A victim of abuse at home as a teenager, Jermaine Ferguson said he found comfort around teachers within the walls of Marysville schools.
“The school was a place of safety and refuge for me,” Ferguson said.
As Marysville’s newest school board member, Ferguson said he wants all local students to experience that feeling of security in the classroom. By a 4-0 vote Monday afternoon, Ferguson was tapped to fill the Marysville School Board seat recently vacated by Amy Powers.
“I believe we are all responsible for how we build our community,” Ferguson said.
Existing members said Ferguson’s interview revealed characteristics they felt would expand the perspectives of the board. The board received 19 applications for the positions, choosing to interview five individuals after reviewing the candidates.
“It was unbelievable, the qualities of these applicants,” Board President Sue Devine said. “(They) had such a variety of experiences, situations, connections in the community and skills.”
Devine said Ferguson had clear characteristics the board liked. Having run for city council and working with civic organizations, he shows an interest in the community and its youth, she said.
“He started his interview by saying ‘I have a heart for children,’” Board member Brian Luke noted.
A 2008 MHS graduate, Ferguson will be the youngest member of the group and Dick Smith said this will allow him to bring fresh perspectives to the board.
“From my point of view, he’s a great fit,” Smith said.
Ferguson, a customer service representative for XPO Logistics, is a Board Member for The American Legion Department of Ohio, serves on the Union County Veterans Remembrance Committee and is a member of the Council of Union County Families.
After high school, Ferguson was stationed in Okinawa, Japan as an Aviation Supply Specialist with the United States Marine Corps prior to returning to Marysville in 2016. He and his wife, Anita, are the parents of Judah, Julianna, Alexia and Alexander.
Ferguson admitted this morning that, on paper, he might not appear like the most qualified candidate, but he feels his experience with the foster care system and as a veteran bring a unique perspective to the board.
Ferguson, the current Chair of the Marysville Planning Commission, said he feels strongly about the responsibility of citizens to serve their community.
“I feel every person should be civically engaged,” Ferguson said, adding that one of his goals will be to strengthen ties between the city and schools.
He said the two entities should work together when considering development in the area. That growth has Marysville entering a critical period in its history.
Marysville will be seeking a levy in the coming years to help cover operational costs in the district. With an enrollment projection study about to be completed, the district will also be learning if it might need new buildings in the coming years to house new students.
Ferguson said the turbulent years ahead did not deter him from running, but rather had the opposite effect.
“That’s why I ran,” Ferguson said. “I want to do hard things.”
After getting up to speed on the inner workings of the board, the new member said he will work to build trust with administrators and educators, but most importantly, with parents.
“I’m willing to be honest and direct with voters,” he said.
Ferguson’s appointment means he will fill the seat through Dec. 31, 2023. Powers resigned in November after moving to a new home outside the boundaries of the Marysville district.