[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6229451,"mediaKeyId","3461811-03b66d1e05a841fdd5df1e9d62ba426b","parentId",3461811,"title","Worthington board approves 2025 insurance rates; district to self-fund dental program","audioSeconds",1119,"startMs",5402000,"endMs",6521000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461811-03b66d1e05a841fdd5df1e9d62ba426b&start=5402&end=6521","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461811-03b66d1e05a841fdd5df1e9d62ba426b/thumbnail_5402000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6229451/Worthington-City/School-Districts/Ohio/Worthington-board-approves-2025-insurance-rates-district-to-self-fund-dental-program","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229451-b120b476775a989ee3355a9a891cb5f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156098&Signature=PEP-4FApBjHpYsgWA7-qXCzAz0flTH6qj4o~h~00O-EvViY9YJk4lwYTBCXa05xUJ-9l1CizINW~nRfBN87SvyHQgpKqthpCVgWkUwdflUZ8FY8ZSSY3Rwkg~4obZZoXf8TGOm9oU8oHKzG8ruEaZ7mMNPtAJUKoe6UBN0SoD1h0CJcE~mQn3kVjSN8wTvqL3R8NqQUZPf1IMzJYJJ7IoyiyMQ~I6bk02URTZc3TCfxcY1MOJhZSqP3YhFzt-JHv-rL3b9wSOSl~IoplxNXlwSbEHMNz9kO1dhjjZW0ApkxRZIfH36M5geJ7~kC7o4OX8k-lqoSfdym6EV6r3jIsNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Worthington City Schools","date","2025-05-23T09:44:34.58Z","article","The Worthington Board of Education on Sept. 23 approved new premium rates for health, dental, vision and life insurance for the Jan.–Dec. 2025 plan year and established a new fund required by state code as part of the district’s insurance and benefits administration changes.

Treasurer TJ Cusick explained the district initially projected a 15.1% medical rate increase but is recommending a 6% increase for 2025 by drawing down reserve funds. “We started out the process… looking at a 15.1% increase in premium next year,” Cusick said. “However, as a self funded entity, we built up ample reserves to be able to mitigate that somewhat this year, and so we’re recommending a 6 percent increase drawing down those reserves.”

Why it matters: The district cited above‑projection claims and higher regional medical inflation as drivers of premium growth. Cusick said ongoing hospital expansions in central Ohio are contributing to higher local medical costs and that the reserve draw is a one‑time measure, leaving the district in a middle range of reserve levels for next year.

Cusick also reported the district will move its dental program to a self-funded model while retaining Delta Dental to administer claims and maintain the provider network. “There’s risk the first year because we don’t have any reserves, but there’s also greater reward if claims level out and we cut out the profit margin of the carrier,” he said. He noted neighboring districts such as Dublin and Westerville use similar self-funded dental models with the same carrier.

The board voted to approve the insurance premium rates as presented. Board members voting yes were Kelly Davis, Amber Eppling Skinner, Stephanie Harless, Jennifer Best and TJ Cusick.

The board also approved the establishment of Fund 0249002 in accordance with the Ohio Revised Code, a technical step Treasurer Cusick said was required for accounting and internal reporting related to these changes.

Details and limits: Cusick emphasized the 6% figure is achieved by drawing down reserves and called it a “one-time fix, not a long-term solution.” The district will monitor claims and reserves going forward. No employee salary or benefit plan changes beyond the rates presented were approved at the meeting.

What happens next: The district will implement the approved premium rates for the 2025 plan year, set up the new fund as required by state code and begin administration of the self-funded dental plan with Delta Dental as the third-party administrator; staff will report back as claims experience and reserve levels develop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Worthington Board of Education Meeting 9-23-24","oneSentenceSummary","The Worthington Board of Education on Sept. 23 approved new premium rates for health, dental, vision and life insurance for the Jan.–Dec. 2025 plan year and established a new fund required by state code as part of the district’s insurance and benefits administration changes.","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},6229457,"Worthington schools propose offering AP Seminar (English 10) to expand access to AP coursework",1220,3294000,4514000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461811-03b66d1e05a841fdd5df1e9d62ba426b&start=3294&end=4514","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461811-03b66d1e05a841fdd5df1e9d62ba426b/thumbnail_3294000.jpg","/articles/6229457/Worthington-City/School-Districts/Ohio/Worthington-schools-propose-offering-AP-Seminar-English-10-to-expand-access-to-AP-coursework","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229457-67694e4047ae0cf6ae82381adf73fc62/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156098&Signature=i9Ae8u0LtskAu7MWIZdvoH1up98ZkS9uFsfgCTGnkChEM8mV8rOvbiAubnbTvEjQUomH8spssrX6SKtc0v1PeVEeWEtjUD97XIC4ZHkbjestyRxEwybHi6Ed31BzhmQltJsGI~Nhyl~AP82iXHuIPhDIs5rjVMNjtMom738KpmWz-QfUhJ0M0aHp7~dfZYaR4DnDmW9HNxHqnppuelqKSSZbjYYAYlTJ~Jti~wchWb4nWvUpaUR9H~ESuN~hgmQ50unMlik4gexSIKgXDK5hwyKosWKnUadLi7J6z8Ad59DXfC3bC5kfaMwtPB4h4SPiY3IinvgGeTfSqnREb0PvyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Worthington Schools presented a proposal on Sept. 23 to offer College Board’s AP Seminar as an English 10 option, aiming to broaden access to rigorous coursework and to attract students who currently do not enroll in AP classes.

