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Letters to the editor
Something on your mind? Tell us about it! Write a letter to the editor! Submit yours to westside@columbusmessenger.com.
Issue 81 is "chance of a lifetime"
I am in a unique position. I am a voter in the South-Western City School district, my husband and I own a business in the district, our children attend high school and middle school in the district and since January of this year, I am a member of the board of education.
In November voters of the district will be asked to support a bond issue and an operating issue, now known as Issue 81.
If you look at this opportunity as the glass is half-full then this is a “chance of a lifetime.”
What will we gain by voting yes to Issue 81?
We will get 13 new elementary schools to replace 15 inadequate building; four new middle schools to replace four inadequate buildings; a new Franklin Heights High School building; major renovations and additions to Grove City and Westland High Schools; technology upgrades at every other building; and space for all-day every day kindergarten throughout the district.
Voting yes to Issue 81 will provide equity across our entire district; improve safety and security measures at all buildings; update technology; eliminate the trailer classrooms; and reduce maintenance and repair costs overall.
In addition to these improvements, voting yes will help stimulate our local economy with more than $500 million being spent in the building of new schools and the renovations of others. Local businesses and labor forces will feel the increase of dollars being spent in our area businesses.
Voting yes will allows us to keep our current educational programs, to continue improving on our academic achievement scores, and to avoid additional cuts to staffing or programs.
Why are we able to make these changes now? These improvements are made possible by the Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC). The OSFC was created in 1997 as a separate state agency to oversee the rebuilding of Ohio’s public schools. It serves as a funding partner for school districts to finance school construction projects.
The SWCS district was originally slated to become eligible for the program in 2012. As a result of how the tobacco settlement dollars are secured, OSFC has identified a process that allows the amount of dollars to be maximized over a longer period of time. There is no guarantee this money will be available beyond this time frame.
In 2008, SWCS buildings were evaluated by an OSFC-contracted team to determine what changes are needed to bring school buildings up to 2008 standards. All these improvements are mentioned above.
I
f you are looking at this opportunity as a glass half-empty then I encourage you to take another look. If you have questions or concerns about district issues, then please take a moment to contact the district office and talk with the Superintendent Dr. Bill Wise or Treasurer Hugh Garside.
Issue 81 is a “chance of a lifetime.” Vote yes to give our kids and our community this chance.
Mindy Garverick
SWCS district resident
What's to come of the Coop?
I have heard a few rumors about what would go in at the space vacated by Cooper Stadium. The main one being some kind of race track. I don’t think most people around there would want the noise or smell this close to many homes. My two cents worth would be to keep it a family orientated with a putt-putt type of business; or possibly a sports facility with batting cages and an indoor rink whether it be ice or roller skating. These are just a few possibilities that I can think of to keep it profitable and be able to be used by all.
Blaine Bower
Columbus
Stop funding schools with property taxes
I am writing in response to Steve Gagliardi’s letter, “Sick of reading pointless letters,” in the Sept. 1 edition of the Westside Messenger. Gagliardi claims to be sick of reading letters written by people who oppose school levies. His is the most pointless letter I have read yet!
It sounds more like he is trying to protect his wife’s job with South-Western City Schools. She should teach him the definition of a fixed income, where you don’t have the luxury of perks and raises to meet the changes to your income.
He says SWAT complains and doesn’t have any alternatives. I have an alternative! Grove City has become huge and is getting bigger every day. It is time for them to form their own school district to decrease the size of SWCS.
Gagliardi did get one thing right in his letter. We live in the year 2008, a time of mortgage meltdown and record high oil and food prices. Perhaps he would like to pick up one of our senior citizens; natural gas bills this winter. Not!
It’s time to stop funding the schools with property taxes. Vote no on all school levies!
Jack Bayes
Columbus
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