Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Bruce, PSLD School Board, various readers, members of the local media...

There have been many postings over the last several days regarding the state of the schools in Pickerington. I for one certainly hope that these discussions have accomplished something... anything... Perhaps they have brought up some much needed food for thought. It certainly has for me.

I'll readily admit that I don't have all the answers. I'll even admit to having more questions than answers. And I'll even admit to learning a few things these last couple weeks on this blog. I was wrong in my belief of the facilities for the bus company at Central. It certainly doesn't change my belief that we would be better served having half those buses at North, but I'll happily admit that I did not have all the facts. You see??? This is how we learn things. As humans, we ask questions or we make statements and others point out our inaccuracies and answer our questions. Then guess what? We learn. We become smarter.

Is the Pickerington School Board capable of learning? I hope so. The media has already reported that we're going to faced with another operating levy on the ballot in May. If you listen closely, you'll be able to make out the sound of a ticking clock. Don't wait to begin asking questions, don't wait to begin learning, don't wait to take some of what has been posted here and move towards having a positive impact in our community and our schools. The ball is in your court, school board. It's time to make a move. Lead us, follow us, or just get out of the way.

Tick, tock, tick, tock....

Mom

By Central Mom

Signing off

Mom,

I have also learned a couple of things. I learned that the PLSD doesn?’t listen well and haven?’t thoroughly thought through this continued approach of vote and fail, vote and fail. I guess they think that since they appear to be closing the gap a little that it will eventually pass. There are a couple of flaws in that plan.

I just got my property tax bill the other day. Knowing that a huge percentage of that money goes to the schools makes me reluctant to give more.

I am doing my annual income tax prep and seeing what my wife?’s and my contribution from our salaries going to the schools makes me reluctant to give more.

The new semester just started and I will be getting my third or fourth school supply bill for the year and that makes me reluctant to give more.

It?’s hard for me to accept them asking for more when they are continually taking more. I just got my pay stub for the first full pay period of the year with my annual raise on it. Know what my net increase was? $150.00 for the whole year. Others, like my insurance company to name but one, also have their hands in my wallet. Out of my gross pay increase the schools will get a couple hundred more. I hope they can make due with that because it is all I can afford.

I don?’t know how the schools finance things. I don?’t really want to learn because I obviously have my own issues to focus on but can?’t they look at something like I have to look at? I mean refinancing current debts to achieve an overall lower payment. I am going to have to look at refinancing my house ?– again - just to keep up. Can the schools look at any more effective means of debt management? Maybe refinance current debt so our cost goes down enough to let us consider our ability to pay more?

A long hard day yesterday fully analyzing my debt to income ratio has left me saddened. I guess I am losing interest in hearing about the school?’s problems. I am losing interest in the city?’s debt and political in-fighting. Both are old songs and I need to change the station to hear better music with less commercials. Am I alone here or are there others who are just so tired of everybody wanting and taking more that I cannot emotionally take on the emotional and financial burdens of this board and administration and this city council, for that matter?

Maybe if there is a light at the end of the tunnel in the form of someone from the board acknowledging their shortcomings and beginning open discussions at solutions I can get interested again. For now, Central Dad is going out to look for a second job.

By Central Dad

Oh well

Due to the lack of response, I'm going to have to guess that they didn't learn anything.

Mom

By Central Mom