Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at the June 8 Board of Education meeting. Below are brief summaries of the most significant discussions. For those interested in the full details, we've included links to longer articles where appropriate.
A court ruling on property values could raise homeowners' taxes
Treasurer TJ Cusick used his report to explain a pair of court developments that affect how much Worthington homeowners pay in property taxes. A recent Ohio Supreme Court ruling means school districts can no longer appeal county property-value decisions to common pleas court, and a separate loophole lets some high-value properties avoid reassessment by transferring ownership through an LLC rather than a recorded sale. Because an undervalued property shifts cost onto everyone else, Cusick said, the issue lands directly on residents.
Summer construction at Thomas Worthington
Road and parking work is underway at Thomas Worthington High School, and Superintendent Dr. Trent Bowers asked families and visitors to plan ahead. The entrance road near the stadium is down to one lane with flaggers directing traffic, and parking is tight throughout June. Spaces for sports camps and practices remain along the road to the Mirolo Community Pavilion, though it means more walking. Both the Thomas Worthington and Worthington Kilbourne stadiums are partially closed this summer while their tracks are replaced, so families should allow extra travel time and use caution at both sites.
The most visible change is out front, where the temporary parking lot is being removed and the lawn restored to grass — answering what Bowers said has been his most common question over the past two years. Rather than lay sod, the district will seed the area after pricing sod at $130,000, which it determined was not the best use of taxpayer funds; the new grass will take six months to a year to establish. The student parking lot is being prioritized so it's ready for the City of Worthington's July 4 fireworks. The front lawn won't be ready in time, but the grass farther east near the McConnell Arts Center will be usable for spectators, and the east and northeast lots are expected to open by August.
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In Other News
- Free summer meals for kids. All children ages 1 to 18 can eat free through June 25 at Worthington Kilbourne High School, Perry Middle School, and Slate Hill Elementary, whether or not they're enrolled in summer school. More than 1,500 students are taking part in the district's summer learning programs.
- Communications audit. A consultant from Allerton Hill Communications presented findings from a district-wide communications audit, praising Worthington's direct mail, video library, redesigned website, and the unusually strong reach of the Superintendent's blog. The recommendations: build a data dashboard to track engagement, lean further into resident feedback through the district's Thought Exchange surveys, deepen storytelling (including alumni stories), and produce more short-form video. The team will spend the summer turning the recommendations into a plan.
- Roof repairs after April hail. The board approved replacing the roofs at Worthington Hills Elementary and Worthington Estates Elementary, damaged in the late-April hailstorm. The district is working with insurance to cover the cost.
- Watching the Statehouse. Board members flagged a busy stretch of legislative sessions and the state capital budget, which factors into how much funding the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission directs toward school building projects.
- From the Superintendent's blog. Bowers wrote that Worthington is bucking a national trend of falling test scores — district data shows Worthington holding steady and gaining slightly in reading even as the student population has grown more complex. He also reflected on the Class of 2026 in Our Beautiful Mess.
Upcoming Dates
- Monday, June 15, 7 p.m. — Public hearing on the City of Worthington's FY2027 tax budget at the Worthington Municipal Building. Residents can comment before City Council adopts the budget.
- Tuesday, June 16, 6 p.m. — Parks & Recreation Commission at the Worthington Community Center. The commission advises the city on parks and recreation programming; Pulse does not cover its meetings directly.
- Monday, June 22, 6 p.m. — Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Board, which advises the city on bike and pedestrian infrastructure. Pulse does not cover its meetings directly.
- Through June 25 — Free summer meals for kids ages 1 to 18 at Worthington Kilbourne High School, Perry Middle School, and Slate Hill Elementary.
- Saturday, July 4 — City of Worthington fireworks at Thomas Worthington High School. The district is timing front-lot construction to be ready in time.
Thanks for reading this summary of the Board of Education meeting, you can watch the original full video here