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Groveport plan to split starts ripples

Talk of dividing Pickerington schools surprises officials

By Charlie Roduta THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH


The rumbling started 15 years ago.

On the phone, in the grocery store, at the gym, talk of changing Groveport Madison schools surfaced.

As distaste over school leaders and board decisions grew among some residents, so did the buzz about creating a school district just for the village of Groveport.

Last month, the rumors became a formal request to the State Board of Education.

Now, similar rumblings are being heard in Pickerington.

The conversation on a Pickerington community Web site might be idle, but it has surprised some district leaders.

''It?’s interesting that people look at what they are doing in Groveport,'' said Pickerington board member Lori Sanders. ''But it?’s a different situation here. ?… You?’ve got to have a logical reason to want to do it, and as far as I?’m concerned, there isn?’t a logical reason to do that.''

Sen. Joy Padgett, R-Coshocton, chairwoman of the Senate Education Committee, said residents who seek to divide school districts often do so because they think a more-intimate district will be more responsive.

''If you are wanting to split a larger district, you believe that you are going to have more like-mindedness and similar thinking in a smaller district,'' Padgett said.

Parents in Grove City tossed around the idea in 1994 after the South-Western school district repeatedly sought an operating levy, board Vice President Gary Leasure recalled. Talk of a split died shortly after a property-tax levy was approved that August, Leasure said.

Pickerington has struggled to build new schools for its booming elementary population. The most recent attempt ?— a $36 million bond issue for two elementary schools ?— fell short in the May election.

Groveport Madison also has struggled with voters. A $34.4 million request for a new junior high and additional space at the high school was rejected in November, the fifth loss at the polls in three years.

The district also faces a search for a superintendent, a potential $4.5 million shortfall if an emergency operating levy planned for the November ballot doesn?’t pass, a contentious school board and stagnant test scores.


Groups interested in splitting the district face a number of hurdles, including a lengthy investigation process and vote by the State Board of Education. And last year, legislators added another hoop: Ohio lawmakers must approve the creation of a new school district.
Legislators generally want to see fewer, not more, school districts, Padgett said.

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''When you look at the fiscal impact to separate districts, it does cost more money to do that,'' she said. ''The focus really needs to be in the classroom.''

Members of Groveport?’s Help Our Pupils Excel are itching to plead their case, no matter how long it takes.

''I am not intimidated (by the process) one bit,'' said Dan Knode, a former Village Council member and spokesman for the residents group that wants to create the new district.

''I totally believe in this, and this is something that needs to be done for everybody involved.''

The group, which formally announced its plan in March, said the new district would contain all the area south of Rt. 33 within the current Groveport Madison school district. That means it would include about 2,000 of the district?’s 6,500 students and four of the district?’s 10 schools. The group would negotiate with the current school district about plans for Groveport Madison High School, which would be within the boundaries of the new district, Knode said.

The Groveport Madison Parent Group argues that secession would hurt students and the community. Members recently gathered signatures asking for support.

''We?’re not giving up,'' said Andrea Branham, a member of the group and parent of an incoming freshman. ''We can?’t let this go on and not let our voice be heard.''

Branham lives in Groveport and would be part of the new district.

While the Groveport scenario has caught some attention in Pickerington, it has not prompted more inquires at the Ohio Department of Education, spokesman J.C. Benton said. The department typically receives 10 or fewer calls a month on the subject.

He said in the past five years, a Cincinnati-area district has split. There also is an effort to create a new school district in Adams County.

Pickerington City Councilman Mike Sabatino said any separation could hamper efforts to build new schools and could create further division in the area.

Knode said he has gotten inquiries from parents and residents interesting in splitting Pickerington schools.

''But they want to see what happens in Groveport,'' he said. ''If we?’re successful, they said they might be looking at doing something similar.''

croduta@dispatch.com