Ohio school district suspends non-varsity sports after tax levy fails -

Getting out to vote matters. That’s a lesson an Ohio school district is learning in the wake of the 2026 midterm elections.

According to the Columbus Dispatch — part of the USA TODAY Network — Pickerington Local Schools is suspending all non-varsity athletics and other extracurriculars.

This comes after a 0.75% income tax levy proposal in Fairfield and Franklin counties failed, according to unofficial election results. The vote failed by just around 250 votes, which is less than 1% of all the votes cast.

Superintendent Charles Smialek told parents in a letter that all athletic teams below the varsity level and other extracurricular activities have been suspended, effective on Wednesday, Nov. 4, while other activities — including musicals and theater — will continue through Dec. 31.

Smialek told The Dispatch that “the district needed to protect academics in the classroom, and hard decisions needed to be made,” and the move would be a “short-term proposition.”

According to The Dispatch, the district faces a $21 million deficit, based on the figures presented to the board.

“We understand the value of extracurriculars, we understand the experiences they create. It’s difficult,” Smialek told The Dispatch. “These are among the harder decisions most of us have ever had to take.”

How the sports suspension affects Pickerington Central and North

The move could have a major impact on both Pickerington North and Pickerington Central high schools, which typically produce programs that compete for regional and state championships.

Smialek told The Dispatch that the district did not touch varsity sports to ensure it would not damage any students who held scholarship offers for college.

However, because both schools still offer varsity-level sports, due to a new state law that took effect this year, students will not have the ability to participate in athletics at any neighboring school.

Notable Pickerington athletes

Currently, six former Pickerington athletes are active in the NFL:

DeWayne Carter, Central (Buffalo Bills)
DaVon Hamilton, Central (Jacksonville Jaguars)
Ty Hamilton, Central (Los Angeles Rams)
Lorenzo Styles Jr., Central (New Orleans Saints)
Sonny Styles, Central (Washington Commanders)
Jack Sawyer, North (Pittsburgh Steelers)

Caris LeVert — a Central graduate — is in his 11th NBA season, playing for the Milwaukee Bucks this season.

Smialek said he has concerns that this could impact Pickerington, as it is known for producing high-level athletes.

“You’re not going to field high-quality varsity teams if you don’t have your own feeder system,” Smialek said. “We don’t want to take that step back and that’s why we’re going to try and make this as short-term as we can.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ohio school district suspends non-varsity sports after tax levy fails

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