Friday Message
March 19, 2021
Update from Dr. Ryan Glaze Superintendent, Tipton Community School Corporation
On Wednesday, we welcomed students, teachers, and staff back to the middle and high schools for five-day, in-person instruction. We know our students, teachers, and staff have missed the social networking, friendships, and sense of school community that comes from the daily interactions and predictable routines of what we used to take for granted as a “typical school day.”
Going forward, it is our goal to keep our buildings open and students in class five days a week. We will continue to focus on our inhouse mitigation practices to address safety and model healthy habits and routines. We need everyone in the community to do the same to help move our county out of the Orange advisory level. This week 3 staff and 6 students received positive test confirmations for COVID-19. We have 107 who are in quarantine as a precautionary measure after being identified as a close contact. These numbers are a reminder that the COVID-19 virus is still alive and well in our community.
Gov. Eric Holcomb’s announcement that our teachers and support staff, including classroom aides, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, and substitute teachers, would be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning on Monday was welcome news. This is another layer of ensuring that our educators and staff have additional protection and feel safer doing what they do best.
What hasn’t been welcome news are several bills introduced this legislative session, specifically HB 1005 and SB 413, that if passed, will divert needed public tax dollars to private schools. Tipton Community School Corporation joins public schools across the state who are advocating on behalf of their students, passing resolutions, and taking other actions to express their concern and raise awareness about the negative impact these bills could have on public education in Indiana.
These bills have not passed both houses of the Indiana General Assembly and will be introduced for consideration into the Senate in the next couple of weeks. If you share our concern and believe that HB 1005 and SB 413 should not be enacted into law, please reach out to your legislator, and request they do not support this legislation for the final vote. #SupportINPublicSchools #ESAisNotOK
Also, this week our administrators participated in a strategic planning session with Dr. Halik to set specific goals and make decisions on what constitutes success in the areas of student achievement, facilities, and branding at the building levels. This is an exciting work in progress for TCSC that will ultimately lead to specific goals to increase student expectations and achievement, improvements throughout our facilities, and strengthen our Blue Devil brand.
Speaking of the Blue Devils, congratulations to our high school Jazz Ensemble who earned straight Gold ratings from the Indiana State School Music Association (ISSMA) District Jazz Festival last weekend.
The Inferno, the Blue Devils Gym, is among the nominees vying for the title of best gym in Indiana. Spread the word. Vote daily at https://test.visitindiana.com/tourneytime to help give Tipton the winning shot at this prestigious title. Voting ends April 1, 2021. No fooling! #TiptonPride
Does your child have a temperature over 100 degrees?
Does your child display any other symptoms or signs of illness?
Has your child been a close contact (within 6 feet for 15 minutes of someone infected)?
If the answer is yes to any of these, DO NOT SEND THEM TO SCHOOL!
Calendar Updates
March 23-Special Board Meeting 6:30 PM-Administration Offices
March 26-Spring Break Begins
April 5-Students Return
April 6-Board Work Session 6:30 PM-Administration Offices
April 13-Monthly Board Meeting 6:30 PM