Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Columbus

Dear 60yearresident,

We all know the Columbus area has always been a part of the school district. I don't think that was old-timer's point.

I'm not old-timer, but I think his point had to do with growth in the school district, not whether Columbus residents deserve to go to Pickerington schools.

At one time the growth in the district came from the Columbus areas. I don't think that's the case any more, but nobody knows for sure because the school won't release a breakdown of the enrollment numbers, claiming THEY DON'T KNOW!

Yet somehow they KNOW the growth is coming from older homes that were occupied by empty-nesters and are now occupied by families.

I'm guessing old-timer's post had more to do with the integrity of the administration and school board than anything.

We'll try to type more slowly so you can keep up.

Kids

Nah--don't need to type more slowly, I just see red, everytime I see somebody mention the ''Columbus'' kids, but you never see the Canal Winchester, Carroll, Reynoldsburg, or Baltimore kids mentioned in the same way. Regardless of where the growth is or isn't coming from, or what address we have, we are all part of the same school district.

Integrity

Everybody wants to question the integrity of the school board and the administration and imply that the members of both groups are less than honest with the public. I wonder if this is part of the reason nobody was willing to put their name on the ballot as a candidate last fall? I certainly would not want to continually have my integrity and motives questioned, and especially would not want that to happen on a public forum such as this. I applaud our school board members for being willing to step forward. They are braver than I.

Buying older homes.

This might be a very interesting election if what Old-timer is correct. If some of the empty nesters have moved and we have families replacing them then what is their financial status? Did they qualify for their new mortgage on a wing and a prayer? Will they or can they afford more taxes?

Maybe we need to tried to keep some of these empty nesters in town. Are they moving to the new condos in Pickerington?

It would be nice to see the school administration come forward with their actual studies not the pick the one that fits the numbers that they are trying to spin toward the public.

Has anyone heard that Dr. Thiede is making these comments?