Worth Knowing
Worthington School District Newsletter
If you’ve been to Thomas Worthington or Worthington Kilbourne in the past month, it’s impossible not to see the significant construction occurring inside and outside of the schools. It’s great to see the positive progress, but we’re currently living in the messy middle of these projects.
In Dan Heath’s book Reset, he identifies the “middle” as the most challenging phase of any change process. This is the period after the initial enthusiasm and momentum have faded but before visible progress or the end goal is in sight. It’s often characterized by a sense of being “stuck,” where the old ways of doing things feel deeply ingrained, and the new ways are still awkward or haven’t yielded clear benefits.
Heath explains that during this middle phase, motivation wanes, and people can become dispirited. The excitement of a “new beginning” is gone, and the tangible rewards of the “finish line” are too far off to provide a strong pull.
Heath suggests focusing on creating and making visible small, tangible signs of progress, even when the overall change feels overwhelming. Here are three small wins just from this week:
- At Worthington Kilbourne, the footers have been poured for the new outdoor eating bridge over the ravine and off the student commons. The bridge is becoming a reality!
- At Thomas Worthington, a new sidewalk has been poured that will safely connect students and community members off Dublin-Granville Road to the pools and stadium complex.
- At the Natatorium, the actual pool was poured last week, and the pool deck is in the process of being installed.
There is much more work to be completed over the next 14 months, but progress is being made each day. In Worthington Schools, we are delivering on a promise to provide our students with 21st-century learning environments. We are not just renovating but meticulously rebuilding both Thomas Worthington High School and Worthington Kilbourne High School. These state-of-the-art facilities will become hubs of innovation, collaboration, and inspiration, providing our students, staff, and community with the resources they deserve to reach their full potential.
- Superintendent Trent Bowers
On July 4th, Community Fireworks (10 pm) will be held at Thomas Worthington High School. Due to ongoing construction, spectators are urged to plan ahead to walk or bike to the event because parking is extremely limited!
For 2025, parking is extremely limited with even fewer spots available due to construction. Parking will be available in a portion of the west lot and in front of the school. Parking lots will be closed when full.
- Accessible parking will be available for people with limited mobility in designated spots on the western edge of the parking lot just outside the entrance to the stadium. Accessible parking will be available for the Family Picnic in the McConnell Arts Center parking lot. The spots will be marked with signage and cones. For stadium parking, Police officers will direct people needing accessible parking to the designated spots.
- Bicyclists can access the event from east or west along Dublin Granville Road. Access from the Olentangy Trail through the Flats will be closed. Bicyclists should enter and exit at Seabury Drive, use caution while navigating the pedestrian areas and walk their bikes inside the event area. Bicycle parking will be available near the Worthington Pools entrance, next to the first aid station, and at the McConnell Arts Center. Bike parking will be unattended, so please be prepared to lock and secure your belongings. Additional nearby bike racks can be found by visiting Worthington.org/bikeracks. After the fireworks, bicyclists must exit the grounds at Dublin Granville Road. Access to the Olentangy Trail through the Flats will be closed.
- Pedestrians should use the sidewalks on the south side of Dublin Granville Road (SR-161) before and after the event. People walking from Evening Street and the Family Picnic area can follow the pedestrian path in front of the high school to the south of the building. There is no pedestrian access through the rear of Thomas Worthington High School from Evening Street. Pedestrian crossings will be maintained by police officers at both Seabury and Farrington Drives. After the fireworks, pedestrians should exit the area by crossing Dublin-Granville Road and walking on the sidewalk to the south of the road to avoid potential hazards from fireworks debris.
- If you must drive, please park outside of the high school area and walk or bike to the event site. Municipal parking lots in the downtown area will be available, including those located at the Griswold Center, Worthington United Methodist Church, and West New England Avenue.
- Be prepared: People walking and biking are encouraged to bring a flashlight to help provide for safe exit after dark and be prepared for wet weather conditions.
To learn more about the event visit the city of Worthington July 4th webpage.
Ohio's lawmakers are debating changes to school funding and property tax laws that could deeply impact our schools and our children. We need your voice now more than ever.
What’s at stake:
Public school funding: Proposed changes could reduce the resources available for classrooms, teachers, and programs your child depends on.
Property tax reform: While tax relief is important, new proposals could limit local communities' ability to fund schools.
While the bill being debated includes many changes, the most significant impact for Worthington would be the removal of the ability for counties, schools, villages, and cities to levy current inside millage. In Worthington Schools, we currently collect 4.5 mills of property tax each year through inside millage.
Every year, the Worthington Schools' Transportation Department hosts the First Time Riders event.
Families with students who will be riding a bus for the first time can come to the Worthington Education Center to learn about safety, meet the drivers, and take bus rides.
This year First Time Riders will be Saturday, August 2nd from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Activities will include bus tours and rides given by Worthington drivers. Children will be able to see under the hood of a bus, turn a steering wheel, and learn how to safely board and exit the bus.
Staff members from our preschool and elementary schools will be available to meet during certain times. If you can, try to plan to stop during your designated school time. If you can't - that's ok - come when you can!
- 9 a.m. - 10 a.m. - Bluffsview, Granby, Sutter Park, Wilson Hill
- 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. - Brookside, State Hill, Sutter Park, Worthington Estates
- 11 a.m. - Noon - Colonial Hills, Liberty, Worthington Park
- Noon - 1 p.m. - Evening Street, Worthington Hills
