aging! Our elementary buildings are more than half a century old; Nevin Coppock was constructed in 1958, and Broadway was built in 1951, with an addition added in 1967. The schools are deteriorating and present multiple safety and health issues. They are extremely dated and cannot adequately accommodate the 21st-century educational technology our community’s youngest students need to prepare them for the future. A recent assessment by the Ohio Facility Construction Commission (OFCC) cited major deficiencies and recommended that the buildings be replaced. Some of the issues the state documented in its assessment include:
Asbestos, structural deterioration;
Leaking and failing plumbing;
Insufficient and outdated heating, ventilation, and electrical systems;
Antiquated security and fire systems – not compliant with building codes or state school guidelines;
Cracking foundation, deteriorating masonry;
Lack of any exterior insulation;
Classrooms that are too small and do not meet today’s educational standards;
Obsolete electrical systems and infrastructure that cannot support modern educational technology;
Multiple issues with ADA accessibility – do not meet ADA requirements.
The most critical priority is addressing the elementary schools, but the BOE recognizes there are other facility issues that must be considered and included in future plans. The district is working with Garmann Miller, a design and planning solutions firm for architecture and engineering needs, to develop a comprehensive K-12 facilities plan.