WORTHINGTON — The Worthington District 518 Board of Education finalized goals for Superintendent Joel Heitkamp and approved an evaluation process for those goals Tuesday, during its monthly meeting.
Last week, board members attended a
with Minnesota School Board Association’s Barb Dorn to discuss and identify three major goals for Heitkamp, who assumed the role on July 1, to accomplish within the next 10 months.
The three main goals were identified as: establish relationships and understanding, enhance district culture, climate and engagement and review operational efficiency and resource management.
Heitkamp walked board members through the document he helped compile with Dorn and board chairman Adam Blume.
In talking about operational efficiency and resource management, Heitkamp said, “I will review the district’s financial health, budget allocations and funding structures and then, based on the review, we’ll begin implementing systems and structures designed to improve organization and allocation of resources.”
For the first goal of establishing relationships, Heitkamp cited two ideas he’s already pursuing, including listening sessions and Trojan Morning Meetups, which are brief meetings each quarter for students, parents, staff and community members to attend and learn about overall decisions or happenings in the district.
For the second goal of enhancing district culture, Heitkamp mentioned several initiatives he and Assistant Superintendent Josh Noble are working on with local entities to strengthen collaboration with the district.
“I’m partnering with a couple of folks on our district level team around the implementation of a method to make sure that we’re recognizing all staff, creation of opportunities for student voice and leadership and school cultural initiatives, and then the development of a comprehensive community engagement strategy, again, leaning into those Trojan Morning Meet-ups and taking advantage of opportunities to engage with other community groups,” said Heitkamp.
These goals, along with a specialized evaluation sheet, were approved by the board.
Also during the meeting, the board:
- Received an updated
for the Worthington ice arena by City Administrator Steve Robinson, as the district has pledged $5 million to the project, which now includes renovations to the current ice rink on Stower Drive.
- Discussed an agreement with the Worthington Hockey Association, in which the district agreed in 2024 to pay $25,000 to cover expenses for the boys and girls hockey programs, such as leasing the arena space for teams to practice, travel and coaching staff.
- Approved an annual agreement with the Worthington YMCA for pool use for physical education classes at a cost of $2,760.
- Set the Truth in Taxation hearing for 6 p.m. Dec. 16, just prior to the regularly scheduled board meeting.
- Set the preliminary 2025 tax levy at the maximum percentage possible. District Financial Officer Ryan Swanson reminded board members that the number is set to change many times before the levy is officially approved during the Truth in Taxation hearing in December.
- Approved two tax abatement resolutions, one for Marco Ramos to build a single-family home on Cecilee Street in Worthington and one for Suzanna Dokkenburg for construction of a new home in Reading.
- Approved the second reading of various policies, including Policy 709 on student transportation safety; Policy 515 on the privacy of pupil records; Policy 414 on mandated reporting and Policy 620 on credit for learning.
- Declared an unused table saw and fourth through sixth grade books that are out of curriculum as surplus property.
- Heard an enrollment update of the district. There are currently 4,003 students enrolled among all schools for the current academic year.
The next Worthington ISD 518 Board of Education meeting will begin at 6:15 p.m. Oct. 21. The meetings are open to the public.
Hope Moural is the community editor for the Globe as of May 2024. A born and raised Nebraskan, Hope has a dual bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Communications from Concordia University, Nebraska, and has previously worked as a general assignment reporter.