[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6229449,"mediaKeyId","3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db","parentId",3461798,"title","Treasurer reports higher-than-expected property tax delinquencies; insurance increase recommended","audioSeconds",305,"startMs",4206000,"endMs",4511000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db&start=4206&end=4511","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db/thumbnail_4206000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6229449/Worthington-City/School-Districts/Ohio/Treasurer-reports-higher-than-expected-property-tax-delinquencies-insurance-increase-recommended","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229449-7be874245c97cccfd5e33e78ef5bcfb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429672&Signature=RzllGwsxzodcBfli3lejA-1Zc-ic3d-O6w78H8XczVnPGTQ~dkD0TzeOyrTlm24OwFQu9o19jJqm8ZAn7Gl9NknM6dOR~wqi24vDRDQpSRFiqEFhraMay8hAac2UF0-fZ29hPK8xHLWUiCv739cPAaa1r6hPP~~3Arvv1tRwWROu1w7hQHkWRQhCxIg4lxCXefoXFiuiGrjO~x9juig~eMi0iPXQiKIqXKLFn9Itm-CE~gzkcPelpGUCq8S5XGL1Rpy6JjrSZafMll~9oG4CgyVd~5ghjzUu3RaNk74q6xklNr0-AflVoKZDq~EVZv4Wz7myk3ni6Zx8eH9teyGVIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Worthington City Schools","date","2025-05-23T09:44:21.633Z","article","Worthington’s treasurer reported to the Board of Education on Sept. 9 that August property tax settlements showed higher‑than‑projected delinquency and that the district’s insurance committee is recommending a 6% increase in health insurance premiums.

TJ Cusick, treasurer, said August is a major revenue month for the district because property tax settlements arrive then. He said the district typically budgets for about 1.5% delinquency but this settlement was closer to 3%, “about double that,” and that the increase was driven by commercial property collections. Cusick said residential collections were above projections and that one large parcel’s second‑half payment could improve results.

On benefits, the insurance committee met recently and—after detailed data review—recommended a 6% increase to health premiums. Cusick said the committee will use a portion of reserves to absorb a larger increase that had been projected earlier; the increase will appear on a future board agenda for approval.

Cusick also presented other operational metrics during the meeting: current enrollment (10,730 students), 14,000 Chromebooks distributed over the summer, 3,000 technology help tickets processed in August, and hundreds of summer hires and work orders. The treasurer said the district will revisit multi‑year revenue assumptions in the five‑year forecast this fall given the collections data.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Worthington Schools Board of Education Meeting 9-9-24","oneSentenceSummary","The district’s treasurer told the board that August property tax collections showed higher delinquency (about 3%) than projected, driven by commercial parcels; the insurance committee recommended a 6% increase in health insurance premiums using reserves to blunt a larger rise.","taxTitle","Worthington City, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",14539,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6229454,"Worthington Schools would sell outdoor pool land to city for $1 if voters approve pool bonds, superintendent says",194,3884000,4078000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db&start=3884&end=4078","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db/thumbnail_3884000.jpg","/articles/6229454/Worthington-City/School-Districts/Ohio/Worthington-Schools-would-sell-outdoor-pool-land-to-city-for-1-if-voters-approve-pool-bonds-superintendent-says","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229454-c19aea6b796e465cffb2c38199f29852/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429672&Signature=P4Curv020HCaExmYJfG7Tgu6euZyNW5UwitgMYi4onWqbX4a039bGhqVnCZxHm4Y7lki0IlzDQZ6wdUB3lwZD1-2ugCgUgvwq4DnXEgtJQu2F20E74FpbV-AldOzo6aone-K06fZNJXj1rqNMobeUEqoynNYD4CLrIJqSuzHGVr8JsRaQjdWdR7xSUt08hrR7mgoO~hZ0TSKQ75saAYeAvRTWyFJO1PseL8WpmHpoiZCxf~KYAv4A7KVb~mwJsPo9bkazur7hw11-xeeXMKknTke7W5t8fjOPFsCthP2iChJFU79zkGO6~aewFkloWaGv4dX7N5o5Rjr4ICdoo87Tg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The school district would sell to the City of Worthington for $1 the parcel currently used for the community‑run outdoor pool if city voters approve bonds to fund a new outdoor facility, Superintendent John Bowers told the Board of Education on Sept. 9.

Bowers said the current outdoor pool sits on district property but “since the 1950s has been run by a community nonprofit.” As part of a city bond proposal, the district is proposing to sell the land to the city for $1 to allow the city to structure bond financing more advantageously. Under the proposed agreement, the parcel would revert to the school district if it ceased to be used as an outdoor pool.

Bowers said the district’s new natatorium is a separate project but was designed with pool location in mind and that the land swap would be “a win‑win agreement” because the district would own the natatorium and the city would finance the outdoor facility. He said if the community does not support the city pool bonds, the land would revert to the district for other uses.

