WestChesterBuzz.com

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Michael D. Clark reports:

Before Lakota Schools can tackle its looming budget shortfall, all officials need to be on the same page – especially administrators and the governing board, said Superintendent Karen Mantia.

Mantia, at Wednesday’s board meeting, asked for clarification as to whether its five members agree that cutting $9 million to balance next school year’s budget is the way to go.

The unusual request was brought about in part by an extensive and lengthy public discussion during last month’s board meeting that saw Mantia fielding a series of questions, primarily from veteran board member Joan Powell. Their exchange called into question some major aspects of Mantia’s previously announced goal to slice $9 million in personnel and programs from the 2012-13 school year.

Lakota faces a projected shortfall of $14.1 million by 2015.

Mantia said she was seeking a clear directive from the board.

“The question on the table is do you want a spending deficit? We are going broke and something will have to change,” Mantia told the board. “We need some direction and it needs to be clear.”

“If we are working as a team, which I hope we are, then this team needs to work together,” she said.

After board discussion, members agreed and unanimously voted to order Mantia’s administration to proceed with planning the $9 million in reductions.

Powell said the $9 million “remains the target.” She said part of the problem was “a little bit of a disconnect” between the board and district leaders.

At the last board meeting, administrators rolled out the first – preschool programs – of a seven-phase plan in exactly where the $9 million would be cut.

At the board’s Feb. 13 meeting the reduction plan for grades 7-12 is to be unveiled, followed in subsequent weeks by plans for elementary grades, administration, district-wide personnel, business and extracurricular programs.

Lakota voters rejected three operating levies from 2010 to 2011, the most recent in November.

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Joan Powell, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, reductions, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

The Lakota Board of Education is expected to discuss its budget reduction target for next school year at a special open meeting at the Lakota Central Office, 5572 Princeton Road, at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

In November, Lakota officials announced that it would need to make around $9 million in cuts. The BOE could change that figure Wednesday.

Last week, school officials announced that it could merge its preschool programs with county programs, potentially saving the district $1.2 million.

The merger would affect an estimated 288 preschool students in Lakota’s three early childhood education buildings and would eliminate 17 classroom jobs for the 2012-13 school year.

Board members took no action on the proposed merger but plan to vote next month after gathering public input about the plan. Officials made the reduction plan available for public review on Lakota’s web site at www.lakotaonline.com and are encouraging feedback from the community via email.

The district also made it known in January that it would roll out reduction proposals in phases to encourage public discussion.

Lakota’s annual operating budget is about $154 million, and the district faces a $14.1 million projected deficit in 2015 without voter approval of a new operating tax in 2012.

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota West, reductions, school levy

To let West Chester and Liberty Township residents catch up with the news that they need to know, WestChesterBuzz.com will list and link to all of last week’s top local stories every Monday morning. (Stories are listed in order of date)

Lakota preschool program could be merged: During last Monday’s school board meeting, Lakota officials discussed merging its preschool program with county programs. The proposed joint venture with Butler County Educational Service Center (ESC) would save about $1.2 million of the target $9 million in savings Lakota officials have said is needed for next school year. The merger would affect 288 preschool students and would eliminate 17 classroom jobs for the 2012-2013 school year.

AK Steel executive to retire: Last Monday, West Chester based AK Steel announced that its long-time spokesman Alan H. McCoy, vice president, government and public relations, has elected to retire effective January 31. McCoy was named general manager, public relations for AK Steel in 1994. He is currently a director of the Ohio Steel Council and also serves as a trustee of Ursuline Academy.

West Chester’s IKEA activates solar energy system: The IKEA in West Chester is now powering its lights, operating its cash registers and cooking its Swedish meatballs using a solar energy system that is located on the store’s rooftop. Heather Spatz, West Chester’s IKEA store manager, officially announced the activation of the solar energy system last Tuesday. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the amount of clean electricity produced by 4,186 solar panels atop the IKEA building is equivalent to eliminating the yearly emissions of 180 passenger cars.

Road projects to affect Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Ohio 129 and U.S. 42: Last Tuesday, The Butler County Engineer’s Office announced that it is planning to improve Cincinnati-Dayton Road at the Ohio 129 interchange in Liberty Township. The project, which is slated for construction in 2014, is currently in the preliminary engineering phase with environmental studies and early design plans under way. The $2.5 million project is geared to improving traffic safety and flow in the area. Meanwhile, the Ohio Department of Transportation announced last Tuesday that culvert replacement will require closing U.S. 42 between Cox Road and Tylersville Road from Feb. 18 to March 2.

Lakota West falls to Fairfield in battle for 2nd in GMC: After handing Middletown its first conference loss Jan. 20, Lakota West hosted Fairfield last Tuesday in a basketball game between two programs tied for second place in the Greater Miami Conference. The Firebirds jumped out to an early lead, but fell behind and eventually lost 70-59. Lakota West did rebound with a win last Friday when it defeated Colerain by the score 77-71 in overtime. The Firebirds are currently in a three-way tie for third in the GMC.

