[ back ]
Letters to the editor
Something on your mind? Tell us about it! Write a letter to the editor! Submit yours to westside@columbusmessenger.com.
Say “yes”to Issue 15
If you value thriving and successful kids along with growing and prospering communities, this is your chance to ensure our kids and our communities continue to flourish. Say “yes” to Issue 15 on May 5.
If you are a friend of the South-Western City Schools (SWCS) then you already know the district covers 127 square miles; includes 34 buildings; serves 21,000 students; employees 2,500 personnel; and operates a $1.8 million budget. We are one of the largest districts in the state and one of the largest employers in central Ohio.
If you are a friend of the SWCS then you already know the district’s finances are an open book to the community, ran according to law and very stretched.
On building operations, we spend 18 percent of every dollar; the state average is 19.4 percent. On administration, we spend 11.3 percent; the state average is 12.3 percent. On pupil support, we spend 9.4 percent; the state average is 9.8 percent. On instruction, we spend 57.7 percent; the state average is 55.4 percent. On staff support, we spend 3.6 percent; the state average is 3.1 percent.
We are below state average in all these areas except instruction and staff support. These two areas include teachers, aides, materials, computers, books, staff trainings, and more. If you are a friend of SWCS then you already knew money is spent in the areas to best educate and prepare our children.
If you are a friend of the SWCS then you are prepared to vote for Issue 15 on May 5. Go a step forward, call and e-mail 10 friends to encourage them to do the same. We need all our friends to vote on May 5 so our kids can continue their path to a successful future.
Mindy Garverick
Grove City
Now we get the threats
The South-Western City School administration is now resorting to threats and blackmail.
They say they will do away with sports and band. They kidnap the kids to wait and see if they get the ransom money.
I say to all the homeowners, do the math. The district is asking for money every two and a half to three years. What would your property tax be in 20 years?
We have all seen what happens to institutions in this country that get too big. It is way past time large school districts redistrict to decrease size and increase manageability.
Vote “no” on all school levies.
Jack Baynes
Columbus
| Comments (1) |
On April 9, 2009 Meredith said:
Nobody likes to pay more taxes. Nobody.Yes they may be holding our kids hostage. No question. One of my favorite sayings though says it all. Don't cut your nose off to spite your face. In other words the only people getting hurt in all this are the kids. You won't be hurting the board members or administrators, they will keep their jobs. You won't be affecting the at all.
I do suggest an extra dead bolt on your doors if the levy fails. At least 10,000 kids will find themselves with all kind of time on their hands. They will have more time for sex, vandalism, and any other UNSUPERVISED activities they can think of. This may include breaking into your homes, damaging property, and just hanging out in front of your houses. Does this sound like a good trade for $22.00 dollars a month? You can pay now or you can pay later.
So, if you want your property values to decline even more than they have by all means vote NO. If you want the crime rate to increase by all means vote NO. If you want to destroy at least 10,000 thousand kids dreams and futures by all means vote NO. If you want to send a message to the administrators, one that doesn't even affect them, vote NO.
I think we all better rethink who we will be punishing here. I see only the kids getting the short end of the stick for now. Our short end of the stick comes later when we try to repair the damage we caused. Think hard, the ramifications of this not passing will be alot more than $22.00 dollars a month. Take my advise and make one less trip a month to McDonalds and help the kids. You would be doing yourself a favor in the long run. |
| |
[ back ]
