Pay-to-play OK'd pending levy approval

South-Western City Schools Board of Education members on Oct. 12 unanimously passed legislation that would implement a pay-to-play system if the Nov.

[Sarah]

So, I see the district is going to use another set of students as hostage.

"Warner said district officials would cut ties with the Metro School and Mosaic programs, a Columbus-based early college high school system offered to students in Franklin County school districts."

I see their thorough look at cuts first ran to students, instead of looking at a top heavy district. Maybe Mr. Warner would like to give up his job for the students, or another "deputy superintendent" or maybe they will start doing more jobs and they could save the $135,230.76 that they pay Mr. Warner. Would Mr. Garside like to give up his job? Maybe Dr. Wise could delegate his work around to all the other 100 administation employees and we could save over $118,000.

What about it Central Office, what are you going to sacrifice? You ask it of us. You demanded it of our children.

[CRob87]

Just PASS the Levy so that we can forget all about "ANY" kind of Levy talk for at least the next 2-3 years !!!

[Sandi]

Well like Sarah says I dont see any comonsense being made by Administration. How many Vice Superindents are they ? and Vice Principals. We as taxpayer are doing 2-3 peoples jobs at our jobs. Maybe we need to see more sacrifice by the schools ..Not the teachers or students but by the administrations. I hope all Grove City citizens get a new quote what there homes are worth and give less to the school ...we lost $40K .....So SWSD dont bank on our money what you feel we are worth ....we arent !!!!

[Bodie is a joke]

Evan, why do you continue to slant these stories in favor of the district? How about being fair for a change?

[Its Not About Money]

Opps - I choked on that one.
As we're facing the fourth levy, we're finally going to allow the recipients of benefits to start chipping in for health insurance? And now there's a guidance counselor telling us that we should expect the schools to reunite the community, even though it's leaders have torn us apart.
I'm still gasping.
Can you not see how you use our children to defend your agenda? Our children are not here to fix the issues that adults have created, nor to polish your image. They are our children. They are human beings, not numbers. They are people, not a means to your end. They are not your human resources.
It's not about money anymore, and this article proves it. These 'leaders' operate on a philosophical foundation that cannot be allowed to survive.

[Bodie is a joke]

Its Not About Money wrote:

Opps - I choked on that one.
As we're facing the fourth levy, we're finally going to allow the recipients of benefits to start chipping in for health insurance? And now there's a guidance counselor telling us that we should expect the schools to reunite the community, even though it's leaders have torn us apart.
I'm still gasping.
Can you not see how you use our children to defend your agenda? Our children are not here to fix the issues that adults have created, nor to polish your image. They are our children. They are human beings, not numbers. They are people, not a means to your end. They are not your human resources.
It's not about money anymore, and this article proves it. These 'leaders' operate on a philosophical foundation that cannot be allowed to survive.

Excellent!!! Why doesn't something like this ever make it to the front page of the "Record"? If only the Grove City Record would STOP THE BIAS SLANT!!! The district dominates the front page headlines! I was at Mondays' school board meeting. James Swearingens' speech was anything but cordial or conciliatory. He was resorted to petty attacks. He was angry, and incendiary. He targeted no voters to shovel blame! His speech was vicious. The quote from Swearingen in Evans article was very selective, as was the quotes from other supporters. The meeting was definitely stacked with pro levy supporters that had strong ties to the district, Teachers, administrators, PTA groups, many from Jill Bilman-Royers pro levy group, "Citizens for SWCS".
Every speaker from the yes side praised the school board and Dr. Wise, and district treasurer, Hugh Garside. Not one supporter challenged them like the parents had done at previous meetings. Every speaker also attacked the no voters. There's no question, the meeting was obviously STAGED. Evan, you were awful chummy with the other side Monday night! Pretty cozy with Sandy Nekeloff!!!

[We the people]

CRob87 wrote:

Just PASS the Levy so that we can forget all about "ANY" kind of Levy talk for at least the next 2-3 years !!!

Well that is the kind of reply the unions and board want to hear....it's what worked for them last time too...you can give your lunch money to the school bully if you want,but I say knock him on his butt and let him work for his lunch....

