Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Marian Harris In The News

Candidates For State Office Offer Their Thoughts

On GM School Split

By Rick Palsgrove Southeast Editor

Helping Our Pupils Excel (HOPE), the group hoping to create a new school district in and around the village of Groveport by carving it out from the Groveport Madison Local School District, has received support for its plans from Groveport Village Council.

HOPE spokesman Dan Knode appeared before council at its May 22 meeting and asked for a written resolution from council supporting HOPE?’s efforts that he could include with HOPE?’s initial presentation to the State Board of Education on June 14.

''I hope you will support us. We feel our plans to create a new school district will create two, smaller, better school districts that each community will support. Our goal is to make two districts that will be better for all students,'' Knode told council.

Council, by a 5-0 vote (Councilwoman Jean Ann Hilbert was absent), instructed Village Law Director Kevin Shannon to draft a council resolution of support for HOPE?’s initiative to create a new school district. Council will formally vote on the resolution at its June 12 meeting at 6:30 p.m. in the municipal building, 655 Blacklick St.

Knode said his presentation to the State Board of Education on June 14 is just the first step. He said he will provide the board?’s legal counsel with maps, general information, a statement of issues, and HOPE?’s reasons for wanting to create a new school district. HOPE will then wait for the state board to ask questions and request additional specific information from HOPE as needed. Knode said HOPE will be working with a local attorney who will help the organization provide the detailed information the state board will seek.
''We?’ll wait for them to respond,'' said Knode of the state board. ''I don?’t know how long that will take.''

Background

HOPE representatives have stated the the new school district tentatively would include lands within the existing Groveport Madison school district south of Blacklick Creek/U.S. 33, which would place the existing high school in the northern, or existing district. The existing district would include lands north of Blacklick Creek within the current district borders.
''This change eliminates the issue of a high school for the northern, existing district,'' Knode stated previously regarding the boundaries. ''It leaves the southern, proposed new district with four buildings. We can reconfigure the junior high back into a high school, which it originally was, and have two elementaries (Groveport and Glendening) and a middle school (Middle School South).''
Knode said the proposed new southern district would have 1,500 to 2,000 students and the existing northern district could have around 3,500 to 4,500 students.

Knode has stated HOPE is pursuing splitting the Groveport Madison school district because the group is troubled by the problems its members see in the existing district including: split sessions, safety issues, poor test scores, academic struggles, chaotic board meetings, busing issues, lack of signs of improvement, loss of faith in the district?’s leadership, and damage to area property values.

HOPE members believe two, smaller school districts, carved out of the large, 42 square mile Groveport Madison district, would receive stronger community support in both the north and south areas and be more successful for everyone overall
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State candidates weigh in
The thoughts of local state legislators and the candidates challenging them in this fall?’s elections have weight because the final step in creating the new Groveport school district, if the plan receives the backing of the State Board of Education, involves the approval of the new district by the state legislature.



By Voting Democrat

Reps want to control local board

In an interview March 30, State Senator David Goodman (R-3) noted the Groveport Madison community has historically been a strong community and he feels it is unfortunate that disunity has arisen.
''There?’s obviously a division in the community,'' said Goodman.
''I?’m a strong proponent for a community and parents to set the course for their school districts,'' continued Goodman. ''I?’m in favor of a community working out its issues on the local level and finding out what?’s best for the whole community.''
Goodman said HOPE will have to go through the process and ''make their case'' to create a new school district.
''It?’s prudent for state officials to leave this discussion at the local level for now and allow the community to work out the issues,'' said Goodman. ''I hope they can work out their problems for the betterment of the district as a whole.''
In an interview May 23, Goodman said his position as stated above is unchanged.
In an interview May 23, Goodman?’s Democratic challenger in the Nov. 7 election, Emily Kreider, was direct in her viewpoint.
''If the State Board of Education would support HOPE?’s plans to create a new school district, I would back it in the Ohio General Assembly,'' said Kreider.

''There has been stress in the (Groveport Madison) district a long time,'' continued Kreider, ''stemming from local leadership and the failure to lead in the Ohio General Assembly regarding school funding issues.''

Kreider said as she goes door to door visiting with citizens, particularly in areas where school bond issues and levies are a topic, the theme of correcting the school funding issue is at the forefront of people?’s minds.

''Groveport Madison is under stress due to the failure by the state to fund it properly,'' said Kreider. ''When a school district is under stress, there is more division and differences arise that become unmanageable when they otherwise wouldn?’t be if a district is properly funded.''

Kreider added that she would not support a plan to create a new district if it is determined a district was being divided based on racial issues.

In an interview March 15, State Representative Larry Flowers (R-19) said, regarding HOPE?’s plans, ''In general I think it?’s the wrong direction to go. We need fewer school districts in Ohio, not more.''

On April 4, Flowers said that, though he has concerns that HOPE is on a fast track, he feels the process needs to continue.

''I?’m open to hear arguments,'' said Flowers. ''I don?’t think it?’s a good idea yet, but I support the process.''

Flowers said the finances of the proposal need to be scrutinized.

''It?’s going to take some real solid financial numbers to convince this state representative,'' said Flowers. ''It would have to be a win win situation for both the new district and existing district to get my support.''



By Voting Dem this year

What is happening to the Rs

DEMOCRATIC candidate Marian Harris, who will oppose ''REPUBLICAN'' Flowers this fall, said on May 23 that she would ''probably support the recommendation of the State Board of Education, whatever that might be'' concerning the creation of a new Groveport school district.

''At this point I want to learn more about the situation and talk to people on both sides,'' she said, adding that she hopes to meet with Knode and Groveport Madison Schools Superintendent Dr. Timm Mackley about the issue. ''If the community supports the idea, if it is good for the kids, I would say fine, but I still want to explore the situation fully and go through the process.''
Harris thinks many of Groveport Madison?’s problems are a result of the state?’s school funding mechanism not working.


''The Ohio General Assembly didn?’t follow the Ohio Supreme Court?’s rulings on school funding. Had it done so maybe Groveport Madison wouldn?’t be in this situation,'' said Harris.
Meetings

HOPE will hold public meetings at the former Groveport Senior Center building, 605 Cherry St., at 7 p.m. on the following dates: Thursday, June 8; and Thursday, June. 22. For information on HOPE, visit their Web site at:

GroveportHOPE.org

Published on 05/29/2006 in the Columbus Messinger.



By Voting Dem this year