Citizens Against Issues 50 & 51 launched Wednesday with a press conference held outside of a local school. The group released a series of statements about its position against the proposed levy for Columbus City Schools. Even the meeting location it chose made a statement to the public.
The press conference convened outside of Champion Middle School, a beautifully renovated Columbus City School located at 284 N. 22nd Street.
Champion Middle School is “failing”. Or, if you prefer the older terminology, it’s in “Academic Emergency”. It received an F on this year’s report card. In the 2011-2012 school year, Columbus City Schools spent $21,711 per student at Champion… to fail.
Still, Champion is one of the nicest facilities in the system. This introduces a question to the public: if it takes $21,711 per year, per student for a school to fail, how much money does it take for a school to be effective?
The answer certainly can’t be found by looking at higher performing schools. Consider Ridgeview Middle School, a school in the same district. Ridgeview hasn’t been the beneficiary of a recent renovation; it’s never even had air conditioning. According to the Ohio Department of Education, Ridgeview was “effective” during the 2011-2012 school year. Columbus City Schools spent only $12,397 per student at Ridgeview that year.
There’s a wide range in expenditures per student at different Columbus City Schools. In terms of patterns of investment as related to achievement, there is no relationship. Family incomes are typically stronger determining factor in student and school achievement.
Meanwhile, Citizens Against Issues 50 & 51 expressed concerns about several other investments in Columbus City Schools. Aligning with It’s Okay TO Vote No and No Cheaters No Charters Columbus, the group called for voter rejection of the proposed levy in part because of its financial impact on “seniors, low-income neighbors, homeowners and renters”.
It also cited a loss of public trust and called on the board to publicly investigate and disclose all participants and events that have contributed to Columbus City School’s recent scandals.
After the press conference the group issued an additional statement, saying:
“On Tuesday, Columbus City School Treasurer announced an expected surplus in the current income received by the system. How does a 19.2 million dollar deficit grow to 51.1 million dollar surplus? You do the math, but this system doesn’t need the request for 76 million dollar a year levy.”
Members of the group include three pastors: Pastor Dale Snyder (Bethel AME), Pastor Frederick LeMarr (Family Missionary Baptist Church) and Reverend Joel L. King, Jr. (Union Grove Baptist Church). Also involved are several community members including Clarence Lumpkin (South Linden) , Cecil Ahad (Men in the Movement), Byron Potts, Bob Fitrakis, Kehari Enaharo, Tyrone Thomas and Jonathan Beard
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