[Bodie]

Want to talk about a idiotic "speech" at Monday meeting ? Talk about more angry supid ranting by high school drop out Terry Jones. That idiot needs anger management before he snaps and goes to prison.
I don't see anything slanted in favor of the school board by the GC RECORD I just see a bunch of people that oppose the levy having self distructive tunnel vision.
The amount of hate spewed towards others by the levy opposition is horrible I use Bodie as a screen name and now a idiot with nothing better to do then attack individuals uses Bodie Is a Joke.
How frickin childish and borderline on being an idiot is that. They offer nothing for discussion just make fun of and attack with anger what others comment on. If the NO voters were truly targeted
they wouldn't show their face in the daylight and it's not anyone targeting the no voters but a few of those NO VOTER ADVOCATES need professional help and need to be outed for being not at all capabale of understanding simple facts and figures placed in WRITING in front of them.
We as a community can't even disagree on this issue without anger and hate and this blog and others are read by people all over the country as was the USA Today article. The country is looking at us not just the local community and we are looking really really stupid. BOTH SIDES the people who support the levy and those that oppose it.

[Tom]

I am curious....if the levy passes, can opponents of the levy put it on the ballot again to be repelled? And if it passes again, put it again and again until it fails? Kind of like what the District has done four times already?

[Bodie]

No but the levy opponents could use their energy to lobby the statehouse to change the way schools are funded but being at the same time careful what they wish for. The state of ohio has never changed anything or for a bettter word "fixed" anything without it costing taxpayers a lot more money.
The only thing the state is good at doing for schools is handing down unfunded mandates. And for people like Terry Jones I will explain that in "simpler terms". The State of Ohio tells the schools they have to do somthing that will cost the schools more money but the state gives them not one thin dime more".
Those who oppose the levy since it is the cheapest way to guarantee yourself the least amount in tax increases need to finally understand how costly a higher sales tax will be and how costly an income tax increase will be. Those two tax increases if used by the state to fund schools could cost more jobs as people further slow spending.
We already voted absentee and voted Yes On 47. Not because we really fully see the schools needing the money without further changes but to protect what is left in the value of our home and community. We plan on asking the board to further change spending after the levy is resolved. The NO VOTERS are not really thinking long term cause and effect.

[Bodie is a joke]

Bodie wrote:

Want to talk about a idiotic "speech" at Monday meeting ? Talk about more angry supid ranting by high school drop out Terry Jones. That idiot needs anger management before he snaps and goes to prison.
I don't see anything slanted in favor of the school board by the GC RECORD I just see a bunch of people that oppose the levy having self distructive tunnel vision.
The amount of hate spewed towards others by the levy opposition is horrible I use Bodie as a screen name and now a idiot with nothing better to do then attack individuals uses Bodie Is a Joke.
How frickin childish and borderline on being an idiot is that. They offer nothing for discussion just make fun of and attack with anger what others comment on. If the NO voters were truly targeted
they wouldn't show their face in the daylight and it's not anyone targeting the no voters but a few of those NO VOTER ADVOCATES need professional help and need to be outed for being not at all capabale of understanding simple facts and figures placed in WRITING in front of them.
We as a community can't even disagree on this issue without anger and hate and this blog and others are read by people all over the country as was the USA Today article. The country is looking at us not just the local community and we are looking really really stupid. BOTH SIDES the people who support the levy and those that oppose it.

Bodie, you're being challenged because you lie, you slander, and spread false rumors. What have you offered for a discussion? "Vote yes for the levy because Jones is a dropout"? How is that a convincing argument? Besides, Jones is not a dropout. Every pro levy speaker spewed nothing but hatred, cast blame, and resorted to petty attacks against no voters, especialy Swearingen. Your guy, Rick Redfern, Shouted and ranted through his whole speech, and ranted beyond his alloted five minutes. But that's okay, he's a levy guy! Double standard! It was a staged event. Evan Brooks definitely cherry picked the quotes from your pro levy speakers to make the district look good. Grove City Record is slanted!

[State raise taxes]

State of Ohio just raise the state income tax. Give the money to the schools and then no more levies.

[BODIE]

Terry Jones is a high school drop out
Frickin ASK him. He quit Columbus South High School. I didn't say I thought Redfern was a good speaker but he does entertain well with his choice of funny clothes. He meant well and has not had the police called on him for threats etc. I respect for Rick Redfern for being a decent non threatening person
I have respect for the anti levy people I don't rant and insult them. I direct my comments towards the deserving few.
I will make this statement to all. It will not be long that Terry Jones loses it and goes over the edge and ends up in jail and someone gets hurt.
He spews pure anger and hatred and does his anti levy group no good whatsoever. He is a future inmate unless he gets anger management and or medication. I am not making fun of the guy but even his "friends" have to see it.Jim Swearingham did a good job and based his talk on facts not words he can't define like Dr Wise asked your hero Terry Jones about. If Your buddy is a high school grad great cut and paste his diploma here for all the world to see. But you can't because he does not have one.
T Jones speech was anger filled and his lack of undersatnding about what he was talking about further turns off listeners. I would lsiten to him if he had a few minutes of self respect and self control. He hates his life and whats is more scary he ahtes anyone who has made a better life for themself. He needs help SERIOUSLY.
I respect Evan Brooks and think this reporter is doing a good job and have never met or talked to
Evan. I read nothing in the story that wasn't said at the meeting but I agree with the reporter about leaving out some of the bs. Job Well Done Grove City Record

