June 16, 2011
Board, teachers agree on contract By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers The Worthington Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year teachers contract June 13, calling its limits on salary increases “historic” and “unprecedented.” The new agreement freezes base salaries for teachers for two years (201112 and 2012-13) and freezes step increases for two years (2012-13 and 201314). During the 2013-14 year, salaries will increase by 0.5 percent and by an additional 0.5 percent if the district achieves
certain prescribed academic goals. The additional raise will be granted if the district meets the two objectives in its Ohio Improvement Process plan developed in 2010 or is rated excellent with distinction in its Ohio Department of Education report card for the 2012-13 school year. The district currently is rated excellent. Teachers already had agreed to taking no increase in base pay this coming school year, but offering to freeze step increases for two years is the part some board members and Superintendent Melissa Conrath called “unprecedented.”
In the past, teachers would receive an annual salary increase plus the step increases, which are based on years of service and additional education. In most years, the step increases averaged 2.5 percent. Generally, the higher step increases are awarded to teachers with less seniority, with few step increases awarded for teachers with more than 15 years of experience. “Our members voted overwhelmingly for this contract, one that will, through step freezes alone, save the district $4 million over four years, even though those step freezes will cost some of our younger
teachers thousands of dollars in lost income,” Worthington Education Association (WEA) president Mark Hill said. WEA is the local teachers union. He told the board the contract is a reflection on the economic conditions that have hit the school district and state. “This contract is a statement that Worthington’s teachers want to be part of the solution to the challenges that face our district,” Hill said. District treasurer Jeff McCuen estimates the district could lose nearly $30 million in state and federal funding by the time the 2014-15 school year begins. The loss is the result of a reduction in
state foundation funding, a loss in onetime federal American Recovery & Reinvestment Act dollars and the continued phase-out of the tangible-personal-property-tax reimbursements. When fully phased out, the loss of tangible-tax reimbursements will result in an annual loss of $15 million. Also, the district could lose $900,000 annually if the current Franklin County reappraisal of property tax values results in a 5-percent decrease, McCuen said. He has said repeatedly that the district must go to voters for an operating levy See CONTRACT, page A2
Arts Festival will bring color to the Green By CANDY BROOKS
demonstrate their instruments
ThisWeek Community Newspapers will entertain.
By Andrea Kjerrumgaard/ThisWeek
Don Jones, center, acknowledges the committee members who worked on the Flint Cemetery meditation garden during a dedication ceremony June 12.
Meditation garden is meant for the living By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers The new meditation garden at Flint Cemetery was built for the living. With a soothing fountain at the center, cozy benches and a memorial wall, the garden was designed to provide comfort for those in need of a short respite. “We hope this spot brings peace and a sense of compassion,” Don Jones said. “We hope you use this spot before you are placed in one of these spots.” Jones was one of the speakers at the med-
itation garden dedication June 12. The ceremony included a blessing of the grounds by Native Americans, the release of butterflies and a view of the history of Flint Cemetery. On 11 acres tucked behind houses on the north side of Flint Road, the land once was farm lots owned by Worthington’s original settlers. Ozem Gardner purchased the property in 1821. The Gardner family home was built on the site and served as an Underground Railroad shelter during the Civil War. The partial remains of a shed that once concealed
slaves still stands just across the east border of the cemetery. In the 1950s, the Gardner family sold the cemetery to Sharon Township for a dollar. In the 1950s, two additional parcels were acquired. In 1961, the city of Worthington partnered with Sharon Township to form two union cemeteries: Flint and Walnut Grove. With Walnut Grove all but filled, Flint is being developed as a burying ground for local residents. See GARDEN, page A2
Downtown shops and The Worthington Village restaurants will be open, and Green will be alive with art the Saturday farmers market will take place along High this weekend. The 19th annual Worthing- Street from 9 a.m. until noon. Vendors will sell toasted alton Arts Festival will run from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, monds, lemon shakes, breakJune 18, and from 11 a.m. to fast sandwiches, kettle corn, fish and 5 p.m. on Sunday, June chips, and other snacks. 19. A closer look New this All four year will be quadrants of All four quadrants of the drop and the green will green will be the backdrop shop, probe the backfor more than 150 artists to viding a drop for exhibit and sell their works. free shuttle more than 150 artists to ride from exhibit and sell their works. the McConnell Arts Center The juried show has grown (MAC) to the green and back. Visitors will be able to drop in quality and popularity over the years, according to organ- their purchases at the Arts Cenizers from the Olde Wor- ter tent and leave them while thington Business Association. they continue to shop. Back at the MAC, everyone In fact, the festival has been selected as one of the top 100 is invited to come in and shows in the United States by browse and learn more about Sunshine Artist magazine for the arts center and its programs and classes. the past five years. Drop and shop is sponsored Sculptures, ceramics, oils, watercolors, furniture, jewel- by the Greater Worthington ry, fiber, glass, photography Area Real Estate Association and mixed media will be dis- and Owens Corning Basement played for sale. There will be Finishing Systems. The arts festival is sponsored clothing, accessories, pots, dinnerware, fountains and more. by WOW!, Bath Fitter, and the Musicians who make and MAC.
High-speed police chase ends in Old Worthington By CANDY BROOKS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
A high-speed pursuit through two counties wound through Old Worthington and Riverlea streets and ended with the suspect bailing on Evening Street June 13. Scott Meade, 23, of Whitehall, was apprehended by Columbus police, Franklin County Sheriff’s deputies, and Worthington police on Evening Street near West South Street at approximately 9:15 p.m. Monday. He was charged with aggravated robbery in con-
nection with the robbery of the Marshalls store on U.S. Route 23, just north of Polaris Parkway, at approximately 9 p.m. The Delaware County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a robbery in progress. The caller said a man with a gun had ordered everyone in the store to the ground. Deputies were able to locate the vehicle after the suspect left the store. He did not stop, leading the officers on a chase through Delaware and Franklin counties. The pursuit went eastbound on Powell Road to Polaris Parkway, southbound on Interstate 71, west-
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bound on Interstate 670, northbound on state Route 315, eastbound on Interstate 270, southbound on U.S. Route 23 through Worthington. The pursuit then went into Riverlea, though police on Tuesday were not sure of the exact route. Worthington Chief James Mosic said he knows the suspect was on Olentangy Boulevard at one point. The chase ended on Evening Street where it dead-ends south of West South Street. The suspect tried to flee on foot, but was captured by officers. Worthington police had placed stop sticks on state Route 315 at Route 161, but they did not stop
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the pursuit. Mosic said the speeds on 315 were in excess of 100 miles-per-hour, but he did not know how fast the suspect or the officers traveled through Worthington or Riverlea. Police found $2,416 under the driver’s seat of the getaway car, according to Delaware County Sheriff Walter Davis III. When questioned about the gun, the suspect offered to show officers where he disposed of it. Deputies drove him to the area of Lake Club apartments where they located clothing, a book bag, and a fake gun. Cheryl is one of many cats up for adoption at the Cat Welfare Association. On Tuesday, June 21, the association will hold its Summer Solstice Adoption Extravaganza, which will feature food and special adoption rates. For information on adopting Cheryl or any of the cats, visit catwelfareohio.com. Watch a video of Cheryl at ThisWeekNews.com.