No board vote was taken on the concept during the meeting; Bowers presented it as part of the superintendent’s report and said the proposal aligns the district’s bond project with a possible city recreational bond.","Superintendent Bowers told the board the district proposes selling the parcel that hosts the community-run outdoor pool to Worthington city for $1 to let the city finance a replacement outdoor pool; the district would regain the land if it ceased to be used for a pool.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6229459,"Worthington to survey students, staff and families on cell phone use before setting district policy",457,3814000,4271000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db&start=3814&end=4271","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db/thumbnail_3814000.jpg","/articles/6229459/Worthington-City/School-Districts/Ohio/Worthington-to-survey-students-staff-and-families-on-cell-phone-use-before-setting-district-policy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229459-37f7f90449012d7129211d0dec4f9ddf/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429672&Signature=Ubc3be4vuhZF8M~8CfEBTSfCcPvlA8y1u~rF~rF1SetBqqFy3BjCyv7rs-s3DQGKuK3S~-ii8B7pH6JMhS0A6GhKD1JWy09VprYvDkcLr4LuKO-NxAhUYEkEsiPGCT1xG8-8sAZ~y06SjsabgLarxD6xvJvUTUOoNLw-kGNRLfm6ZGkOjQyeSvoYjxVDWzldwqWz614srzLZVvVG8I-irhjC8yHVL~Sk~SM0SfN~V-LXKBxyAtRL59iCoHnFVxiQdMYw4ptVfhuUjcXKdwuSl86-7qVK8czbaW20kx-avYWWybxAFgTK4p8hNA~Z5W0NpJbxKYYgdqo74iUtkUAfYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Worthington School District will survey staff, families and high school students this week to collect feedback on cell phone and smartwatch use during the school day before discussing a district policy, Superintendent John Bowers told the Board of Education on Sept. 9.

Bowers said Governor DeWine signed legislation about cell phone use during school hours and that “school districts have until July 2025 to adopt a policy on cell phones.” He said Worthington will solicit feedback from three stakeholder groups: staff members (surveyed tomorrow), all district families and ninth through 12th‑grade students, who will take the student survey on Sept. 11. The district is using a platform called ThoughtExchange, and Bowers described the instrument as nine closed questions plus one open‑ended question where respondents can rate peers’ responses.

Board members asked whether the survey questions differ by stakeholder; Bowers said they are “the same questions worded just differently for the stakeholder group.” He also confirmed the survey includes a link to the current district policy so respondents can review the status quo. The superintendent said high schools tightened classroom phone practices this year and that middle schools currently require phones to remain in lockers, making the survey most pointed for high school settings.

Bowers said the board will receive survey results at the Oct. 14 meeting and that the policy committee will work through potential policy language over the winter to meet the statutory deadline.","Superintendent Bowers said the district will survey staff, families and high school students about cell phones and smartwatches; results will be presented to the board in October and could inform a policy to meet state law requiring districts to adopt a phone policy by July 2025.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6229465,"Worthington pilots Syntegix alerting system and highlights student safety efforts",353,3760000,4113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db&start=3760&end=4113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db/thumbnail_3760000.jpg","/articles/6229465/Worthington-City/School-Districts/Ohio/Worthington-pilots-Syntegix-alerting-system-and-highlights-student-safety-efforts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229465-b96dd9cd04b383a48f75971035fe69ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429672&Signature=mgHy2cPkWvDZL5m-jE1v78bFAYuNRMnX3vKdUFMcki9x8W-MJ2aKwTA8vqb0j8z~pwRJ4PVW4cvA8OyMtJq0TX6zTvQslyKaS07cj1vYi2R6EcPN5euW0tHFYjrovtyMygNAH4iNxz-lwVmKCZTfsNaZbUNuXAXA1MA7o-Oo65DagCQjK19HSavAO-Y8WyvyvybikEHsZHCLe-q-eJ7ozIPvENBPtWHuuVTSXvcJl87uYdlpCk93D7LkTmP6fpiewo1m5QEPQ91CrTkxbO~lpKWAf4iSleGXu-owuPt5mdEUSSulwxj-Uo~fLy3ByZKN1Z9EKi0Et55H73jhVQjImA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Worthington Board of Education heard on Sept. 9 that the district is piloting a location‑alerting safety system and continuing multiple safety initiatives for the new school year.

Doctor John Bowers, superintendent, told the board that “Worthington Schools entered into a contract with Syntegix and we're currently piloting their system at Brookside, Worthington Estates, Perry Middle School, Phoenix Middle School, and Worthington Academy.” He said the system “is designed to alert safety services to exact locations in the school to save critical time and it's designed to empower teachers.”

Bowers said the district will decide whether to implement Syntegix districtwide after discussions with staff, principals and some families later this fall. He also said the district will issue a safety communication blog post and that information is available on the district safety web page.

Separately, Bowers highlighted Start With Hello Week — a social‑emotional program tied to Sandy Hook Promise — calling it an elementary counselor‑led effort to “prioritiz[e] being seen, heard, and valued.” The week’s activities include daily themes such as “Make Someone Smile Day,” “Sit With Someone New,” “Ways to Say Hello” and “Trusted Adult Thursday,” intended to foster student connection and reduce isolation.

