The board of education met in a closed executive session for about 40 minutes before voting to end Stefanik’s employment. The board did not name an interim leader at the time of the vote. Later in the meeting, the board told Human Resources Director Lisa Tuttle-Huff to post the superintendent position on appropriate educational and other hiring sites Thursday.
The school board also has a work session scheduled for Monday.
Stefanik, who became Tipp City’s superintendent in 2020, said nothing when the vote was taken and remained at the table as the board went about its business.
On Thursday, Stefanik issued a brief statement.
”Boards of Education are tasked with making decisions they feel are in the best interest of students, staff, and the community,” he wrote. “Last night, the board made its decision and felt this was best for the Tipp City Schools. I will continue to work for the betterment of the Tipp City Schools, and pledge to do whatever I can to ensure a smooth transition.”
Board member Anne Zakkour said Wednesday night that there had been a pattern of lack of communication to the community and the board.
“I am very saddened by this. I looked at principle over personalities,” Zakkour said. “This does truly sadden me that it has reached this point. I see a continuous failure of … judgment and leadership.”
Board member Theresa Dunaway said Stefanik’s removal was overdue. “It is sad it took all of this to bring it to a head … I hope that the board does what is right for the community, staff and students.”
Zakkour and Dunaway themselves remain the subject of ongoing court proceedings after a Tipp City Concerned Citizens group filed a petition to remove them from the school board.
On Wednesday, several parents spoke to the board before its executive session, some calling for Stefanik’s firing.
The concerned and angry parents, some crying, told the board they were incensed by the district’s failure to notify them and the community about the Dec. 7 threat of violence to the middle school.
Tipp City Police Chief Greg Adkins said of the student’s threat: “All statements made by students or staff concerning a possible active shooter are credible. The department works to validate the credibility of the comments through multiple resources. In this case, it was determined the student did not have the means to validate his statement.”
School board members said they were not told of the incident by Stefanik until recent days.
Zakkour asked Stefanik shortly before the board moved into an executive session if he had told any board member of the threats by the eighth-grade student. Stefanik said he had not.
The mother of a girl who was named in verbal threats by the student said she was appalled police were not notified of the threats until the following day, Dec. 8, and that other parents and staff were not told of the threats.
Social media postings last weekend marked the first time many people heard of the threats.
A report filed by Tipp City police said the boy “made comments about shooting up the school,” if he could. The boy described weapons he would use and named students he would target, the report stated, adding that one student said the boy said, “he wouldn’t actually do it.”
The report said the juvenile was arrested. Specifics on the handling of that court case were not available Thursday.
Earlier this week, after more people engaged in social media comments about the issue, Stefanik sent a text/email Monday evening stating he had been made aware some parents were concerned about safety at the school “due to a recent student incident.”
He further wrote he couldn’t discuss student behavior or discipline but “can assure you that the incident in question has been addressed and that students and staff are always a priority for the Tipp City Schools administration and staff.”
Police were notified of the concerns and had an added presence at the school on Tuesday, Adkins said in a statement. Adkins said the student received discipline from the district.
Adkins said it was incorrectly stated on social media that the student would be returning to school on Tuesday, Jan. 3 following the holiday break. He said the student’s return was not scheduled for this week.
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