Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

Pickerington?’s school chief to retire




Pickerington school Superintendent Bob Thiede will retire from the district once his fouryear contract expires July 31, officials said.
''It was time to try some other personal and professional interests,'' Thiede, 58, said.
The school board accepted Thiede?’s letter of retirement at yesterday?’s school board meeting.
Thiede has spent 25 years as a superintendent in Ohio schools, including 11 years at Marion City Schools before coming to Pickerington. He will earn $138,215 this year.
In 2003, his first year as Pickerington superintendent, Thiede helped the district pass a 7.9-mill operating levy. In the previous 10 months, levies had been defeated twice.
But the district?’s growth has posed a bigger challenge.
Thiede worked with administrators to accommodate a booming student body after voters rejected four requests for new schools. Pickerington has added 2,000 students in the past four years.
In its fifth request, the district is finally celebrating after voters approved a $59.9 million bond issue last week for two elementaries and a middle school.
Board President Lisa Reade said Thiede was one of the hardest-working individuals in the district.
''One of the legacies he?’ll leave is better housing for grades K-6,'' she said. ''He?’s leaving the district in better shape than when he came.''
Before he leaves, Thiede plans to work on the district?’s construction plans for the new schools and help the board come up with options for an operating levy next spring.
Board members talked about the selection process for a new superintendent in executive session last night.

Can I have my vote back, please?



I am devastated by this news. My sole reason for changing my eternal No vote for a Yes vote this time was getting to meet and know Dr. Thiede. What a loss to the district this will be.

I trusted Dr. Thiede with my vote because I feel I can trust him with the money it will bring and that the right decisions will be made in how to spend it. I don?’t trust the members of the school board to spend it wisely. I know someone will say that this board isn?’t responsible for the Taj Mahal but what I see the problem to be is that this board is no different than the last. Just different names and faces but the same politics.

I compare them to the city council. All claim to be from one team ?– the ?“good guys?”. All claim to be different from the last councils. Phooey! They are exactly the same. Consummate politicians. School board ?– consummate politicians.

Dr. Thiede, I wish you well and thank you for what you have accomplished in your time with us. I can?’t blame anyone who would want to put as many miles between himself and Lisa Reade as possible. I find myself needing a shower after being in the same auditorium with her at a board meeting.