West Chester cop David Busemeyer pleads guilty to felonies, quits job: A police officer pleaded guilty to two felony charges, then resigned from his job last Wednesday. David Busemeyer, who was accused of alerting a drug dealer to an undercover bust, admitted to attempted tampering with evidence and obstructing official business. In exchange for his plea in Butler County Common Pleas Court, a charge of obstructing justice was dismissed. Busemeyer also was accused of revealing the identity of a confidential informant in the case. After the plea, Busemeyer tendered his resignation from the job he had held since August 2002. He faces a maximum prison term of two and a half years, but could be granted probation at sentencing March 8.

Two killed in West Chester crash: Police found two people dead Saturday morning in a car that crashed into two parked semi tractor-trailers at a distribution warehouse at 9842 International Blvd. Police determined that the victims were traveling northbound on International Boulevard in a Honda Civic when it veered off the road, passed through a parking lot, hit two trees, encountered a berm and became airborne. When the car landed, it went under one tractor-trailer, sheering off the car’s top. The car then became wedged under a second tractor-trailer. The names of the victims have not been released.

Posted in: Board of Education, Crime, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports, Traffic, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: AK Steel, AK Steel West Chester, Alan H. McCoy, Alan McCoy, Barbara Wilson, Butler County Engineer’s Office, Cincinnati-Dayton Road, Cincinnati-Dayton Road Liberty Township, Cox Road, Cox Road West Chester, David Busemeyer, IKEA, IKEA Cincinnati, IKEA photos, IKEA solar photos, IKEA solar power, IKEA solar power Cincinnati, IKEA solar power West Chester, IKEA West Chester, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota West, Lakota West basketball, Lakota West sports, Liberty Township construction, Ohio 129, Ohio 129 Liberty Township, Tylersville Road, Tylersville Road West Chester, U.S. 42, U.S. 42 project, U.S. 42 West Chester, West Chester accident, West Chester Police Officer David Busemeyer, West Chester Traffic, West Chester traffic delays

After seeing its third tax levy fail at the polls since 2010, the Lakota school district is hoping to gather feedback from local residents to see why they voted in favor or against the latest proposed tax levy in November of 2011.

In order to take the survey, residents must be registered voters in the Lakota school district and must have voted or have someone in their household who voted in the November election.

The survey asks about your relationship to the school district (have children or don’t have children in the district, work in the community, etc.) and if you voted in favor or against the levy.

Respondents are then asked to list the main reasons they voted for or against the levy. The last question asks survey takers to click up five listed reasons why they voted the way they did.

• Take the survey on Lakotaonline.com
• Story: Lakota preschool may be merged with county programs
• Story: Lakota to roll out budget cuts in phase
• Lakota levy news and discussion

“Whether you voted for or against the latest tax levy, we encourage you to take our survey to let us know why you voted the way you did,” Lakota school board president Ben Dibble said.

The deadline to take the survey is Feb. 6.

The link to the survey is on the Lakota school district’s website. On the right-hand side of the homepage, there is box that reads “Take Our Survey.”

Earlier this week, Lakota officials announced that they might merge preschool programs with county programs.

The proposed joint venture with Butler County Educational Service Center (ESC) would save about $1.2 million of the target $9 million in savings Lakota officials have said is needed for next school year.

The merger would affect an estimated 288 preschool students in Lakota’s three early childhood education buildings and would eliminate 17 classroom jobs for the 2012-13 school year.

Preschool annual tuition would remain at $2,025 per student under the proposal.

Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia warned that the other phases of budget cuts will also reduce jobs. Those categories are grades 7-12; elementary grades; administration; district-wide personnel; business and extracurricular programs.

“It’s inevitable that layoffs will occur … there is simply no way around it,” said Mantia. “We have an immediate and urgent crisis.”

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota levy survey, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota survey, Lakota West, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Michael D. Clark reports:

Preschool programs in Lakota Schools could be merged with county programs, school officials announced Monday evening as they unveiled the first phase of $9 million in budget cuts.

The proposed joint venture with Butler County Educational Service Center (ESC) would save about $1.2 million of the target $9 million in savings Lakota officials have said is needed for next school year.

The merger would affect an estimated 288 preschool students in Lakota’s three early childhood education buildings and would eliminate 17 classroom jobs for the 2012-13 school year, Lakota officials said during a work session of the school board.

Preschool annual tuition would remain at $2,025 per student under the proposal.

Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia warned that the other phases of budget cuts will also reduce jobs. Those categories are grades 7-12; elementary grades; administration; district-wide personnel; business and extracurricular programs.

“It’s inevitable that layoffs will occur … there is simply no way around it,” said Mantia. “We have an immediate and urgent crisis.”

