Concerns about school safety in the event of a violent attack brought several citizens to the meeting of the Tecumseh Local School Board (BOE) on June 21 in Tecumseh High School’s Arrow Conference Room.

Sam George presented the BOE and meeting attendees with the results of research he gathered regarding school shootings and the measures schools have taken to prevent such events from happening. George told BOE members that his visit to Sidney City Schools provided him with perhaps the best template of a program Tecumseh Local Schools could use locally to improve school safety. The safety program uses a volunteer “Armed Defense Team” made up of qualified teachers and other individuals.

Several community members, some of whom are retired military personnel, told Board members they agreed with George and the ideas he presented. “We need something like this,” said one person, “For instance, I just walked right on into this building tonight—there was no one there to (screen) people to make sure everyone in the building stayed safe.” A reference was made to the Sandy Hook disaster by someone who had worked the area afterwards, “You don’t want another Sandy Hook, nothing can prepare you for that. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen here.”

BOE members promised to consider the school safety recommendations made by George and the other attendees.

In other business, the BOE approved placing a request for a levy renewal before voters in November that would renew an existing emergency tax levy first passed in November of 2011. The goal is to raise $712,000 in funds.

In other financial matters, the BOE approved a $40.00 wireless communication allowance for each eligible employee during the 2017 fiscal year. The board approved the 2016-2017 contract the district has with the Miami Valley Educational Computer Association (MVECA) and a renewal of its membership with the Southern Ohio Instructional Technology Association (SOITA). SOITA offers instructional technology services to teachers to help them improve student learning.

Unneeded preschool playground equipment at Donnelsville Elementary School will be sold by a quit-claim bill to the City of New Carlisle in “as-is” condition and at no liability to the Tecumseh Local School District. The City has expressed interest in moving the equipment to the New Carlisle swimming pool area. The space left open by the removal of the playground equipment will be used for another purpose, possibly an outdoor study area.

BOE members gave standing approval for the District’s Treasurer’s Office to transfer money for intra-funds as needed, to pay all bills, and to make inter-fund advances when necessary and report those transactions to the BOE. According to the board, those authorizations have been standard practice for several years and, without them, each transaction would require BOE approval before being completed.

According to the Treasurer’s report, May’s unencumbered balance equaled $4,479,853.63, with the BOE being asked to approve $169,783.98 in expenditures. Several donations were also made to each school via a variety of fundraising programs--including “Box Tops for Education,” Lifetouch Photography, Ohio Pyle Prints, and Target Stores. The American Legion also donated money to the Tecumseh High School Golf team.

BOE members approved renewing or entering into a lengthy list employment contracts, as well as rehiring or hiring a large number of uncontracted employees.

Tecumseh BOE meetings are open to the public and take place the fourth Tuesday of every month in the Tecumseh High School Arrow Conference Room. Information about the Tecumseh Local Schools’ BOE can be found online at www.tecumseh.k12.oh.us or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..