[Grovetucky]

We can settle one point. Bodie is a Joke or one of T Jones other friends can ask Mr Jones to bring his HS Diploma to the next school board meeting
and make it public or fax a copy to the Grove City Record. That would end that.
The State of Ohio can and will raise the income and sales taxes and they will tax things currently not taxed as part of their way to "fix" school funding. You can count on that.

[shutupterryjones voteyes]

Terry Jones said "voters should vote "no" for the levy because district employee salaries are disproportionate with other working members of the community." ???? What are you talking about? You are a high school drop out loser who cant hold a job and are jealous of ANYONE who makes a decent living. Give it up. The more you talk the more desperate you are sounding and your so called supporters are leaving your side because you are making up "facts" everytime you open your big mouth. Your anger scares me. You are asking to be hauled off to jail for punching someone. I cant wait until the next meeting and walk up to you and tell you how much my wife and sister make who work for SWCS and rub it in your mouthy face!! Maybe if you spent half as much time looking for job that hires high school drop outs as you do updating your website with bullsh*t you would not find anything to complain about. oh wait...thats not the Terry Jones we love.

[TERRY]

Some still remember the debacle of over a decade ago when a levy failed and the school system punished the parents by ceasing busing. That went on for some time until the school system "magically" found what I recall as about 2 million dollars that they "did not know they had"! What a load of crap!

Everyone with half, no make that a fourth of a brain knows that virtually every urban public school system is bloated, inefficient, and wasteful. I hear it all the time from the people who are involved and know. Just take a look at the number of Columbus puiblic school "supervisors" that are paid at or about six figures. The salaries and benefits, working just 9 months a year; kids that, at best, are below par with kids just a generation ago. How can you justify that? Private schools do more with less and produce better educated children. Government is never as effecient as private enterprise (think about the postal system) and most often is down right wasteful. As of this year I no longer live in Grove City, but I would definitely vote against this levy if I did.

My biggest contention is that apartment dwellers should not be allowed to vote on school levies since they don't pay the property tax. And why has Grove City given all those tax abatements for a zillion warehouses if the schools need the money so badly? Because they would rather suck it out of the middle class homeowner yet again!

[shutupterryjones voteyes]

Another thing Terry about your "district employee salaries are disproportionate with other working members of the community" comment. They ALL have their degrees! College, Masters and even Doctorate. You dummy of course they are "disproportionate" to the other working members. Are you out there protesting in front of the Statehouse because Strickland's salary is not n par with the Ohio Theater's box office employee's salary are what about the homeless down the street? Should the Gov take a paycut for those people who dropped out of HS or do not have jobs. Everytime I hear your annoying voice or see your name in print an Eagles song comes to mind. "Desperado...why don't you come to your senses..."

[Bodie is a joke]

Grovetucky wrote:

We can settle one point. Bodie is a Joke or one of T Jones other friends can ask Mr Jones to bring his HS Diploma to the next school board meeting
and make it public or fax a copy to the Grove City Record. That would end that.
The State of Ohio can and will raise the income and sales taxes and they will tax things currently not taxed as part of their way to "fix" school funding. You can count on that.

Both you and Bodie are liars and slanderers. Jones is not a drop out. You and Bodie made the accusations. You prove it. Also, legally you can give an opinion regarding a public figure. The question is, does Jones qualify as a public figure? The second thing to keep in mind, while it is legal to give an opinion, you can't fabricate lies about the individual. I'm telling you as a fact, Jones is not a drop out. Becareful of some of the other rumors you're spreading about Jones, they're also false.

[We the people]

The less government in our lives the better,3 unions for the schools,asst. principals,asst. teachers,we need to cut some of these positions,I bet they would find some forgotten money like they did a few years back,just to keep their jobs...I'm looking foward to the voting day and see where they go after the levy fails again....How many times can they run it over and over...

[I Graduated South High]

Terry Jones is a High School Drop OUT FACT