SWL School District is in the middle of a $130M facility construction/renovation project. This facility 'Master Plan' was laid out to the public in extensive detail during the 2017 bond issue campaign, which the public narrowly approved by 515 votes. Part of that plan, which was important to many voters, was the continued use and renovation of Pataskala Elementary, an anchor of the historic Pataskala community.
At the October 22, 2020 board meeting, the district's administration proposed changes to the 'Master Plan' (which is something the website promoting the 2017 bond issue said wasn't possible). The primary change suggested in the presentation was demolishing and replacing Pataskala Elementary rather than renovating it.
Despite spending three years and countless meetings, literature drops, door knocks and phone calls pitching the bond issue to the public - and promising to renovate Pataskala Elementary if that Bond issue passed - the Board has set a single meeting for public input on the proposed change of course. The meeting runs from 4PM to 7PM on November 12 and has COVID restrictions. To sign up for the meeting you can find a link on the Save Historic Pataskala School Facebook page or on the district website. There is also an opportunity to leave a message for the district on that link.
If you attend the meeting or leave a message on the district's link or this petition, we implore you to be polite and respectful. The board and administration are good people. We just believe they have lost their way on this particular issue.
Whether or not you are able to attend, we encourage you to sign this petition, which means you agree with the following:
The undersigned community members, alumni or persons interested in the future of the SWL School District respectfully request the SWL School Board to reject any proposal to demolish the Historic Pataskala Elementary and build a new Pataskala Elementary in its place as such an outcome was not approved by the voters during the 2017 bond issue election. The undersigned further request the SWL School Board maintain an active school building on the grounds occupied by a renovated Pataskala Elementary School as contemplated in the Master Plan approved by the voters in 2017. Put simply, the undersigned ask the SWL School Board to honor its word to the community and keep the promises made regarding Pataskala Elementary School during the 2017 election cycle.
