October 19, 2025
From Mark Hensen, Pickerington Board of Education Member
This represents my views and does not necessarily reflect those of the PLSD Board of Education (BOE) or my colleagues. I’m speaking for myself, NOT the board.
The status quo needs to change. In my view, JD Postage, Cheryl Ricketts & Paul Hamman represent the status quo.
Two of our board’s key functions include establishing the district’s vision and goals, which require resource leadership to achieve, and engaging with the community, which demands significant communication. In both areas—resource leadership and communication—we have fallen short for many years.
This post will highlight the communication issues, while the previous one addressed resource leadership issues.
- Our regular board meetings are scheduled at a time (5:00 p.m.) and place (small conference room) that suggests a lack of interest in including our community.
– The board meeting location is not community-friendly and discourages attendance do its limited space.
– Even if we NEVER increase our attendance, the time and location of board meetings need to change to send the
message that we’re interested in involving our community. - There was a lack of full transparency in the funding for the Central Stadium.
- We rarely involve community voices in our board meetings: few parents, staff, and students participate.
- We don’t regularly share our board meeting highlights or outcomes with the community.
- There is a significant lack or scarcity of board members in our schools.
- Our board exhibits minimal community engagement – no town halls or similar events.
- The board does not participate in district activities or community events.
- Our 1,000+ staff members voted NO-CONFIDENCE in our BOE last year – I believe it’s a FIRST for PLSD.
These have all happened or continued during the incumbent candidate’s (JD Postage) time on the board.
These issues highlight the need for significant change in the upcoming election. We need engaged, focused, and committed leaders to help prevent and address these issues.
The status quo needs to change.
Other letters in Hensen’s series discussing the 2025 Pickerington School Board Election:
