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Licking Heights School Superintendent Dr. Philip Wagner and District CFO/Treasurer Todd Griffith gave lengthy testimony before state lawmakers on June 3 that painted a bleak picture for district finances under present senate funding models.
Wagner said before addressing the senate’s state school funding formula released June 1, he wanted to share for the purpose of context some information about the Heights School District, focusing on its greatly increasing student population and increasingly diverse ethnic mix.
District enrollment up 330% over 20 years
“We are extremely fast-growing, with a current enrollment of nearly 4,800 students,” Wagner told lawmakers. “This is my tenth year as superintendent and during this time, student enrollment has grown from 3,300 to 4,800 students. Our fast growth, combined with the state funding gain cap and the expansion of private school vouchers, adversely impacts our student classroom experience.”
Council member Todd Barstow cast the lone dissenting vote against the rezoning.
As earlier reported, TPA is proposing a 1.2 million square foot warehouse/distribution facility “and associated site improvements.”
It was previously noted the TPA proposal aligns with the recommendation of the city s Comprehensive Plan and was recommended for approval by the Planning and Zoning Commission on Feb. 3, according to city documents.
Council also held a first reading for a similar warehouse project – this one calling for two large-size distribution-style structures – to be constructed in the Broad Street and Etna Parkway area.
As previously reported, South Carolina-based “Red Rock,” is proposing two, approximately million-square-feet buildings on land fronting Broad Street within Pataskala’s Joint Economic Development District (or JEDD), in the Pataskala Corporate Park.