Hello Worthington! Here's your recap of what happened at March 23, 2026 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.
Ohio's new cybersecurity and student data privacy laws — what families need to know
Two new Ohio laws have changed how Worthington Schools handles student data and digital security. Chief Technology Officer Jeff Collett walked the board through both at the March 23 meeting, and the board voted unanimously to adopt a cybersecurity program as required by law. Under Senate Bill 29, parents can now view all 215 of the district's vendor contracts in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Under House Bill 96, an AI policy must be adopted by July 21, 2026; Collett said the district is in good shape on that front, with guidelines already in use.
In other news
New Director of Special Education: The board unanimously approved Malika Jefferson as the district's new Director of Special Education. Jefferson joins Worthington from Pickerington City Schools, where she served in the same role.
OhioHealth Sports Medicine partnership extended: Worthington has signed a new five-year agreement with OhioHealth Sports Medicine for athletic training services. The agreement increases the number of athletic trainers from 5.2 to 6 FTE, with two full-time trainers at each high school and two covering middle school sports. Two new strength and conditioning specialists, one per high school, will be added next year.
Kindergarten enrollment update: As of early March, 454 students had enrolled for kindergarten, down from 537 at the same point last year. Superintendent Trent Bowers said the district is monitoring class sizes at all schools and may make staffing and sectioning adjustments in early summer.
2027-28 school calendar — first reading April 13: Staff, union groups, and community members have completed voting on the 2027-28 school year calendar. The board will receive a first reading at the April 13 meeting, with approval expected later this spring.
Property tax revenue on track: Treasurer TJ Cusick reported that the district, which was $50 million short on Franklin County property tax revenue at the end of February due to billing delays, has since received $40 million and expects to finish the school year on budget. A draft FY2027 budget will be presented to the board in May, ahead of the June approval vote.
Worthington Estates HVAC contract: The board approved a contract with John W. Danforth Company for air handling unit replacement at Worthington Estates Elementary School.
Statewide attendance dashboard launching April 15: Governor DeWine's statewide student attendance data dashboard goes live on April 15, 2026. The public portal will let anyone view attendance data by district across Ohio.
Worthington Education Foundation seeks executive director: The Worthington Education Foundation is posting an opening for an Executive Director. Watch for the listing if you have relevant experience or know someone who does.
Destination Imagination — 6 teams advance to state: Twelve Worthington teams competed at the regional Destination Imagination tournament, more than half of all teams in the event. Six qualified for the state tournament in Cincinnati on March 28.
Thomas Worthington choirs advance to state OMEA: The chamber, symphonic, and concert choirs at Thomas Worthington High School all received the top rating ("ones") at the District OMEA competition and will advance to the state tournament.
Principal re-employment hearing deferred: A public hearing was held regarding the re-employment of Principal Michael Curie following his retirement. No public comments were received. A 15-day waiting period is required by law; the board will take action at the April 13 meeting.
Kilbourne High School Vibe Check continues: Students at Worthington Kilbourne High School are picking branding and artwork themes for their new school building. Board members who attended said students centered their ideas around belonging, inclusiveness, and welcoming.
Upcoming dates
- April 21: Northwest Library 30th Anniversary Community Breakfast — 7:30 AM
- April 27: Board of Education Meeting — 6:30 PM (board policy update)
- May 11: Board of Education Meeting — 6:30 PM (draft FY2027 budget presentation)
- May 21: Last Day of School
Thanks for reading this summary of the Board of Education meeting, you can watch the original full video here