April 14, 2011
SWCS and OAPSE still negotiating By TOM SHEEHAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers The South-Western City Schools’ classified workers continue to work without a contract. Negotiators for the district and Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 211 met with a federal mediator for nearly six hours on April 11.
Superintendent Bill Wise characterized the most recent talks as productive. “We had productive conversation,” he said prior to the April 11 school board meeting. “The key issues are primarily financial at this point. We’re hopeful as we continue to have dialogue on these key issues” an agreement will be reached.
No further talks have been scheduled, he said. About 950 bus drivers, food service workers and other staff members are represented by OAPSE. Their last contract with the district expired June 30. No one spoke during the public participation segment of the April 11 board meeting. OAPSE leaders said earlier they want a fair and equitable contract
for their members. Last month, the South-Western Education Association, which represents about 1,400 teachers and other certified staff, agreed to a new three-year contract retroactive to July 1. That agreement provides for no basepay increases this school year, a 0.5percent increase for 2011-12 and a 1percent raise the following year. Teach-
Police CHECKING FOR SAFETY chief will be named soon
See SWCS, page A2
Stage says Schonhardt finished job for Grove City By PAUL COMSTOCK ThisWeek Community Newspapers
By LISA AURAND ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Grove City’s next police chief is expected to be named in about a week, safety director Mike Wasylik said. The choice of the police chief is a mayoral appointment and does not require approval from city council. Former chief Joe Wise retired March 25. Steve Robinette, the department’s only captain, was named the interim police chief pending the results of a competitive civil service examination administered two weeks ago. Results of the examination were received last week. “I’ll be reviewing the scores with (Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage),” Wasylik said Friday, April 8. Robinette and the department’s two lieutenants. Jeff Pearson and Jeff Lawless, were invited to take the civil service examination, Grove City spokesman Don Walters said. Those who passed the examination were considered for the position of chief and were being scheduled for interviews this week, Wasylik said. “At the very earliest (the announcement) won’t be until late this week,” he said. “It’s just a matter of trying to coordinate schedules (for interviews).” The same protocol was followed when Wise was selected to succeed Dennis L. Deskins, who retired in 2007. Wise was serving as interim chief at the time, and Robinette and Lawless were the two other finalists for the position. Robinette joined the police department in September 1984. He was promoted to lieutenant in April 2004 and was still at that rank in 2007. Lawless was hired in January 1988 and was promoted to lieutenant in April 2000. He is in charge of support serv-
ers and others also will contribute more toward health-care coverage. Last summer, about 85 unionized administrators reached a one-year agreement with the district. That contract provides for no base-pay raises and also increases what administrators contribute to health coverage.
Mayor Richard “Ike” Stage on April 11 announced that Donald J. Schonhardt & Associates Inc. completed all of the work it contracted to do with the city in 2006 and 2007. Stage on March 25 said he did not know if the work was completed. In his April 11 announcement, Stage said, “I met with Mr. Schonhardt and one of his associates to review the engagement letter, I apologize for contract and reany misunderstanding sulting work. It is clear that Donthis matter may have ald J. Schoncreated. hardt & Associates Inc. delivRICHARD “IKE” STAGE ered exactly —Mayor what their contract specified. We appreciate the services provided by Donald J. Schonhardt & Associates Inc. and I apologize for any misunderstanding this matter may have created. “On a matter of this importance I wanted to be certain that the professional services provided by the firm and other contractors during the period covered by the Internal Revenue Service notice were, in each case, completed,” Stage said. At the center of the issue was a $2,792 discrepancy in a city account in 2006. Donald J. Schonhardt told The Record his company was not hired to look at that account. Last month, Stage said it was. Schonhardt said his company provided two services to Grove City. The first was to interview finance department personnel regarding the accounting and payroll functions as they operated at that time.
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By Eric George/ThisWeek
Firefighter paramedic Lori Jenkins checks Mike Benedum’s car seats during a Grove City Moms and Safe Kids of Central Ohio child car seat safety check on April 9 at Trinity United Methodist Church.
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See STAGE, page A2
City rec department starts online sign-ups By LISA AURAND ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Grove City residents now may register for parks and recreation programming from anywhere in the world with the click of a mouse. Online registration has been added as the department’s preferred method of registration for new programs and events, recreation superintendent Ed Merritt said. “We want to make it easy for our patrons to register either themselves or their families,” Merritt said. Mailed, telephone and walk-in regisSee CITY, page A7
DIRECTORY
trations still will be accepted, but Merritt said he hopes the number of registrations taken on paper will decrease this year, thanks to an online-only early bird registration. “What we’re doing out of the gate this year is to try to increase the amount of participants that are going to our website and using (online registration),” Merritt said. Online-only registration will begin at 8 a.m. Monday, April 18. Other forms of registration may be submitted starting at 8 a.m. April 25 at City Hall. Saturday early-bird registration will no
“The nice thing is, once you get used to it, you can register from the comfort of A closer look your home,” Merritt said. “You can take as much time as you want and you can call in and ask questions.” Online-only registration will begin at Registration for team sports, the Rec8 a.m. Monday, April 18. Other forms School preschool program, Big Splash of registration may be submitted season passes, shelter rentals, and the starting at 8 a.m. April 25 at City PARK before- and after-school and sumHall. mer childcare programs still will be completed in person because staff members longer be held, but an early-bird registra- must verify the ages of those signing up, tion for senior classes will take place at city spokesman Don Walters said. the Evans Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22. See CITY REC, page A2
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WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE PART OF AN EXCITING NEW CHURCH? We are an independent church whose mission is to carry out the great commission by reaching lost souls and teaching them to live their lives by the truths found in God’s word. Pastor Mike Purdon’s messages will both challenge and encourages you, your family and friends. Please visit us for our services and decide if you would like to come grow with us! Nursery Birth to Age 3 The Nursery is staffed with well trained workers. Children are encouraged to play and learn songs and Bible stories.
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we teach important truths from God’s word. Classes include Sunday School, Junior Church and Wednesday Night Kids Club.
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We encourage our teens to dig deep into God’s Truth and to use it in everyday life that honors Jesus Christ. Teens meet during the sunday school hour each week.
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Service held at the Grove City Elks Lodge 2140 Sonora Drive