News
District steels for 2010's financial, enrollment challenges
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| SNP file photo Worthington City School District Superintendent Melissa Conrath and other district leaders face several big decisions in 2010. |
* Worthington leaders will have their hands full in the new year as funds dwindle and enrollment increases at the elementary schools.
By PAMELA WILLIS
The Worthington City School District is struggling like most
school districts in a tough economy, but 2010 also will
bring enrollment challenges as leaders continue to move
ahead with a school renewal process.
Superintendent Melissa Conrath said she would have to look back before envisioning the year ahead, because one of the reasons 2010 can be a successful year is the passage of Issue 49, the 3.9-mill incremental levy.
"The passage of Issue 49 was a significant accomplishment for the district, along with achieving an 'Excellent with Distinction' rating on the state report card," she said. "Passing the tax issue was vital to our ability to provide the revenue to support our program."
Passing the tax issue doesn't mean the district's financial problems are over, however.
"Because we went for a reduced millage amount and a phasing in of levy dollars, we will generate less dollars than the issue we had on the ballot in May," she said. "With the uncertainty of the state budget, we know we'll lose 1 percent of state funding this year and 2 percent next year.
"We're hoping that is the extent of it; however, currently there is an uncertainty as to whether the state will be able to provide even that level of funding," she said. "We will also see a dropoff of revenue because of the phasing out of the tangible property tax. We're being reimbursed for that right now, but the law doesn't extend beyond fiscal year 2012, so that could be a very significant decline in revenue."
Conrath said the district once again will have to revisit expenditures and make reductions.
"We need to make reductions because we want to be able to work with our community from the funding and revenue side to be able to request reasonable levies at reasonable intervals," she said. "The financial challenges and how we respond to them is important so that we do not diminish the quality of our Worthington school district."
Fluctuations in student enrollment also will be a challenge in 2010.
"We have experienced some decline in enrollment over the years, which is now at the middle school and high school, yet are beginning to see an increase in enrollment at the elementary level," she said. "The challenge that creates is, how do we most effectively house our students?"
Conrath said the increase in enrollment at the elementary school level means more buildings at capacity.
"We are running out of room and will not be able to accommodate the projected enrollment in our elementary buildings, some of which are at capacity," she said. "Yet we have excess capacity at the middle grade levels and with our current attendance patterns will have excess capacity at Worthington Kilbourne High School for several years.
"So we're dealing with how to best utilize our buildings and our capacity to house our students," she said.
Several years ago, a decline in enrollment at the elementary school level led to the merging of Liberty and Sutter Park elementary school students into the Liberty building.
The district currently houses preschool classes and some special-education classes at Sutter Park.
Conrath said school leaders will be seriously looking at and planning for a restructuring of the middle school program this month and next month.
Another major challenge will be making sure students are prepared academically for an increasingly global society.
"Our core purpose is to prepare students for their post-secondary plans," she said. "We need to make any changes that will best prepare students in the core academic areas to enter a world that is different than the world we have had in the past. Technology will play a major role in that."
Conrath said all Worthington school buildings have been working on school renewal plans to best prepare students for 21st-century learning.
Some of those plans, such as the International Business Academy at Worthington Kilbourne and the Entrepreneurship Academy at Thomas Worthington, already are in operation.
"We have been using the renewal process to reflect upon and become familiar with what the skill areas will be for those students and have to determine how we can redesign ourselves or position ourselves in a way that will provide students with the opportunities to develop the skills they need," she said.
Superintendent Melissa Conrath said she would have to look back before envisioning the year ahead, because one of the reasons 2010 can be a successful year is the passage of Issue 49, the 3.9-mill incremental levy.
"The passage of Issue 49 was a significant accomplishment for the district, along with achieving an 'Excellent with Distinction' rating on the state report card," she said. "Passing the tax issue was vital to our ability to provide the revenue to support our program."
Passing the tax issue doesn't mean the district's financial problems are over, however.
"Because we went for a reduced millage amount and a phasing in of levy dollars, we will generate less dollars than the issue we had on the ballot in May," she said. "With the uncertainty of the state budget, we know we'll lose 1 percent of state funding this year and 2 percent next year.
"We're hoping that is the extent of it; however, currently there is an uncertainty as to whether the state will be able to provide even that level of funding," she said. "We will also see a dropoff of revenue because of the phasing out of the tangible property tax. We're being reimbursed for that right now, but the law doesn't extend beyond fiscal year 2012, so that could be a very significant decline in revenue."
Conrath said the district once again will have to revisit expenditures and make reductions.
"We need to make reductions because we want to be able to work with our community from the funding and revenue side to be able to request reasonable levies at reasonable intervals," she said. "The financial challenges and how we respond to them is important so that we do not diminish the quality of our Worthington school district."
Fluctuations in student enrollment also will be a challenge in 2010.
"We have experienced some decline in enrollment over the years, which is now at the middle school and high school, yet are beginning to see an increase in enrollment at the elementary level," she said. "The challenge that creates is, how do we most effectively house our students?"
Conrath said the increase in enrollment at the elementary school level means more buildings at capacity.
"We are running out of room and will not be able to accommodate the projected enrollment in our elementary buildings, some of which are at capacity," she said. "Yet we have excess capacity at the middle grade levels and with our current attendance patterns will have excess capacity at Worthington Kilbourne High School for several years.
"So we're dealing with how to best utilize our buildings and our capacity to house our students," she said.
Several years ago, a decline in enrollment at the elementary school level led to the merging of Liberty and Sutter Park elementary school students into the Liberty building.
The district currently houses preschool classes and some special-education classes at Sutter Park.
Conrath said school leaders will be seriously looking at and planning for a restructuring of the middle school program this month and next month.
Another major challenge will be making sure students are prepared academically for an increasingly global society.
"Our core purpose is to prepare students for their post-secondary plans," she said. "We need to make any changes that will best prepare students in the core academic areas to enter a world that is different than the world we have had in the past. Technology will play a major role in that."
Conrath said all Worthington school buildings have been working on school renewal plans to best prepare students for 21st-century learning.
Some of those plans, such as the International Business Academy at Worthington Kilbourne and the Entrepreneurship Academy at Thomas Worthington, already are in operation.
"We have been using the renewal process to reflect upon and become familiar with what the skill areas will be for those students and have to determine how we can redesign ourselves or position ourselves in a way that will provide students with the opportunities to develop the skills they need," she said.
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