Tell City Schools Seek Lawn Care Contractors, Public Health Considerations

The Tell City Jr. Sr. High and the Tell City Troy Township School Corporation posted a Request for Proposal for grounds and lawn maintenance on their district news feed, with the listing marked current and a publication date of November 13, 2025. The short announcement directs interested contractors to the district news and announcements page for full details and contact information. The posting serves as an official solicitation for qualified bidders to propose services for district facilities.

At the most basic level, the RFP will determine who cares for school grounds that children and staff use daily. Routine landscaping and lawn services shape play areas, walking routes, and outdoor learning spaces. Choices about mowing schedules, pesticide and herbicide use, and planting decisions directly influence student and staff exposure to allergens and chemicals, and they affect pollinators and local biodiversity. For a county where outdoor community spaces often double as gathering places, those choices have consequences beyond school boundaries.

Beyond immediate health considerations, the procurement process has economic implications for Perry County. Awarding the contract will create work, and the district can influence local hiring, small business inclusion, and equitable contracting by structuring the RFP to encourage bids from locally owned firms and minority owned enterprises. Transparency around evaluation criteria and contract terms matters for public accountability, given that school maintenance contracts use public funds and impact taxpayer priorities.

Environmental and equity issues intersect in grounds care. Alternatives to conventional chemical treatments, such as integrated pest management and pollinator friendly planting, can reduce exposures that trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions. Those strategies may also support local food webs and reduce maintenance costs over time. For families concerned about health or with children who have sensitivities, knowing how the district manages lawns and outdoor spaces is a matter of both safety and trust.

The district announcement does not list a deadline or contract value in the brief news feed item. Contractors and community members seeking specifics should consult the district news and announcements page as directed in the RFP listing for full requirements, timelines, and contact information. As the bid process moves forward, community advocates and school leaders may weigh public health outcomes along with cost when recommending contract awards.

This RFP is a routine procurement on its face, yet its outcomes will shape daily life at schools and in surrounding neighborhoods. Residents and local businesses have a stake in how the district balances safety, environmental stewardship, and local economic opportunity when selecting a partner to care for its grounds.