Pickerington Area Taxpayers Alliance

I see our school district is once more on the front page. I am very disturbed by the actions and just how our board reached their decision last night. In the Dispatch not more than two weeks ago the Dispatch ran an article about our extracurricular activities. They placed price tags on all of the athletic programs and they averaged about $700 per student. Now with no solid figures at hand last night they re-instated the extracurricular activities saying it will cost the parents between $30 and $250 per student. They have not got anything firm about their donation from the builders and that donation won?’t come until August 31st.

Wes Monhollen then is quoted that, ?“if the levy fails in August we will need to cut academics.?” What message are they sending to the voters? First we don?’t have the money then we do have the money but if we don?’t we cut academics? So what they are telling us is that if the levy fails in August we keep the athletic programs going for the builders and cut the academic programs for the students.

Wasn?’t the plan to help these students get into college? Will we be waiting until their senior year to teach them math and science so they can fill out their college applications? What about the busing of these students that are in high school, but are not old enough to drive? Have they developed a plan for them? Driving by the New High school I see no sidewalks and the speed limit is at least 45 through there.

The Dispatch has transmitted Pickerington?’s priority list around central Ohio. I still see no good reason to pass a school operating levy when it will be going to athletics and not academics. Apparently our school board is being less than truthful with the voters.


By house for sale

Who's game?

So I'm curious as to what glorious developer in our community is going to come forward to save 1/2 day kindergarten.

From the Columbus Dispatch 5/20/2003 ''In another cost-cutting move, the board changed kindergarten in the district from a five-day, half-day program to a full-day, every-other-day schedule.

In addition to attending two full days (Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays), all kindergartners will attend a half-day on Fridays.

The change could save up to $180,000 in transportation costs because the noon bus schedule will be eliminated four days a week. Utterback said the amount of savings has not been determined.''

So who's game - a mere $180K and you can help the youngest students in our school district.

Ohhh that's right. Helping out kindergartner's isn't nearly as exciting and headline grabbing as helping out the extracurricular's. And not to mention that messing with kindergarten won't mess with your bottom line like cutting out sports would.

Priorities are Wrong


While I am glad we have a short (1 year) solution for extra curriculars - they should have been second to any academic issues.

This includes the type of educational enviroment we subject Kindergarteners to as well as Middle School Foreign Language.

It should also include the additional remedial teachers needed. While our doors are wide open, the kids coming in aren't the same level as the ones there so they need extra help. So the current kids that need help too get bumped as there are kids with bigger hurdles to jump that are new.

Next will be split sessions for Elementary School Kids - they just win hands down. Maybe we need to introduce PeeWee Football in the Schools! Instead of a Community Center why don't we require the CA Builders to build an Elementary School instead?

I'd be happy to support my fair share of a Community Center, but I won't contribute to or facilitate uncontrolled growth.

By Pickerington Parent