Building Bridges, Not Band-Aids: A Strategic Approach to School Funding

You may have seen recent conversations, including a piece in The Columbus Dispatch, discussing state proposals that could require school districts—like Worthington—to spend down their financial reserves. While the promise of short-term property tax relief may sound appealing, these proposals raise important questions about how we responsibly fund education and protect the future of our schools.

The truth is, this isn’t just a budgeting conversation—it’s a student conversation.

Strong financial reserves allow Worthington Schools to:

• Maintain academic and extracurricular programs even when state funding fluctuates.

• Respond to emergencies like facility repairs, health crises, or unforeseen community needs.

• Invest in planned improvements like facility updates, literacy programs, and wellness supports without taking on excessive new debt.

Short-term cuts may feel helpful now but create long-term instability for students, staff, and taxpayers alike.

🔎 My Approach: Responsible Stewardship

Responsible budgeting doesn’t mean simply spending reserves down. It means using them strategically:

• Designated Reserve Funds: Establish targeted funds for capital improvements, innovation grants, emergency response, and educational pilots.

• Debt Reduction: Use reserves to refinance debt early, easing future tax burdens.

• Educator & Student Infrastructure: Fund one-time investments like mental health centers, SEL programs, and literacy initiatives that directly benefit students.

• Grant Matching: Use reserve dollars to maximize competitive grant funding opportunities.

We should always be asking: How does every dollar protect or strengthen the student experience?

💬 The Big Picture

We need responsible budgeting that protects both taxpayers and the long-term strength of our schools.

Strong reserves protect programs like reading intervention, special education, mental health support, and extracurriculars that directly impact students. We should never balance budgets on the backs of students.

💡 Let’s Build Long-Term Solutions

This isn’t about hoarding. This is about planning—for our kids, our staff, and our future. I believe we can create thoughtful, transparent reserve policies that protect taxpayer investments while ensuring Worthington Schools remain strong for years to come.

We can do both. We have to do both.

👉 Join me in this conversation and help build the future of Worthington Schools.