District construction moves toward completion; Thomas turnover expected in October

Mike Dingledine, the district's facilities project lead, told the Worthington City Board of Education on March 10 that Phase 2 of the master facilities plan is moving "over the hump" and approaching substantial completion. He said much of the remaining work will take place this summer with a major turnover of spaces expected in October.

The update focused on Thomas Worthington High School and Worthington Kilbourne High School, where Dingledine reviewed building footprints, circulation changes, and athletics and fine-arts spaces. "This year will be kind of the substantial completion of of everything that we're doing, and it's really exciting," he told the board, and he said the project team expects the front lawn and parent/bus drop-off drive at Thomas to be finished before school starts.

Why it matters: Several high-capacity spaces are affected. Dingledine gave seat-capacity numbers the board requested: the revised Thomas gym capacity (including an upper deck) is 1,563; Thomas auditorium, 900; Kilbourne competition gym, 1,443; Kilbourne auditorium (unchanged), 772. He said adjustments to gym sideline clearance reduced seating by about 50 seats at each school to provide safer circulation and space for…