During the Board Community Reports portion of the November 12th meeting, board members shared updates from their committee work and community partnerships.
Resource Pantry Sees Sharp Increase in Visitors
Board members Stephanie Harless and Kelli Davis attended a roundtable at the Worthington Resource Pantry. Harless reported a concerning spike in usage following uncertainty around SNAP benefits.
In just over a week, the pantry saw the number of people served jump from an average of 200 to 271—with many families accessing services for the first time.
"It is our whole community," Harless reminded residents, noting the pantry serves every zip code in the district. She also highlighted lesser-known services: the pantry offers delivery for homebound residents and allows families to designate a proxy to pick up groceries on their behalf.
For those looking to help, Harless emphasized that while the community is generous during the holidays, ongoing financial donations are particularly valuable because the pantry can stretch one dollar into approximately five dollars worth of food through their purchasing networks.
Find out more at the Worthington Resource Pantry website
Library Trustee Search Nearing Conclusion
Board Member Jennifer Best provided an update on the Worthington Libraries Board of Trustees search. The library received 14 applications for the open trustee position—a higher number than usual, potentially due to the term length changing from seven years to four years under recent state budget legislation.
The selection committee has interviewed six candidates, with a specific focus on finding representation from the Park Library or Northwest Library geographic areas, which are currently underrepresented on the board.
A nomination is expected to be presented to the library board on November 18th. Board liaison Jennifer Best worked with the library's governance chair, Joseph Saverimuttu, on the process.
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OSBA Delegate Assembly Preview
Vice President Amber Epling-Skinner announced she will serve as the district's delegate at the upcoming Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Capital Conference, stepping in as proxy for Board President Davis.
She briefed the Board on three upcoming amendments to the OSBA's "Student and Learning" platform, specifically regarding the "Racism and Equity" plank. Epling-Skinner plans to support an amendment from Berea City Schools, noting it aligns with Worthington's values by explicitly retaining protections for "racial, ethnic, sexual orientation, gender identity, religious and socioeconomic inequalities."
She contrasted this with two competing amendments that seek to rename the section "Excellence in Education and Equality for All." Epling-Skinner described these alternatives as "problematic," confirming for the Board that they would remove the explicit references to sexual orientation and gender identity found in the Berea proposal.
Worthington Education Foundation Update
Board member Nikki Hudson reported on the Worthington Education Foundation (WEF) meeting, highlighting an ongoing strategic gap: the lack of a centralized alumni association. Since the district split into two high schools years ago, there has been no single entity maintaining relationships with or a database of district graduates.
Superintendent Dr. Bowers noted that most multi-high school districts face this challenge and that no immediate solution is available. However, Hudson emphasized the importance of eventually addressing this—not just for potential fundraising, but for tracking student success stories and career paths that could inspire current students.
The Worthington Education Foundation is expected to present approved teacher grants at the December 8th board meeting.