Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

OK, I will paint a target on my rear with this one, but it has to be said anyway. I have yet to see/hear anyone plead to bring back the education cuts made in the school district. $600,000.00 would have brought back the ability to purchase EDUCATIONAL MATERIAL (i.e. new books, etc.) with which to educate children, with about $100,000.00 left over according to the figures provided by the board and quoted in the Eagle Gazette. Yeah, sports are nice and are great extracurricular activities, but I always thought the primary reason we sent our children to school was LEARN. I don't think I am wrong about that, however, it appears that a lot of people in this community have some difficulty with this. Even sadder that the donation was not offered up toward educational cuts.

As an aside, anyone interested in a 4-5 bedroom, 2 bath house, 3100 SF (included in SF is finished basement) in ground pool on nearly an acre, quiet street, in town in an adjoining school district that also carries an ''excellent'' rating, just passed a new levy (first one in 10 years). Large detached garage/pole building originally designed as 3 car, 2 driveways. Only 8 more miles to work. I figure I can make a killing right now, minimum bid starts at $170,000.00. Not interested in Co-op - not feasible when people are driving through this town and when they see a house they like, they stop and ask the homeowners if they are willing to sell, and these folks are NOT realtors. Great idea we had to move several years ago to this place. There are LOTS of PLSD transplants out there now, so you probably will know some folks before you even move in!

And for those of you that did not understand, the previous paragraph was meant as a joke (kind of)

OK, fire away.


By Jeanne Dixon

Show Us the Numbers

Jeanne,

I think you missed the fundamental point in the discussion of finances of the schools, and in particular, extracurricular activities. We got the four pages of numbers for these activities by an open request for records under the Ohio's Open Records Act. Why weren't the numbers available on the district's website. Why did we have to make a formal records request?

We have asked the Board to show us the numbers ... what 'new books' are being eliminated, what '110' courses have eliminated, what '138' new staff positions have been eliminated and is the projected projected FY 04 deficit ... is it $6.9 like they said last fall or is it $700,000 like they said two weeks before the election.

The district should put all this information on their website ... the courses cut, the new textbooks not ordered, the positions & their costs eliminated, the budget for FY 04, the actual expenses by line item for the last three years, and the projections by line item for the next three years.

The board sends conflicting messages. Rigelman reported at the January 27, 2003 board meeting that the Finance Committee met for several hours the day before and they came up with $6,000,000 of cuts for FY 04 with LITTLE PAIN to our students. He said that all that needed to be done in FY 04 was kids had to get use to wearing sweaters as the schools had turned down the temperature to 65 (Stemen corrected him later and indicated it was 68). Ask the thousand citizens, parents & students attending the board meeting if they agreed with Rigelman that the FY 04 presented only slight pain for the kids?

Like Worthington board and district leaders did, many have asked the board to eliminate their stipends, and their large training allowances and the district's top two administrators voluntarily forgo their 4.25% cost of living increases July 1. That would show the community they were serious.

Show us the numbers, Jeanne, and yes, we will donate to restore those cuts too. Thanks.

You have a rat in your pocket

Hey Mark people in Westerville are proposing $20,000 impact fees on their new builds. It sounds like your offer will solve our problem but it won?’t. When you say ?“WE?” does that mean you have a builder in your pocket with a blank check?

Let me also remind everyone that Pickerington and Westerville?’s city managers were the ring leaders of the group to fight senate bill 5. Is it any coincidence that they both are now having problems in their school districts? Could it be that these managers placed the needs of these builders above the needs of the residents that paid their salaries? Why Lou Postage (who Mark thinks so highly of) stated, ?“You have to invest a little to make money?” what exactly was our wonderful Mayor talking about? Mayor you invested the money ($150,000) and now our school district finances are crumbling. When exactly does our return on investment come back to us?

Clearly using advisors like Mark Uher isn?’t getting the job done. Mark stated on this site that sports are free. With a small contribution from the parents the sports will pay for its self. Mark feels very comfortable sitting in the middle of a bunch of 17 year olds that have never paid a dime in taxes to anyone and convincing them that he knows everything. It is quite different to try to convince seniors on fixed incomes that they should pay more each year to support a system that is corrupt. There are those within our school district that are facing layoffs and downsizing. This district spent millions more than they should have on a school building that was far above the means of most of us. Mark Uher feels very comfortable in accepting money from the builders to extend this funding problem one more year one more sports season. Maybe if the adults in this community would become adults and address the problem with honestly, integrity, and credibility we could solve these issues. The only solution many of these people find is with the developers just like Westerville. That money is dirty.

Dirty Money & Gail Oakes

Just two corrections.

First, at Monday's board meeting, I sat beside two reporters, Mike Maurer & Jennifer Wray and 18 year-old registered voters ?… not 17-year olds.

The second correction is about dirty money. The only person I know who accepts 'dirty money' is Gail Oakes. Interestingly, on this website under 'Funding Sources for the 2002 Pickerington for Kids Levy Campaign', PATA noted that the sources for contributions came from:

39% Home Builders
33% PLSD Contractors
19% PLSD PTO's
7% PLSD Boosters
3% PLSD Teachers

However, PATA failed to tell you 'the rest of the story' ?… where the money went.

The money went into Gail Oakes' pocket.

$4700.00 on 10/21/02 Levy Check #644
Paid to Capitol Citicom, Inc.
2238 South Hamilton Rd., Columbus 43232
Owned by Gail Oakes
2500 Levy Signs

$1985.00 on 4/24/03 Levy Check #655
Paid to Capitol Citicom Owned by Gail Oakes
1000 Levy Signs

Why did not Gail donate the levy signs instead of taking the money?

Wow, what teamworks. Wes decides 2500 signs and that Gail gets the work, Gail gets all the money and profits, and Bruce is critical of the number of signs in the community (Sign Blight on 10.23.02) to cover their tracks. I am glad see the teamwork among the majority of our board now.

Yes, Gail, can be bought for a price. Her integrity can be bought for a mere $6685. If you want Gail to vote yes on your contract -- Turner Construction, Fanning & Howey & PEA -- just write the check to Capitol Citicom.

Dr. Pepper, please ask your 'friend' Gail Oakes to refund the levy money she took and write a check for $6685 to the Pickerington for Kids Committee to 'restore her integrity'. Thanks!!