Public unable to watch Tipp City school board meeting

Board continues after problem with Zoom access for residents to watch.
Gretta Kumpf, Ph.D, superintendent of the Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, is pictured at this May's high school graduation. She says of teaching and education, “It is a type of service to others, and there is a special fulfillment in doing it.” CONTRIBUTED

Gretta Kumpf, Ph.D, superintendent of the Tipp City Exempted Village Schools, is pictured at this May's high school graduation. She says of teaching and education, “It is a type of service to others, and there is a special fulfillment in doing it.” CONTRIBUTED
Local News
By Nancy Bowman
July 22, 2020
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The Tipp City Exempted Village Schools Board of Education met Tuesday evening, July 21, in what was to be a virtual work session to discuss the district school reopening plan and other business but the public was unable to tune in due to technical difficulties.

District staff was working Wednesday to attempt to retrieve and post on the district website the audio from a discussion that did not begin until around 10:30 p.m. and concluded, around 11:25 p.m., according to district Superintendent Gretta Kumpf. The audio had not been posted by mid-afternoon.

The board work session was scheduled at 6 p.m. The board first went into a closed executive session to discuss personnel and related matters. That session continued until 9:46 p.m. with no action following. When the board turned to begin the public portion of the meeting, the Zoom/YouTube access offered to the public for viewing would not work.

Board President Theresa Dunaway said Wednesday that the board briefly considered recessing the meeting but moved forward because of the need for the school reopening plan. The meeting was closed to in person attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions.

"The board decided that it was important to get this 27-page responsible restart plan out to parents, staff, students and community members. The board chose to power through because this was the best choice in serving our community.  We know that everyone is anxious, and that many families need to make childcare decisions," Dunaway said.

The board voted on several matters during the work session without the public seeing the vote, including the retirement of Gary Pfister, the district’s business operations director; the resignation of Leslie Christofano, assistant high school principal; and a bridge contract for services with incoming Superintendent Mark Stefanik. Those items will be added to the board’s regular meeting agenda, Monday, July 27, for another vote, Kumpf said Wednesday.

A new ZOOM provider was in use for the Tuesday meeting, Kumpf said, adding, “somehow the system crashed” when district Treasurer Dave Stevens attempted to open the meeting for public access after the lengthy executive session.

“I am sure there have been glitches across the state, but you hate for it to be your district,” Kumpf said Wednesday. The district’s Facebook page and private Facebook pages in the community had a few comments from community members about not being able to access the meeting discussion on the proposed school reopening plan. Many of the comments were questions on the plan, which the district said would be addressed more in a letter going out to parents by Friday.

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About the Author

Nancy Bowman