Lakota voters rejected three levies from 2010 to 2011, the most recent in November.

Lakota’s annual operating budget is about $154 million, and the district faces a $14.1 million projected deficit in 2015 without voter approval of a new operating tax in 2012.

Board members took no action on the proposed merger but plan to vote next month after gathering public input about the plan. Officials made the reduction plan available for public review on Lakota’s web site at www.lakotaonline.com.

People can review the plan and e-mail questions and comments to district officials as part of a new approach, they said, in engaging residents.

The unusual rollout of reductions in phases is unlike past years’ practices and is designed to allow for more public discussion on each phase, said officials.

Lakota school parent Jay Brune said he liked the approach.

“At least it seems like they are looking at opinions of residents instead of making decisions all on their own. I hope it helps with the levy,” said Brune.

But resident Rich Hoffman, head of the NoLakota anti-school tax group that helped defeat the last three tax hikes, said the board should focus on cutting labor costs instead of impacting the quality of student programs.

“We’ve already told them how to reduce costs by approaching the labor force and telling them to cut their pay by 5 percent,” he said.

Last year Lakota did re-open its labor contract with its 1,132 teachers and renegotiated a new pact that for the first time in Lakota’s 55-year-history saw teachers take an across-the-board pay freeze but also a hold on all individual “step increases,” except for those who add to their educational credentials.

Teachers also agreed to concessions that could see the amount teachers pay for health coverage rise to 15 percent of the cost for their individual plan by the pact’s third year.

Mantia said as more phases of the budget cuts are developed “there is nothing off the table.”

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Jay Brune, Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, reductions, Rich Hoffman, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

The Lakota Board of Education is expected to roll out the first phase of proposed budget reductions for the next school year during its public meeting Monday.

For an article for The Cincinnati Enquirer, school officials didn’t specify what type of budget cuts would be unveiled at the meeting.

The meeting’s agenda, however, lists a “preschool proposal” and “reduction strategy.”

School officials told Michael D. Clark of The Enquirer that the strategy to roll out the budget cuts in phases is designed to allow for more public discussion.

• Story: Lakota to roll out budget cuts in phase
• Lakota levy news and discussion

“We know how unsettling these times are for students, parents and staff. But after three levy failures, things have to change,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia told The Enquirer. “And we recognize that every decision affects someone. We want everyone to know that no matter the decision, much thought and research has gone into the process.”

However, due to tonight’s meeting being in the format of a work session (comment portion at the start of the meeting), the community will be unable to comment on the budget cuts after they are presented.

Eventually, local residents should get their chance to speak since the school board is not expected to vote on the first round of cuts until next month.

Overall, the school district needs to trim $9 million from its operating budget for the 2012-2013 school year.

According to Lakota Treasurer Jenni Logan, the cuts will allow Lakota to avoid its spending deficit in 2013 but do not take away the need for additional revenue.

Lakota, which has an annual operating budget of $154 million, is facing a projected budget shortfall of $14.1 million by 2015, according to its five-year forecast.

The public meeting will be held at the district’s central office, 5572 Princeton Road, in Liberty Township at 7 p.m. Monday.

(This post will be updated prior to tonight’s meeting if the school district provides more information on proposed cuts)

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, reductions, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Michael D. Clark reports:

With another round of historically deep budget cuts $9 million worth coming for the financially struggling Lakota Schools, district officials are trying something new by rolling out the proposed reductions in phases.

The first of these will be Monday during the school board meeting, Lakota officials said Friday.

Officials didn’t specify what type of budget cuts will be unveiled at the meeting, but promised that eventually the reductions will include layoffs for next school year.

The phases will be broken out into categories such as elementary schools, secondary schools, administration, district-wide personnel, business operations and extracurricular programs.

The process will involve layoffs because the district is running out of money. The administration has no choice but to recommend layoffs to the school board. About 77 percent of the budget is for personnel costs, Superintendent Karen Mantia said.

The school board is expected to vote on the first round of proposed cuts for 2012-2013 next month.

The unusual rollout of reductions is designed to allow for more public discussion on each phase.

“We know how unsettling these times are for students, parents and staff. But after three levy failures, things have to change,” Mantia said. “And we recognize that every decision affects someone. We want everyone to know that no matter the decision, much thought and research has gone into the process.”

Lakota voters rejected three operating tax levies from 2010 to 2011, the most recent in November.

Lakota’s annual operating budget is about $154 million, and the district faces a $14.1 million projected budget deficit in 2015 without voter approval of a new operating tax in 2012. Lakota has already sliced more than $25 million from its operating budget in recent years.

Lakota school parent Pam Perrino likes the new approach.

“I am grateful they are being thoughtful about how to share this with our community. I believe many in our community don’t fully understand the intense needs that have developed over the past few years and with levy failures, what it going to happen,” Perrino said.