Suzanne Palmer, director of gifted services, told the board the district currently offers 21 AP courses and is exploring AP Seminar because it has no prerequisites and can be embedded within required English 10 classes. “This course is designed for all students,” Palmer said, noting the course emphasizes project-based learning, research, collaboration and presentation skills.

Why it matters: District officials said AP Seminar’s framework can attract nontraditional AP students and help diversify AP enrollment. Palmer cited College Board data that AP Seminar scores are “more similar across white, black, and Hispanic students than any other AP course,” and argued the model builds skills useful in college, careers and other rigorous programs.

Palmer provided district AP participation data: 764 students took one or more AP exams last spring across the two high schools. Of those, she reported 38 were Black or African American, 53 were Hispanic or Latino, 48 were Asian, 45 reported two or more races, 24 did not report race, and 81 qualified for free or reduced-price lunch. Palmer said AP Seminar historically yields a high pass rate (earning a 3 or higher) and can serve as an “on-ramp” to other AP coursework.

Ashton Hunt, a teacher at Worthington Kilbourne High School who previously took the course as a student and completed College Board training, described the course’s pedagogy, called the QUEST framework (Question and Explore; Understand and Analyze; Evaluate multiple perspectives; Synthesize ideas; Team, Transform and Transmit). She recounted student projects and said the model increases students’ confidence for later advanced work.

Implementation steps described by district staff include course-planning sessions already held, teacher attendance at College Board summer training and a one-on-one consultation provided by a College Board expert at the district’s request. The district plans more planning in November and to attend a College Board workshop in Gahanna. Palmer said the goal is to add the course as a scheduling option for students during winter scheduling and offer the course in the 2025–26 school year, with monitoring and refinement thereafter.

Board members asked about recruitment of underrepresented students and how the course would coexist with literature goals in a traditional English 10. Palmer and presenters said outreach by teachers and counselors — a personal invitation to students — was key to diversifying AP participation and that teachers would integrate seminar tasks with required literature standards.

There was no vote on the presentation; the item was informational with follow-up planning and scheduling work anticipated over the coming months.

Details and limits: The district emphasized the course would not require additional full-time staff; existing English 10 teachers would teach the course. AP Seminar includes team and individual performance tasks during the year and an optional AP exam in spring. The district will not require students to take the AP exam.

Next steps: Continue teacher preparation and planning, finalize scheduling options this winter and aim to offer AP Seminar (English 10) in 2025–26, while monitoring enrollment, outcomes and recruitment effectiveness.","District gifted coordinator Suzanne Palmer and teacher Ashton Hunt presented plans to add College Board’s AP Seminar integrated with English 10 as a way to broaden AP access and develop college- and career-ready research and communication skills; the district is planning teacher training and aims to offer the course in 2025–26 pending scheduling.",{"_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},6229461,"Worthington board approves MOU letting City of Worthington pursue purchase of outdoor pool site if bond passes",5911,668000,6579000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3461811-03b66d1e05a841fdd5df1e9d62ba426b&start=668&end=6579","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3461811-03b66d1e05a841fdd5df1e9d62ba426b/thumbnail_668000.jpg","/articles/6229461/Worthington-City/School-Districts/Ohio/Worthington-board-approves-MOU-letting-City-of-Worthington-pursue-purchase-of-outdoor-pool-site-if-bond-passes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6229461-dd702b2098c523a9ec8f24e86b015fd4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771156098&Signature=Q99C3Z0bnOUF6VMWtYIkyoTaFvMXS-MBwt34b6dcH24OQo3BU7C7Tf~Vp8M0xsFkVQXzKHreGI2tO5ZffKPUx90YKW07f6iVNIWrZfJ03uBdpyuGspiAdCyByhU2fEQyS15UXtc6oEjUb~XlmY8CGvEtAWcHdlkKL87vNaujGjOSES21~bwjTYBJnE14v0P1RT4EitWUi6fCjdBLxUL6fQKjXOVvT-JH4nPo5H2v3JhpqGcV~AnFCLDjhKqXZIYvaI6J5u3jQECy1BaYoxsgxKIWjhDS9Y1RAKZPRQiBEKYaAJCeH3tLz2r8us1-ySwzYHCPUIzxU8FT1wyOMHnjGA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Worthington Board of Education on Sept. 23 approved a memorandum of understanding that would permit the City of Worthington to acquire the district-owned outdoor pool site if a city bond issue passes and the parties finalize a purchase agreement.

