June 2, 2011
Tucker chosen for superintendent job By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Thomas Tucker has been named superintendent of the Worthington schools. Tucker, currently superintendent of Licking Heights Local School District, will begin in August. He succeeds Melissa Conrath, who is retiring after five years with the district. The Worthington Board of Education
was expected to approve a contract for Tucker during a meeting set for Wednesday, June 1. Tucker’s current salary is $120,000. His expected salary is $160,000, according
ing Heights for three years. During that time, the district received its first “excellent” designation on Ohio’s report card. He also led voters to approve additional millage to support the district, Worthington Board of Education president Marc Schare said. Worthington plans to place an operating levy on the ballot in 2012. Tom Tucker “In Licking Heights, he went into a difficult position and turned things around,” to his application. Tucker has been superintendent of Lick- Schare said.
In checking with people who have worked with Tucker in other districts, the board found that he has left a positive trail of opinions. “He has a history of success in every job he has had,” Schare said. Both the board and community panels who interviewed the top three superintendent finalists determined that Tucker shares the board’s vision of what a 21stcentury school district should be, Schare
said. “He has the fortitude and wherewithal to take this district to the next level,” he said. Licking Heights is a district of 3,287 students in western Licking County. Tucker has 21 years of experience in public education in Kansas and Ohio. Prior to Licking Heights, he was an adSee TUCKER, page A2
High school commencements set for June 4 By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Memorial Day parade (Above) ROTC members lead the Worthington Memorial Day parade down High Street in downtown Worthington on May 30. (At right) Thomas Worthington High School marching band members are reflected in a tuba as they perform in the parade.
Photos by James D. DeCamp/ThisWeek
The Worthington schools are expected to award 728 diplomas during commencement ceremonies on June 4 in the Battelle Grand at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. At 10 a.m., 375 Thomas Worthington students will graduate, followed by 353 Worthington Kilbourne seniors at 3 p.m. Greeting the Thomas Worthington class will be Andrea Ewing, president of the Class of 2011. Student body president Caitlin Rose Sheban will follow with moments of reflection. The commencement band and the symphonic choir will perform. Other class officers are Krista Greer Barezinsky, vice president; Carli Richelle Schartman, secretary; and Leona Vander Molen, treasurer. Seniors who will be honored for receiving all A’s are Cori Bootes, Casey Cempre, Megan Cermak, Salim Choueiki, Djenab Conde, Mark Evans, Rachel Francis, Samuel Friedlander, Niteesha Kulshrestha, Donovan LaDuke, Kyle Lamb, Monika Lanno, Alayne Meyer, Sally Nichols, Caitlin Sheban and Rebecca Sheldon. Those graduating with 4.0-andabove GPAs are David Aspery, Kayla Burris, Harrison Chang,
A closer look At 10 a.m., 375 Thomas Worthington students will graduate, followed by 353 Worthington Kilbourne seniors at 3 p.m.
Hee-Yeon Chung, Kera Clark, Raymond Crook, David Edison, Maike Heidemann,Amanda Kustomo, Frances Lin, Advitiya Mahajan, Claire Matlak, Margaret McHugh, Kathleen Reid, Anna Scandinaro, Gregory Serpa, Deep Shah, Jalpa Shah, Anna van der Zwaag, Leona Vander Molen, Royer Velasquez, Morgan Volker and Joseph Wortman. Worthington Kilbourne will graduate 353. Taking part in the ceremony will be class vice president Leslie Wu, who will lead the pledge of allegiance; Devon Tabata, class president, who will present “You Know You’re A Member of the Class of 2011 When ...”; and Chad Ellwood, student body president, who will present “Beginnings.” The WKHS orchestra and choir will perform. Seniors graduating with highest honors are Rachel Marie Archambeau, Gina Elizabeth Badillo, Alyssa Alexandra Biron, See GRADS, page A2
MPC: Plans to convert Dalt’s to bank are tasteful By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers Plans to turn the old Dalt’s restaurant into a bank received a good review from the Worthington Municipal Planning Commission on May 26. Harvey Glick plans to transform the long-vacant restaurant and attached office building into the headquarters and a branch office of Insight Bank. The MPC approved a conditional-use permit for a drive-up bank in the C-2 zoning district. The MPC also sent to Worthington City Council an amendment to the development plan for the property, along with a recommendation of approval.
If all goes as planned, this will be the first major change approved at The Shops at Worthington Place, which is the new name of Worthington Square. Worthington Place owner Tom Carter attended the MPC meeting and said he would return to the next meeting for a demolition permit for the old James Tavern. Both the James Tavern and Dalt’s were restaurants on the mall site. Carter said he has no definite plans for the James Tavern site but hopes it eventually would become a hotel, office building or housing. Except for concerns from MPC member James Sauer about removing trees in
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An architectural rendering of plans for Insight Bank.
front of the bank, the commission members were very positive about the proposed conversion. The 12,000-square-foot, two-story of-
M
fice building will house the branch bank A two-lane drive-up will be on the on the first floor and offices on the sec- northwest corner of the building, with ond. The former Dalt’s will become office space. See BANK, page A2
emorial Day was not conceived to be the kickoff to summer activities or as a reason to schedule a three-day weekend. It was established to recognize the nation’s military veterans who died while fighting for their country. In keeping with efforts to recognize and honor the sacrifices and service of military veterans, ThisWeek Community Media is launching Honoring Heroes, a continuing series through which we will share the stories and remembrances from and about local men and women who are either on active duty or retired from service. As part of covering their beats, our reporters often hear about and write about veterans leaving for overseas or com-
ing home at the end of a tour of duty. We’ve covered funeral services of those who have sacrificed their lives. We’ve written about soldiers who arrive at their homes or their children’s schools to unexpectedly surprise their delighted families. We know many more stories are out there, waiting to be told. We want to tell them. And we need your help. If you have a story idea about a friend, family member or colleague, let us know by emailing editorial@thisweeknews.com, with the subject line, “Honoring Heroes.” Honoring Heroes isn’t just a ThisWeek Community Media project: It’s about sharing history.
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