Pickerington Schools Cut All Sub-Varsity Activities After Levy Failure
The district's income tax proposal failed on Tuesday, forcing immediate suspensions and setting the stage for potential teacher layoffs this summer.
By Chioma Brooks ·
Pickerington Local Schools suspended all extracurricular programs below the varsity level on Tuesday following the failure of its income tax levy. Superintendent Charles Smialek confirmed that groups including the National Honor Society and student council are no longer active. The district moved quickly to halt these activities to control spending while classroom instruction continues unchanged.
The immediate cuts target staff positions tied exclusively to non-academic programs. Smialek noted that no classroom teachers have been laid off yet. The district plans to finalize personnel decisions this summer. An early projection suggested the elimination of 24 high school teachers across the two high schools and 17 middle school teachers across the two middle schools, though those figures are not final.
Smialek said the district is re-evaluating those numbers to distribute the financial burden more evenly. He described the current strategy as an effort to avoid penalizing one age group of students more heavily than others. The administration is collaborating with principals and leadership teams to determine the specific structural changes required to balance the budget without a new revenue source.
The superintendent attributed the vote outcome to wider economic pressures rather than a specific rejection of the school system. He observed that Ohio voters have frequently rejected levies and bond issues in recent years. Smialek cited high gas prices and persistent inflation as key factors. He suggested that voters are struggling to afford additional tax burdens while managing daily living costs.
State politics may influence the district's long-term financial stability. Smialek pointed to Governor-elect Dr. Amy Acton as a potential source of support for public education. He noted that she has spoken favorably about the sector. However, he also acknowledged that the legislature remains conservative and has not always been friendly to school funding initiatives. The Fair School Funding Act may receive renewed attention under the new administration.
The district intends to place another levy on the ballot in May. Smialek warned that a successful vote next spring would not stop the immediate cuts from taking effect. The current reductions will proceed regardless of the outcome of the future ballot measure. The school board will continue working through the summer to finalize the staff and program changes.
