Letter: Levy Needed to Keep Music in Schools

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April 12, 2026

Hello, my name is Michelle Leasor.

I’m a parent of three children in PLSD and one recent alumnus. I’m also the general music teacher at Toll Gate Middle School, teaching over 700 students each week. I’m writing about the importance of passing the operating levy on May 5th.

When my family moved here 18 years ago – like many families – we moved here for the schools. When the last operating levy failed in 2010, fine arts and specials classes were drastically cut, leaving students with bare bones academics without the enrichment, cooperation, and social-emotional learning experiences that those classes provide. These classes have never completely recovered from those cuts, as all of the K-6 music teachers currently serve hundreds of students, with most of us already teaching many more students each week than our peers in other districts. Without another operating levy, unfortunately, these classes could soon be cut again, leaving Pickerington students behind peers in other districts.

I am incredibly grateful to be teaching in the same district that my children attend, although I know that what I teach is sometimes considered not as important because it isn’t tested on standardized tests and what students learn in music can’t always be quantified on paper. The classes I teach are incredibly important to students’ success in all areas, from collaborating with each other to learn and perform songs to composing new music and learning how music connects with everything else in the world.

I tell my students that each time they play instruments in class, they are using more parts of their brains than anything else they can do as human beings and that their brains just got a great workout. My students also know that my classroom is a fun and creative space where learning can be messy, and they know that it’s OK to make mistakes when learning. The best compliments I could ever receive are overhearing how much students talk to their friends about how much they enjoy my classes and asking students to stop running in the hallway as they are racing to get to music class each week.

I’ve been laid off from two different school districts previously due to funding cuts during my 26 year teaching career, and while that stung, it was the students who were most hurt by cuts, not me. My children have had absolutely amazing experiences with all the music programs here in Pickerington – so much that my oldest has decided to be a music educator herself. Future students deserve to have those same learning opportunities, which can only happen with adequate funding. Although elementary and middle school music classes are currently not on the chopping block with proposed cuts, that could quickly change in the next year if the levy does not pass.

The community may not always agree with the district’s previous decisions or actions, so I want to say this: Looking ahead – not behind – is the best way to view a levy opportunity. Some may want to “punish” the district by voting no on any levy, but voting no will only hurt those currently here and who will be here in the future. Those individuals are the students and staff members. These are your neighbors, friends, and families and likely even your own family.

The operating levy on the ballot on May 5th will preserve the programs and experiences that we currently have in Pickerington, no more and no less. It’s been 15 years since Pickerington has had an operating levy on the ballot. Decreases in state and federal funding have had – and will continue to have – Ohio school districts scrambling for adequate funding, and while that’s an entirely different conversation to be had, we need to focus on what we can do locally to continue the legacy of our school district.

If you are still angry at what is being asked with the levy, I am asking you to not only vote YES on this issue but also direct that anger into action by contacting our state and federal legislators who are making decisions affecting public school funding. I know I do my part by regularly contacting them – if we all did the same, maybe the message would finally get through.