The MOU, approved unanimously by the board, outlines broad terms for a $1 transfer of the land to the city if voters approve a municipal bond to fund capital replacement of the outdoor pool and related work. Under the MOU the land would revert to the district if it ceases to be used as an outdoor pool, and the city plans to lease the rebuilt facility to Swim Inc., the nonprofit that currently operates the pool.

Why it matters: The city says ownership is required to issue tax-exempt debt — which carries lower interest rates — for one-time capital replacement. The MOU is written to provide voters with a clear outline of how the transfer and shared operations would work while leaving detailed contract terms to a later purchase and lease agreement if the ballot measure succeeds.

City manager Robin Stewart, who spoke to the board, said the city would combine bond proceeds with some cash reserves and then construct a new facility on the pool footprint. “Their financial model has not provided for the ability to replace the capital asset,” Stewart said, describing why the city was stepping into the project. “So the proposal is… the city would acquire the land…the new pool facility and then, lease it to Swim Inc. for that ongoing operation.”

Treasurer TJ Cusick explained the financing rationale for the transfer: municipalities and school districts can issue tax-exempt debt, which typically carries lower interest rates because investors are not taxed on the interest. The city’s ownership, Cusick and Stewart said, is intended to satisfy Internal Revenue Service rules that require a long-term interest in the asset being financed with tax-exempt debt.

Board members pressed for protections and clearer contract language. Board member Stephanie Harless said she supported preserving the pool but wanted “language in there ultimately that will protect” district residents from a large price differential. Harless noted concerns about dividing the community into pricing tiers and asked for stronger guarantees during contract negotiations. Kelly Davis, the board vice president, asked about voter eligibility and emphasized that the bond appears only on ballots for city residents, not the entire school district.

The MOU describes a three-tiered membership approach: city residents (recognition for supporting the levy), school district residents (a mid-tier discount), and nonresidents (highest rates). Stewart told the board the city anticipates “a meaningful difference between the nonresident and the school district rates” and also expects a “notable difference between the city and the school district rate in recognition of that levy,” but said specific fee amounts would be determined in detailed design and operational planning if the ballot passes.

Board members and city staff discussed timeline and operations. Stewart estimated about six months for detailed design if the bond passes, followed by bidding and then roughly nine to 12 months of construction, with an aspiration to reduce time away from an outdoor season if possible. The bond is estimated as a 20-year issue; Stewart said the rebuilt pool is expected to last longer than the bond term. The MOU also contemplates shared parking and coordination with adjacent Thomas Worthington High School activities.

On the question of day-to-day operation, Stewart and others said Swim Inc., which currently leases and operates the pool, would remain the operator under a proposed lease with the city. Stewart said the model is similar to the city’s arrangement with the McConnell Art Center and that the city’s newly approved Parks and Recreation Foundation may play a role in the future but its role is not yet defined.

The board approved the MOU by voice vote. Board members voting yes were Kelly Davis (vice president), Amber Eppling Skinner, Stephanie Harless, Jennifer Best and TJ Cusick (treasurer). The record notes that a person named Nikki sent support for the memorandum but was not present to vote. The board and city will negotiate a detailed purchase and lease agreement if voters approve the bond.

Details and limits: The MOU sets general business terms and conditions and anticipates a later, more detailed real estate purchase contract and operating lease that will establish final membership rates, enforcement mechanisms for tiered pricing, specific property descriptions and other binding provisions.

What happens next: The city placed a bond issue on the ballot; if voters approve it, city and school staff will draft a purchase agreement and related lease documents for board and council approval. The board discussed returning to the issue for additional review of contract language before final execution. For now, the MOU only sets the framework should the ballot measure pass.","On Sept. 23 the Worthington Board of Education voted to approve a memorandum of understanding that would allow the City of Worthington to buy the district-owned outdoor pool site for $1 if a city bond passed; the MOU includes reversion language, tiered membership pricing and anticipates a later detailed purchase and lease agreement.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Worthington board approves 2025 insurance rates; district to self-fund dental program

Worthington schools propose offering AP Seminar (English 10) to expand access to AP coursework

Worthington board approves MOU letting City of Worthington pursue purchase of outdoor pool site if bond passes