The Worthington Public School District board voted to let the city of Worthington pursue siting a proposed ice arena on district-owned property, with the district keeping ownership of the land and potentially leasing the facility to the city.

The motion, made by Matt and seconded by Lori, passed by voice vote after an extended discussion about potential sites, community uses and financial implications. Board member Heitkamp recommended that "we retain ownership of the land" and lease the site so the city would own and maintain the facility while the district would preserve educational opportunities on-site.

Why it matters: Board members said a facility adjacent to schools could expand curricular and extracurricular opportunities, from PE units teaching skating to after-school athletics and summer programming. Heitkamp said the board would expect to negotiate "asks" — specific provisions to ensure student access — if the project moves forward.

What the board discussed: Trustees compared two west-side parcels near the learning center and the intermediate school as candidate sites and flagged land-value implications. One trustee estimated that committing six acres could represent a donation equivalent to roughly $180,000–$200,000 in land value; Heitkamp cautioned the board the project currently had an estimated funding shortfall of about $1,000,000. Members stressed the need for the district’s staff and coaches to participate in future detailed planning so requests for student access are feasible.

Board members debated whether conditions or "asks" should be attached to the district’s interest. Erin and others urged the district to document how it wants the facility to be accessible for all students, for example allocating PE time for skating during the school day so participation does not require after-school enrollment. Some trustees favored deferring specific conditions until the city narrows site and financing options.

The vote: The board’s motion authorized the district to be a potential host site and signaled willingness to let the city pursue proposals using district land; it did not commit the district to a sale or to final financial participation. The board clarified any monetary or in-kind value of land would be discussed as part of future negotiations.

Next steps: Administration and the city will continue fact-finding. If the city proceeds with a proposal that involves district property, the board indicated future committee-level discussions and formal agreements will address access, use and any land-value considerations.