“Anything to help them realize the full implications of these cuts, on our students is helpful,” she said.

The Lakota Board of Education meets 7 p.m. Monday at the district’s Central Office, 5572 Princeton Road in Liberty Township.

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota reductions, Lakota school levy, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, reductions, school levy, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

Spring athletes can now apply for assistance in paying their sports fees through the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund. The deadline to apply for consideration is Feb. 10 for junior high athletes and March 2 for high school athletes.

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty created the fund after the Lakota school district increased athletic fees for junior high and high school students in the spring of 2011.

Overall, athletic fees ballooned to $350 for junior high athletes – up from $200 in 2010-2011 – and to $550 for high school students – up from $300 in 2010-2011.

Through the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund, private donations can be made to cover half of the athletic fee assessed to students participating in sports within the district.

After reviewing applications earlier this school year from winter sport athletes, the fund awarded 20 individual scholarships.

• Lakota levy news and discussion

Families interested in submitting an application for consideration must submit a letter to The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty indicating their desire for assistance.

The letter should include the name of the student athlete, school and grade level. The letter should also include a rationalization and insight into the family’s hardship, the benefit the students will receive from athletic participation and insight into the family’s ability to cover half of the athletic fee charged to the student. Families should also include documentation of other financial assistance being provided.

Send letters to:

The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty
Attn: Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund
5641 Union Centre Drive
West Chester, OH 45069

Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee of West Chester and Liberty Township residents. A limited number of scholarships are available. Only one scholarship per student will be awarded in a school year.

Community Members who wish to support the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund can make a donation payable to the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund c/o The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty. For more information, call Melissa Benedict at 513-874-5450.

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools, Sports, Spring sports |

Tags: Tags: athletic fees, Community Foundation, Community Foundation WCL, Community Foundation West Chester/Liberty, Lakota athletic fees, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West sports, WCL Community Foundation

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Michael D. Clark reports:

It’s a new year and the Lakota school board that has occasionally been mired in high-profile infighting is asking the public for a fresh start.

The five-member governing board of Southwest Ohio’s second largest school system may deserve some of the blame for three school tax levy defeats since 2010, according to Ben Dibble, the newly elected Lakota Board of Education president.

“Let’s acknowledge that the school board could be part of the reason for our levy failures, During the last couple of years, the school board has projected an image of divisiveness – that we weren’t always working toward the goal of providing the best possible education at the lowest cost,” according to a statement Dibble read during the board’s meeting earlier this week.

The past year saw a sharp divide among some board members over a variety of issues including the use of public monies to hire a private search firm to find a new Lakota treasurer and superintendent. The occasional highly public and at times personal clashes were cited in part by some district critics who organized successful opposition campaigns in defeating proposed school tax hikes.

“I ask my fellow board members to leave behind the ways we’ve done things in the past and take a new approach. Doing things the same old way will lead us down the same path that has resulted in three levy failures. Our credibility and communication with the community needs to improve,” Dibble stated.

Dibble was voted to the one-year term of presidency by fellow board members earlier this month, as was newly elected member Julie Shaffer. Shaffer won election to the board in November in her first try at public office and was chosen by members to serve as the board’s vice president.

Dibble replaced 2011 and 2010 board president and 15-year board veteran Joan Powell.

Dibble pledged his leadership will feature more openness to the community, greater feedback from all residents in the district – “not just the folks we think will agree with us.” (more…)

Posted in: Board of Education, Levy news, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Ben Dibble, Joan Powell, Julie Shaffer, Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota reductions, Lakota school board, Lakota school levy, Lakota West, Lynda O'Connor, Ray Murray, school board, school levy

The Lakota Board of Education held its first regularly scheduled meeting of 2012 Monday. Late last week, the Lakota BOE released its complete schedule for the year.

Jan. 9 – Business
Jan. 23 – Work
Feb. 13 – Work
Feb. 27 – Business/Work
March 12 – Work
March 26 – Business
April 9 – Work
April 23 – Business/Work
May 14 – Work
May 29 – Business
June 11 – Work
June 25 – Business
July 16 – Business/Work
Aug. 13 – Work
Aug. 27 – Business
Sept. 10 – Work
Sept. 24 – Business
Oct. 8 – Work
Oct. 22 – Business
Nov. 5 – Work (OSBA Week second week)
Nov. 26 – Business
Dec. 10 – Business/Work

The school board will be meeting in work session, as well as business, formats in 2012. The board tested the new work session format for the first time Nov. 28, 2011.

Currently, the work session format allows only one time period for public comments, compared to the usual two.

The new format, however, could change. When the board used the format Nov. 28, school board member Joan Powell described it as a “trial run.”

Posted in: Board of Education, Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Joan Powell, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota Board of Education meetings, Lakota school board, Lakota school board schedule