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GM school board to support Fight the Hike
(by Rick Palsgrove, Southeast Editor - October 15, 2009)
The Groveport Madison Board of Education passed a resolution to support Fight the Hike Ohio, a coalition of citizens and community leaders from 90 areas across the state fighting Ohio American Water's (OAW) proposed phased-in rate hike.
If the PUCO fully grants OAW's rate hike request, in 2010, the average bill jumps 22.5 percent; rises 15.29 percent in 2011; goes up 4.48 percent in 2012; and ends the four year cycle by hopping another 4.64 percent in 2013.
Groveport Madison has five schools in northern Madison Township that use OAW's services - Asbury, Dunloe, Madison, Sedalia, and Middle School North. (Groveport Elementary, Glendening, Middle School South, and the junior high are on the Groveport water system while the high school is on the Columbus water system.)
According to information provided by the school district, Groveport Madison pays nearly $76,000 a year in water bills to OAW.
"Sedalia, with 443 students, has an annual water bill of $20,720, which is higher than the high school's water bill, and the high school has about 1,600 students," Groveport Madison Board President John Kershner said at the board's Oct. 14 meeting. "Middle School North's water bill is almost double that of Middle School South."
Kershner added, if the OAW rate increase goes through, it could add another $40,000 to the district's water bills.
Madison Township Trustee Jim Hummel, who attended the board meeting, said the township invited the PUCO to the trustees' Oct. 21 meeting to discuss the situation. The township also signed on to a letter to the Ohio Attorney General requesting the state conduct an audit of the water company's practices.
OAW President David Little has said his company needs the increases to cover the cost of capital investments. Although the company is a public utility, it is not a municipal entity, and is mandated to pay property tax, which swallows up 18 cents out of every dollar paid by consumers.
Little said water mains and service lines are all subject to taxation. The company is also required to maintain fire hydrants, flush water lines, replace meters as necessary, operate the distribution system, detect leaks, and inspect manholes.
The school board passed its resolution of support for Fight the Hike Ohio by a 4-1 vote with Kershner, Nathan Slonaker, Duane Dailey, and Mary Tedrow supporting it and Dr. Naomi Sealey opposing it.
Sealey stated she was "in favor of fair water rates for the schools," but would have preferred the district draft its own wording for the resolution rather than use wording provided by representatives of Fight the Hike Ohio.
Groveport Madison Local Schools are gearing up to fight the H1N1 flu
"H1N1 is here," said Groveport Madison Business Manager Larry Ricchi at the Groveport Madison Board of Education's Oct. 14 meeting.
Ricchi said H1N1 vaccinations for students will be provided soon by the Franklin County Board of Health in the district's school buildings. He said specific dates will be announced when they are set.
Students in kindergarten through fifth grade would be vaccinated first followed by middle school and then high school students. He added steps are being taken to sanitize the schools to help prevent H1N1 from gaining a foothold.
"Will we stop H1N1? No, it's in too many other places," said Ricchi.
According to the Center for Disease Control, 100,000 deaths are expected nationwide from H1N1. This compares to 32,000 fatalities expected from seasonal flu.
Five year financial forecast
Groveport Madison Treasurer Tony Swartz presented the district's five year financial forecast, which he said will have to be revised later due to the uncertainty in the amount of state funding the district will receive.
According to the forecast, the district projects positive fund balances of: $1.7 million in 2010; $2.6 million in 2011; and $2 million in 2012. The district projects negative fund balances of: $1.4 million in 2013 and $8.3 million in 2014 if the three year operating levy passed last May is not renewed.
Other news
•The board approved a resolution to apply for an active planning process with the Ohio Schools Facilities Commission (OSFC) to prepare for possible conditional approval in 2010 to participate in the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program. The planning process will include information on the district's facilities audit and the historical significance of Groveport Elementary and the junior high, which were recently placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
OSFC monies, if received, can be used for renovations and/or building new school buildings.
•The board approved a resolution of support for the village of Groveport in its pursuit of federal funding under the Safe Routes to School program. The village hopes to obtain funding to put sidewalks in place for Glendening Elementary and Middle School South.
•The district received a reimbursement of $112,241 from e-Rate, which provides discounts to assist schools and libraries in obtaining telecommunications and Internet access.
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