I shall be so happy when Election Day has come and gone. Its passing will mark the end of the annoying television ads we are currently suffering through. The most galling of these are aimed at Columbus voters, urging them to vote for Issues 50 and 51, the school levy package asking for $515 million over the next 5 years – a 24 percent increase in school property taxes. One of the commercials features Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer, who stares into the camera while dead panning the mantra issued by Columbus mayor Michael Coleman. Meyer seems not to have any real interest in the subject at hand, he just mouths the words he is reading on the teleprompter. He might be an outstanding football coach, but as a spokesperson, he leaves much to be desired. Worse still is one I saw last week that really turned my head. It opened with Columbus teacher Julia Adams looking directly into the camera and saying, “As a teacher, I can tell you we're getting our schools back on the right track.” From that statement, I can only assume that Columbus City Schools has previously been on the wrong track. From what I have read in the Free Press, I know my assumption is correct. The commercial then cuts to a group of three unnamed parents, one of whom addresses the camera. “And as parents, we support the plan to make our schools even better,” she says. My question is, better than what? We have already determined that Columbus City Schools have been, “on the wrong track.” You may read that as “awful.” The ad then cuts to a view of a Columbus Dispatch article headlined “New Columbus Schools chief says he's cleaning house.” Below, in small print, are these words, “The new interim superintendent of Columbus Schools says he is working to fire employees implicated in the district's data scandal.” While the news item is shown, an announcer reads over it. “The Columbus education plan will ensure every neighborhood has good schools, hire and keep the best teachers and expand pre-kindergarten so students start school ready to learn, while holding everyone accountable.” First lets talk about the new interim superintendent of Columbus Schools, Dan Good, who says “he is working to fire employees implicated in the district's data scandal.” One of the key figures in the data scandal, former Chief Investigative Officer Steve Tankovich, resigned in February and was never held accountable. Former Superintendent Gene Harris retired over the summer without being reprimanded in any way. So, Mr. Good, who exactly are you firing? About your desire to “expand pre-kindergarten so students start school ready to learn.” As the Free Press pointed out in its October 17 issue, Columbus kids are already entering kindergarten at a level comparable to kids in other central Ohio school districts. Those same kids are much worse off once they reach third grade. Perhaps that is the “right track” you are aiming to get back on. One where Columbus kids advance at the same rate as their peers in other central Ohio school districts. “We're getting our schools back on the right track,” our friendly teacher reiterates toward the end of the ad. Are we now? “And we can make our schools even better by voting for the Columbus Education Plan, issues 50 and 51,” says the anonymous parent as the commercial concludes. Since, by your own words, Columbus schools are currently on the wrong track, how hard will it be to make them “even better?” Is “even better” another way of saying “average?” And all Columbus City Schools needs to reach mediocrity is a 24 percent increase in property taxes? Poppycock.