School board weighs partnering with city on West-site softball complex while debating high‑school facility priorities

The Worthington Public School District board discussed on Monday whether to partner with the City of Worthington to build one or more softball fields at the district’s former West Elementary site and whether to invest in turf at the middle school, while also weighing a prioritized list of high‑school building projects.

Board members said they welcomed collaboration with the city but disagreed on the district’s near‑term priorities. Several trustees urged faster action to produce firm cost estimates before committing to any project; others emphasized classroom and kitchen/security work at the high school as higher priorities.

District staff presented conceptual layouts and a preliminary estimate for a single softball field and supporting work. The estimate presented to the board included options such as artificial turf and lighting; one version with turf and restrooms was cited at about $3.7 million, while a version with some items removed was presented near $2.6 million. Staff noted the parking lot and restroom areas could be eligible for partial city participation because those amenities would also serve existing park facilities.

Board members and staff discussed design considerations intended to preserve the possibility of adding fields later. “Let’s not put a parking lot where another field could potentially go,” one board member said, urging a long‑term view of site layout. Several members urged soliciting additional cost proposals and design studies from multiple architecture and engineering firms before making commitments.

Operations committee members said they had identified several firms experienced with athletic‑field and turf work and planned to ask those firms for estimates. Staff said design work would take weeks to months and that even with a design in hand the district would pay for design services regardless of whether construction occurs. One board member offered to have ICS and other firms produce an estimate for a single softball field (with and without restrooms and lights) and to produce separate estimates for a secure entrance and kitchen renovation at the high school.

There was no formal vote to approve construction. Instead the board agreed to continue exploration: to pursue additional bids and schematic estimates, to engage firms to produce scaled estimates for a one‑field option in collaboration with the city, and to bring refined numbers back to the operations committee and full board for further decisions.

The discussion also touched on other facilities needs the board has listed as priorities at the high school, including a secure entrance, kitchen renovation, North Wing window and envelope work, additional classrooms, and a humidity control system for the orchestra room. Several trustees urged the board to prioritize the secure entrance and kitchen work as nearer‑term projects that affect safety and operations.

Board members also noted existing field conditions at some middle‑school and youth sites — including standing water and damaged lighting — and recommended addressing safety‑critical repairs even while planning larger projects.

Next steps the board agreed to include asking facilities staff to supply a prioritized project list with dollar ranges, arranging site visits and work sessions with architects/engineers, and returning to the board later this summer with cost estimates to inform any decision on partnering with the city or placing items on a longer‑term funding plan.