New Leadership, Classroom Updates, and Curriculum Support Student Success
August 13, 2025
Pickerington, OH – It’s go time for the more than 14,000 students and staff that make up Pickerington Local Schools (PLSD). Guided by the district’s theme, Greatness Together, the 2025–26 school will launch with staggered starts on August 14 and 15, with all grades 1–12 in class by Monday, August 18. Kindergarten students will follow on August 19, and preschool on August 20.
Bus Transportation Update: PLSD is pleased to announce that Petermann Transportation and the Local Teamsters union have reached an agreement. Bus service will operate as scheduled at the start of the school year. Families are encouraged to have their students at their bus stops at least five minutes early, and to allow some flexibility as routes settle during the first few days of school.
This year begins with new leadership at the helm — Superintendent Dr. Charles Smialek — who brings a strong commitment to student achievement, community partnership, and the belief that the District’s greatest accomplishments happen when everyone works together.
“Our theme this year, Greatness Together, speaks to the power of what we can accomplish as a united community,” said Dr. Smialek. “When educators, families, and students work toward a shared vision, there’s no limit to the success our students can achieve. I’m thrilled to join the Pickerington Local Schools family, and can’t wait to see all that we will accomplish together this year toward even greater excellence.”
Throughout this school year and into the future, Dr. Smialek will lead the district with four key goals as the framework for providing the best possible education for every student:
- Cultivate Academic Excellence – Engage all students in relevant, rich learning experiences that prepare them for career, college, and life.
- Provide Modern Facilities – Ensure physically safe spaces that offer diverse opportunities for all students.
- Ensure Operating Efficiency – Maximize resources, maintain financial accountability, and operate lean and efficiently.
- Be Pillars of Our Community – Pursue opportunities to engage with all residents in meaningful ways.
The 2025–26 school year also brings exciting upgrades and updates across the district:
- Updated Curricular Resources – This year, PLSD is rolling out new materials to enhance learning: Into Literature (ELA, grades 6–12), Savvas AGA (Geometry & Algebra II), and Pearson (Precalculus). These resources align with state standards, support diverse learners, and provide rigorous, engaging content to prepare students for college and career success.
- New classroom additions – Expanded learning spaces at Pickerington High School Central and Pickerington High School North, featuring bright lighting, and interactive technology.
- Technology and facility enhancements including 200 new Newline interactive displays, server updates, and 3,500 new Chromebooks as part of the district’s ongoing device refresh program.
- Athletic upgrades include new digital scoreboards at both high school stadiums and a resurfaced track at PHSN.
Nutrition & Dining Enhancements
Because full stomachs fuel focus, PLSD is continuing its participation in the Community Eligibility Program (CEP), ensuring free breakfast and lunch for every student throughout the 2025–26 school year. The district’s Food Services team has also launched the Meal Magic Family Portal to make meal management easier for families.
Students at Pickerington High School Central can also look forward to a redesigned Distributed Dining space with expanded menu options developed in partnership with a Tyson Foods chef — focusing on variety, nutrition, and student satisfaction.
Expanding Opportunities for Success – Stay in the Game!
As part of its Greatness Together vision, PLSD is proud to officially join the Stay in the Game! Attendance Network, a statewide partnership with the Columbus Crew focused on boosting student attendance and engagement.
After a successful pilot year in 2024–25, this will be the district’s first full year as an official All Star Stay in the Game district. September marks Attendance Awareness Month, and the message is clear: every day matters. Missing even a few days can add up quickly, impacting both academic growth and social-emotional development. Through this initiative, the district will work closely with students, families, and community partners to ensure every learner is in school, on time, and ready to succeed — every day.
With strong leadership, modernized facilities, expanded technology, smart use of resources, and a shared focus on student well-being, Pickerington Local Schools is ready for a year of exceptional achievement. Every initiative, upgrade, and program reflects the belief that the district’s greatest successes happen when students, staff, families, and the community work together.
About Pickerington Local Schools
