Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at July 27's Board of Education meeting. Below are brief summaries of the most significant discussions.
District may retain $20 million for future facilities work
Worthington Schools may be able to keep roughly $20 million earned by investing proceeds from its construction bonds. Treasurer TJ Cusick said those investments earned about 5% while the district paid about 3% on the debt. He had expected federal arbitrage rules to require an estimated $8 million rebate.
A preliminary calculation now indicates that other qualifying district expenditures, including a warehouse purchase and renovations at the Worthington Education Center, could allow the district to retain the full amount. Cusick stressed that the result is not final, but said the money could provide a start for Phase 3, the next round of the district's facilities plan, which centers on the elementary schools and is still in planning.
Three back-to-school events Aug. 7 and 8, then a staggered start
The Back-to-School Style Drop will offer free, gently used clothing at the Worthington Schools Operations Center, 6465 Busch Blvd., from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8. Volunteers are still needed both to prepare and on the days of the event; the district has posted sign-up details.
The district's second annual Family Resource Fair runs from 9 a.m. to noon Aug. 8 at the Operations Center. First Time Riders is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. that day at the Worthington Education Center, 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road, where children who are new to school buses can tour and ride a bus and practice bus safety.
The school year starts on a staggered schedule. Grades 1 through 9 begin Wednesday, Aug. 19. Grades 10 through 12 start Thursday, Aug. 20. Kindergarten students report Friday, Aug. 21, after assessments by appointment on Aug. 19 and 20. The district's back-to-school page has bus routes, fees, and forms.
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In Other News
Around the District
- Worthington will welcome 45 new teachers during orientation, and Tiena Miller attended her first board meeting as the district's new director of people operations.
- The new running tracks at Thomas Worthington and Worthington Kilbourne high schools are open for community use when stadium events are not taking place.
Money and Policy
- The district received $9,100 for reducing electricity use during peak-demand events, part of a program intended to reduce strain on the regional power grid.
- Cusick said the district now fields about a dozen labor-intensive public-records requests a week, many from out of state, and attributed the increase to AI-driven data mining. He is watching Ohio House Bill 314, which passed the House and is now in the Senate. The bill would restrict public-records requests found to be harassing or disruptive and would let private contractors respond to voluminous ones.
- A retired Perry Middle School science teacher donated money to improve the school's courtyard or garden area. The board accepted the donation as part of its consent agenda.
From the Superintendent's Blog
- Getting Kids to School: Pride, Purpose, and a Policy Problem explains how a statewide driver shortage and requests to transport students to 28 nondistrict buildings are stretching the district's bus operation.
- Driving around listening to Noah Kahan uses the image of a porch light to describe the district's goal that every student have a trusted adult at school.
Upcoming Dates
- Tuesday, Aug. 4, 7 p.m. — Community Relations Commission meeting. The commission advises the city on community relations and programs intended to strengthen connections among residents; Worthington Pulse does not regularly recap its meetings.
- Friday, Aug. 7 and Saturday, Aug. 8 — Back-to-School Style Drop at the Worthington Schools Operations Center, 6465 Busch Blvd. Open 5 to 8 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
- Saturday, Aug. 8, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — PreCycle Day, a free citywide curbside exchange hosted by the Worthington Partnership Green Team. Residents set gently used household items at the curb for neighbors to take.
- Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to noon — Family Resource Fair at the Worthington Schools Operations Center.
- Saturday, Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — First Time Riders at the Worthington Education Center, 200 E. Wilson Bridge Road.
- Wednesday, Aug. 19 — First day of school for grades 1 through 9.
- Thursday, Aug. 20 — First day of school for grades 10 through 12.
- Friday, Aug. 21 — First day of school for kindergarten, following assessments by appointment Aug. 19 and 20.
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Thanks for reading this summary of the Board of Education meeting, you can watch the original full video here