Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Emotions flare over Mingo Estates
July 17, 2006

Outburst brings end to Pickerington school board meeting

By Katelyn Sattler

Staff Writer

The July 10 Pickerington Board of Education meeting adjourned abruptly during the public Q & A session as tensions flared between audience members.

At issue was the board?’s vote to postpone indefinitely a decision on the school building track of the Mingo Estates children, upsetting the Mingo Estates parents in attendance. However, another resident was angered by the Mingo Estates parents?’ concern.
Mingo Estates residents Patti Wigington, Francine Madison, Ellen Marrison and Julie Goodwin were on the receiving end of criticism from citizen Rosemary Crum, who claimed that while in the sixth grade her son was placed into a special education class and was called names by the other kids. No one had asked her or her son if he wanted it. She continued, ?“My son learned to deal with adversity. Life can deal you a bad hand. Let these kids deal with adversity!?”

When one of the parents tried to explain her concern that Mingo Estates kids are the only ones in the school district that change tracks, Crum called out, ?“Move!?” At one point during the argument Crum shouted to the parents, ?“You sound worse than 10-year-olds!?”

Another woman sitting next to Crum was angry she didn?’t get a chance to address the adjourned board, saying, ?“I didn?’t get a chance to be heard!?” Board President Lisa Reade said she would hate to have to start using the ceremonial gavel at future meetings, and stated emphatically that yelling will not be permitted at board meetings. The board added the public Q&A session at the end of the meetings to make them more participation friendly.

Currently, only Mingo Estates students change track from being Harmon Panthers to become Ridgeview Tigers. This affects 40 students who are in grades K-6.
Board member Wes Monhollen wants to put Mingo Estates children back on the Central track. He doesn?’t want to add more kids to North due to crowding there, which he blames partly on developers.



According to Monhollen, ?“Developers are putting up signs for which high school kids will attend. They?’re both good schools, but they?’re not equal. I would move into the North district. This has spurred growth in the northern part of the district.?”

By Say it ain't true Wes

Seperate but not equal

Board member Dr. Jim Brink doesn?’t want to make a hasty decision.
?“Let?’s take a careful look at the population and see if we need to make more changes. This demands thought. It doesn?’t demand action (right now),?” Brink said.
Monhollen, Brink and board member Gail Oakes voted to postpone the decision, with Reade and board member Lori Sanders voting against.
While the board didn?’t decide on the Mingo Estates track, it unanimously agreed to provide transportation for the Mingo Estates seventh-graders-to-be who wish to attend Lakeview Junior High with the other students from Harmon Middle School.

Support services salary change

A new contract for the attendance officer came before the board again. The contract failed at the June 29 board meeting due to a tie, as Brink was absent at that meeting and unavailable to break the tie vote.

Monhollen voted against it again, stating, ?“I don?’t have a problem with the money, I have a problem with the way we?’re doing it. I certainly don?’t object to the job he?’s doing.?”
Oakes concurred, saying, ?“I have a real problem that raises for everyone are based on the teacher?’s contract. I have no problem with the job or personality. I have a problem with the philosophy.?”

Brink?’s main concern was, ?“There once was a problem with some members of the board wanting to terminate a contract and couldn?’t.?” He was told that wasn?’t the case here.
Reade, Brink and Sanders voted to approve a one-year extension of the contract with a 2.5 percent increase. Oakes and Monhollen voted against it.

Curb cut at Harmon Middle School Board members agreed that a curb cut is needed at Harmon Middle School to improve traffic flow, especially since 200 more kids will be added to the school for the 2006-07 school year. The project will cost $23,000, but Violet Township officials informed Superintendent Dr. Robert Thiede that there is a drainage issue on the property that will show up in the winter when ice could create a safety issue. Fixing this will cost an additional $21,000-$22,000. The board unanimously approved a resolution of necessity for the project up to $44,500, with the stipulation that funding options be researched in the form of grants and cost sharing with the township and county.



By Say it ain't true Wes

One out of Four members

Below is a pull from the comments in the SE messenger. At least one Board members is finally getting it.



According to Monhollen, ?“Developers are putting up signs for which high school kids will attend. They?’re both good schools, but they?’re not equal. I would move into the North district. This has spurred growth in the northern part of the district.?”

How are they unequal?

I know this question has been asked before, without much response. But let me ask it again:

Apart from the football stadium and concession stand, how, specifically, is PHS North superior to PHS Central? If anyone is ever going to fix the problem, they have to know what, specifically, the problem is. Could someone please spell it out for us?

Please do not respond, ''You shouldn't have to ask'' or ''Isn't it obvious.'' It is not obvious to those of us taxpayers who would have to pay the tab, and who have no kids in either of these schools. The only thing that is obvious to me is that PHS North has a fancier, brickier external facade, and more parking lots.

If there is something that needs equalization here, we will have to pass a tax levy of some sort to pay for it. I, for one, will not support such a levy until I know, specifically, what needs to be done. So far, all I've heard is complaining about the football stadium, the concession stand and the track.

By Yosemite Pam