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Letter
Principals worked hard on enrollment issue Thursday, September 20, 2007
I want to thank the Worthington middle school principals and staff for their hard work and diligence in looking at the issue of declining enrollment. With a year 2000 enrollment of 1,647 in our middle schools, 1,414 last year and a projected enrollment of 1,320 for this year, it was obvious some type of action was necessary. A committee of 12 middle school administrators and teachers spent over two years looking at various options to give our students the best opportunities while being fiscally responsible. Although this year's middle school enrollment is slightly above projections -- 1,353 as of Sept. 10 -- we have fewer students than last year and are still well below capacity. After months of discussion, it was clear the most stable, efficient configuration would be three and a half middle schools. Although redistricting was considered, it did not solve the issue of decreased enrollment in each of the four schools. Redistricting would leave us with four small, inefficient middle schools. It would involve dividing some groups of elementary students from one elementary school into two middle schools to achieve balance, and would need to be done about every two years to maintain that balance. Predictable feeder patterns have been a staple of this community for many years. By moving Granby to McCord and leaving Perry as the half middle school, no elementary school classes were split between two middle schools and the enrollment will stay consistent over the next several years. Our staff has appreciated giving our district teachers the opportunity to come forward with alternative school proposals. The response to the Phoenix School has been positive and it is exciting to see a new program begin. I applaud Jeff Maddox for his work to ensure the great start of the Phoenix School, and the continuation of a wonderful traditional program at Perry. I look forward to future innovative ideas and community input as we work to provide 21st century learning for all students. Jennifer Best Vice President, Worthington Board of Education
Cardinal Pride Day was a big successIf you drove down 161, past Thomas Worthington High School on Friday, Sept. 7, you would have seen a hive of activity. Over 400 freshmen, 75 upperclassmen, 35 staff members, and 40 parent volunteers participated in the final piece of freshman orientation -- Cardinal Pride Day. Cardinal Pride Day has several purposes. First and foremost, it is an opportunity for the freshman class to really feel ownership in the school. It is also an opportunity for the freshmen to meet other students. Finally, it is an opportunity to improve the appearance of TWHS. While you can only see the results of the last goal, I can assure you that all goals were met very successfully. As with any volunteer effort, there was an army of people who made this event happen. First, we need to thank TWHS PTSO for its financial support. In addition we would like to recognize Lisa Kuhn, Janet Brown, Phil Stanger, Teri Marburger, Stacie Lawell, Lisa Fitzgerald, Deb Majoras, Von Posival, Lynne Fraze, and Sheila Carter. All of them handled their responsibilities beautifully, as did the rest of the parent volunteers who gave up their mornings to help supervise the work teams. Thank you: Cardinal Pride Day couldn't have happened if you weren't there. The staff of TWHS did an amazing job, especially George Joseph, who handled this new responsibility with patience and skill. The maintenance department, in particular Dave Wickline, did everything it could to make this a successful day. While all of these adults were amazing, I have to mention the students of TWHS who did a fantastic job. The vast majority of freshmen and upperclassmen worked in the heat with dedication and good spirits, performing any task they were asked. We, as a community, should be proud of these young people. They deserve it. Holly Richard Beth Smith Co-chairs of Cardinal Pride Day |