Board members asked about stakeholder engagement; Bowers said the district will consult staff members, principals and “probably some families” before deciding on districtwide Syntegix implementation. No formal board action on Syntegix was recorded; the item was presented as an update and pilot evaluation.","Superintendent Dr. Bowers told the board the district is piloting Syntegix at five buildings and will consider districtwide adoption after staff and family input; the district also promoted Start With Hello Week and a forthcoming safety communication.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6229470,"Worthington board hears detailed construction update for Thomas, Kilbourne and new natatorium",3379,276000,3655000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db&start=276&end=3655","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461798-ba31a896992917c66dcaa0dfbd1e82db/thumbnail_276000.jpg","/articles/6229470/Worthington-City/School-Districts/Ohio/Worthington-board-hears-detailed-construction-update-for-Thomas-Kilbourne-and-new-natatorium","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229470-9ce017a471f3c6ccfac6f18c2eea59ff/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429672&Signature=WkYHVf2HiAYxdrw5DXTsbFYRL5NS2nDvsNmCZdUBaH1Bo6kgsPhFVfE9A2y1vJ39iPdxVnCD41-j4PcbrlPnr-1YlQ-jkkkS3~aRk0WMvd75hw8HKBoWmDf4vDo56JEVch6hH99MzeLoYUbrgPDFOgEjQ5ejdfj7a4jcWAlyMS2mG5L-Q3qjc-~-h-borWZpp-6exBzrJAZd6OcfZeDUzUPJVfio8GJplAHTYlmeiH~2Kc45wb0GOZGq5B~aAaEdIrrfFeZJlgdYPEel~bkWtNvldTuZZ5NVAzYSzjcjJRSLyeFZHwGQnnLmGMsRbdsXCk7~7CR-AIchJqNLLCwl5w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Worthington Board of Education on Sept. 9 received a progress update on construction at Thomas High School, Kilbourne High School and the district’s new natatorium, with architects and project managers describing phased completions, a flooring delay at Kilbourne and an anticipated natatorium opening in 2025.

Mike Dingledine, the construction presenter, said the projects must balance “personalizing student experience, achieving sustainability … improving site traffic and building life safety” and, crucially, “how we accommodate continuing operations in buildings, when there is construction going on around, our education process.”

Dingledine described the natatorium as “tucked in completely surrounded, controlled site,” with masonry nearly at bearing height and interior work underway. He said the facility will include 10 lanes and a range of pool depths for training, deep-water and warm-up, and that the project recovered from an early foundation delay caused by heavy rain. Board members asked about athlete access; the project team said pool systems may be brought online for athletic use before full site completion. The natatorium is expected to be “done in '25,” with the project team noting enclosure by April but full site finishes and some work occurring through the rest of the year; a later comment placed an athlete-usable date around December 2025.

At Thomas High School, the district has opened the new three‑story academic wing and athletic wing while using the east classroom wing as swing space. Dingledine showed interior photos and said teachers are moving into rooms and adapting spaces, with “lots of operable windows” and hallways that maintain a human scale. The team plans to tear down the remaining east wing (used temporarily for cafeteria and some classrooms) after the new cafeteria and administration wing are complete, and to restore the front lawn and trees after construction finishes.

Kilbourne’s renovation is a continuous, phased project inside an existing building. Dingledine said most mechanical, lighting and casework upgrades are installed, but a flooring shipment did not arrive on schedule. He said the flooring is expected by the end of the month and will be installed during a fall break window; meanwhile classrooms remain usable with new systems and furnishings but older floors. He described permitting work for an outdoor porch that required a separate Army Corps of Engineers permit; splitting permits allowed Kilbourne work to proceed on schedule while the stream‑disturbance permit (which could take months) was obtained.

Board members and administrators pressed for timelines; the project team provided a phased schedule showing core spaces (cafeteria, student commons and media center) turning over in late 2025, with arts/music/auditorium phases finishing in late 2026. Dingledine summarized risks as weather, global supply‑chain disruptions and requirements from authorities having jurisdiction, saying the risk profile falls as projects pass the first third of construction.

Board members praised district staff and contractors for enabling Thomas to open on the first day of school. Project staff described daily coordination with school principals and administrators to preserve safety and operations, including weekly principal meetings and daily communications for emergent issues.

Questions remaining from the board included exact auditorium capacities (Thomas’s new auditorium capacity was confirmed later in the meeting as 900 seats), the schedule for demolition of the old east wing at Thomas, the timing of flooring installation at Kilbourne, and athlete access timing for the natatorium. The district said it will provide a consolidated phased schedule to the board following the meeting.","District architects and project managers told the Board of Education on Sept. 9 that work on Thomas High School, Kilbourne High School and the new natatorium is progressing, with phased openings and some material delays but no change to core school openings this fall.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Treasurer reports higher-than-expected property tax delinquencies; insurance increase recommended

Worthington Schools would sell outdoor pool land to city for $1 if voters approve pool bonds, superintendent says

Worthington to survey students, staff and families on cell phone use before setting district policy

Worthington pilots Syntegix alerting system and highlights student safety efforts

Worthington board hears detailed construction update for Thomas, Kilbourne and new natatorium