1-27 ThisWeek Grove City by The Columbus Dispatch/Dispatch Magazines

January 27, 2011

SWCS wants new kindergarten waiver By TOM SHEEHAN ThisWeek Community Newspapers South-Western City Schools officials want to proceed quickly to obtain a twoyear waiver to delay state-mandated allday, everyday kindergarten until the 2013-14 school year. The Ohio Department of Education granted South-Western a one-year waiver this school year. The extra two years would give the district more time to prepare an expanded kindergarten program that initially would cost an extra $3.3million a year in staff and facilities. The district now offers all-day kinder-

garten every other school day to about 1,415 students. The school board could act on a waiver resolution at its Feb. 14 meeting. During the Jan. 24 board meeting, Patrick Callaghan, the district’s executive director for elementary education, told the board that district officials don’t oppose all-day, everyday kindergarten. Instead, the district cannot pay for it without cutting into other programs. Also, district officials anticipate a possible $9-million cut in state aid because of Ohio’s huge budget deficit. Legislation is pending in the Ohio Legislature to eliminate the all-day, every-

A closer look The district now offers all-day kindergarten every other school day to about 1,415 students. The school board could act on a waiver resolution at its Feb. 14 meeting.

day requirement. Callaghan said the district wants to be prepared, regardless. June 1 is the deadline to seek waivers. “We do have the problem of needing additional space,” he said. “The district

would need to hire 29 additional teachers and 29 classroom aides.” Voters approved an operating levy last fall that will generate about $18.5million a year. Officials have said that’s only enough for the district to maintain current operations. “Basically, what we’re asking for at the February meeting would be for you to act on the waiver (request),” superintendent Bill Wise told the board. “This allows us the most flexibility.” Dozens of teachers, many wearing blue South-Western Education Association T-shirts, jammed into the board meeting room for the Jan. 24 meeting.

Both SWEA and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees union, which represents classified workers, have been without contracts since June 30. Both are in federal mediation with the district. Wise said before the meeting that a mediator has scheduled bargaining talks for Feb. 7 with OAPSE. No talks have been scheduled for SWEA, which last met for a negotiation session on Dec. 20. “At this point, it’s really up to the mediator to bring us back together,” Wise See SWCS, page A2

Consultants address city council about IRS tax probe By LISA AURAND ThisWeek Community Newspapers

Photos by Tim Norman/ThisWeek

FUN IN THE SNOW (Above) Arthur Hayes, 22, takes a tumble in the air after flying over a ramp built on a haystack at the snow hill at Fryer Park on Jan. 22. Hayes was fine after the fall and went back up to try back up the hill to try the jump again. (Left) Getting a little air, Trevor Barrick, 15, jumps off a bump in the snow before landing safely. Despite the frigid temperatures and slight wind, children and adults dotted one of the largest snow hills in the area as they enjoyed the day.

Representatives from GBQ Consulting — an independent consulting firm investigating Grove City’s unpaid federal payroll taxes — spoke to city council Jan. 18. “What experience do you guys have administering audits?” council president Ted Berry asked. Rebekah Smith, GBQ’s director of financial advisory services, said the firm has performed similar investigations, but has not audited a governmental body. “We have incredibly deep talent in terms of payroll taxes and state taxes, as well as accounting investigations,” Smith said. “We’ve definitely worked with other similar agencies that have had similar types of issues in terms of accounting irregularities.” GBQ’s experience is “relevant to this situation,” she said. GBQ isn’t the only outside organization with its eyes on Grove City’s books. Also combing through the records are the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation and a special unit from the state auditor’s office. State auditor Dave Yost on Jan. 18 announced his office would join the investigation at the request of Grove City police chief Joseph Wise. The Internal Revenue Service last month told the city it owed about $685,905 in unpaid payroll withholding taxes. An initial investigation identified more unpaid quarterly tax returns totaling about $370,000. Wise on Jan. 13 said investigators uncovered evidence of a theft within the Grove City finance department; no charges have been filed as of press time. Grove City is paying GBQ up to $20,000 to investigate causes behind the tax errors. City law director Stephen Smith Jr. said he chose See CONSULTANTS, page A2

Council OKs electronic sign at career academy By LISA AURAND ThisWeek Community Newspapers A narrow vote by Grove City Council Jan. 18 will allow the South-Western Career Academy to display messages on an electronic sign. The new sign would be one of only two in the city. A similar sign across the street at Central Crossing High School was grandfathered in when the property was annexed into the city a few years ago. Electronic signs are not permitted under Grove City’s code, but the board of zoning appeals granted an exception

Nov. 22 to allow the sign’s installation. The BZA stipulated that the scrolling A closer look function be disabled and the sign be turned off during certain hours. Four of Grove City’s five council Electronic signs are not permitted members asked to appeal the decision, under Grove City’s code, but the board of zoning appeals granted clerk of council Tami Kelly said. South-Western City Schools, how- an exception Nov. 22 to allow the ever, did not receive notice of that ap- sign’s installation. The BZA stipupeal until Dec. 27, the day before the lated that the scrolling function be sign, which cost $10,000, was to be in- disabled and the sign be turned off stalled. The faxed notice was discovered during certain hours. Dec. 28 during its installation, district property services coordinator Mark removed on (Dec. 27). “After the close of business on the 27th, we received a Waller said. “The old sign with fixed letters was notice that an appeal had been filed and

on the morning of the 28th, the contractor was on site installing the sign,” Waller said. “Pending this action, I left the sign in place with the instruction not to energize it.” Chief building official Mike Boso said the city staff recommended approval of the variance because it’s a community building. “It’s owned by the public and events go on there all the time,” he said. “That’s why, in researching this, we felt like we would recommend approval.” Council president Ted Berry said he saw a problem with the city’s code rather than with the exemption.