We are voters in the Columbus City Schools district. We are parents, we are family members and supporters of all the children in this district. We are taxpayers.

We are concerned about our children's public education opportunities. A child's education is not a game. It is not a political or profiteering empire: education is the future of the children in this city.

Do not hold our children's future hostage to the interests of big business and political gaming. Columbus loses $98 million of its $226 million in state funding to charter schools. Do not force us to send more support to these enterprises at the expense of Columbus City Schools.

Fix the city schools that are broken.  If you cannot fix them, how can you propose to multiply the problem by creating another publicly funded school system?  Your job is to represent us, you do not represent the mayor's office, nor do you represent the Columbus Education Commission.

You must split the the levy question on the November 2013 ballot. The voters, taxpayers and families supporting Columbus City Schools have a right to decide what they will, and will not, fund.