Westside Messenger - March 24th, 2024

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PAGE 2 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - March 24, 2024 around the westside Prairie Township open house The Prairie Township Trustees adopted an exterior property maintenance code in 2022. This code was geared toward ensuring that commercial properties and apartment complexes were being property maintained. The trustees would like to modify the exterior property maintenance code to include all residential properties throughout the township. The trustees have been working with the zoning department and have held two special meetings to discuss potential changes. Now they would like to hear from the community. The township will host an open house at 6 p.m. March 27 at the Prairie Township Community Center, 5955 West Broad St. to discuss the code. For more information, visit prairietownship.org. www.columbusmessenger.com Call today and receive a FREE SHOWER PACKAGE PLUS $1600 OFF 1-855-417-1306 With purchase of a new Safe Step Walk-In Tub. Not applicable with any previous walk-in tub purchase. Offer available while supplies last. No cash value. Must present offer at time of purchase. CSLB 1082165 NSCB 0082999 0083445 SPECIAL OFFER Dr. Bill Wise spends time with students in the South-Western City Schools District. SWCS superintendent to retire By Dedra Cordle Staff Writer South-Western City School’s superintendent says he is ready to retire after leading the district for nearly two decades. On March 11, Dr. Bill Wise told the board of education he would step down from his position prior to the expiration of his current contract, which runs through 2026. He will remain as superintendent until Aug. 1, 2024. Wise said it has been both “a blessing” and “an honor” to have led the district. “It has truly been a blessing to be here,” he said. “I always like to say that South-Western is one of the biggest small places you’ll ever find because it is a family in and of itself. We have had so many talented individuals come through here that have laid the foundation for what this school community is and it has just been a real honor to have been able to serve here and hopefully, in some small way, have contributed to making it a better place.” Wise began his career in education in 1990 as a mathematics teacher at Tiffin Columbian High School in Tiffin, Ohio. Within seven years, he was selected to serve as principal of the school. He remained in that role until coming to the SWCSD in 2002. Initially hired as the assistant superintendent of curriculum, he was promoted to deputy superintendent in 2006. The following year, he was selected by the board to serve as the district superintendent. During his tenure, he oversaw a massive and multiphased construction project that built 13 new elementary schools, four new middle schools, one new high school and various other site development projects. He also oversaw the implementation of full day kindergarten and the creation of the Accelerated Learning Center, an in-house college preparatory program for high school students to pursue college credit and earn associate degrees in two or three year pathways. The district experienced its highest graduation rate in district history under his tenure and there has been no new operating levy on the ballot since 2009. The district does not expect there to be a new operating levy on the ballot for the foreseeable future due to a strong financial forecast. Wise said that while he is proud of all of the strides the district has made since he has been here, he cannot take all of the credit for it. “I am very proud and very pleased by what has been accomplished at the district since 2007, but I don’t take any credit in that,” he said. “I have benefited greatly from the talented people in this district and it has just been my honor to be a part of that process.” Although his retirement is scheduled for Aug. 1 2024, Wise will not officially leave the district until Aug. 31, 2025. At the meeting, the board announced that Wise would serve as the special assistant to the new superintendent to help with the transition process. “I wanted to take on this role because I felt it was important that they be able to understand the logistics of the district and be able to move through those spaces as they take the reins of this district,” he said. “I want to make sure that I am able to support them, and I want to make sure that connections are made with various community groups, elected officials, and other partners that we have throughout the greater Columbus area.” The board said they were thankful for his decision to stay and assist the new superintendent. “We have been so blessed with Bill being here and knowing the ins and outs (of the district) and that is what is so nice about him staying around so we can have that smooth transition,” said board president Chris Boso. “That is going to be a great thing for that new prospect since he or she might not have that experience.” When asked what the board is looking for in a candidate for superintendent, Boso said they are looking for someone who will represent the community and someone who will not be overwhelmed by the size of the district, which is the third largest in central Ohio and the sixth largest in the state. Over the next several days, the district will reach out to a variety of organizations that assist school boards with the recruitment of superintendents. The board said they would like their pool of candidates to come from inside and outside of the state.
www.columbusmessenger.com Recycling event at Westland Area Library To celebrate Earth Day, the Westland Area Library will host a battery recycling event from 2 to 4 p.m. April 21 at 4740 West Broad St. Participants can drop off any type of battery except vehicle batteries. This includes disposable and rechargeable batteries, cellphone batteries, and packs from power tools. The Recycling Guy will also be on hand to take items not accepted by Rumpke Recycling. The library has a list of those items. For more information, call 614-878- 1301. PUBLIC INPUT Continued from page 1 The survey went live on the commission’s official website and on its social media pages late last month. It is a nine question survey that asks residents which infrastructure projects should be prioritized in regard to public utilities, public service, and amenities at local parks and recreation centers. So far, only a dozen residents have responded to the survey. The commission said it will reach out to area businesses and organizations for their ideas on funding priorities related to infrastructure investments. The nine committees of the commission will also offer their own feedback on priorities related to infrastructure investments. Commissioner Joe Argiro, who is the chair of the human services and education committee, said their members have been conducting virtual scans of the infrastructure around the schools. “We are looking for places where there might not be around the westside South Hilltop Spring Litter Cleanup Formerly, the Walsh Avenue Spring Cleanup, join the Friends of Walsh Avenue, Hilltop Connections, and Friends of Hauntz Park to make meaningful connections while getting litter off of the streets on Saturday, March 30 from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Trash grabbers, bags, gloves, and vests will be provided but volunteers can bring their own equipment. Participants will start at the home of Dean and Emily Smith (1517 Walsh Ave.) and focus on nearby areas based on need. sidewalks in an immediate block around a school, where there might not be clear signage on the street,” he said. “We are also looking at roads where it might be beneficial to have speed bumps.” He encouraged residents to do their own survey of the neighborhoods, jotting down ways they think it could be improved through additional street lighting, curb replacements, or other infrastructure investments. “They could be little things which could improve the whole thing,” said Argiro. The survey can be accessed through the commission’s website at cbusareacommissions.org/greaterhilltop or through its social media pages at Facebook and Instagram. The commission has not yet heard from the city as to when they would like the results of the survey to be submitted. A city official who attended the March 5 GHAC meeting said it would likely be in April or May. WORK INJURIES WORKERS’ COMPENSATION MOTOR VEHICLE PERSONAL INJURY WRONGFUL DEATH PERSONAL INJURY SLIP & FALL INJURY DOG BITE INJURY March 24, 2024 - WESTSIDE MESSENGER - PAGE 3 Follow us on Facebook Serving Your Community Since 1972 Malek & ATTORNEYS AT LAW Malek Douglas, Ed, Jim, Kip Malek, Greg Pace & Jeff Kluesener (Greg & Jeff not included in photo) “Hablamos Español” FREE Initial Consultation www.maleklawfirm.com 614-444-7440 1227 S. High St., Columbus, OH 43206 W ant a FREE SUMP PUMP? SCAN ME! Scan this code to sign up to see if you are eligible for a FREE SUMP PUMP! For more informa tion about the sump pump progr am call 614-645-1253 or email Blueprint@Columbus.gov
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Westside Messenger - March 24th, 2024

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