Republican proposal is largest increase in education spending in a decade
Chrissie Thompson and Denise Smith Amos report:
Ohio public school funding would grow by 11 percent over the next two years versus 2012-2013 spending levels, the largest percent increase in education spending in at least a decade, under the proposal Senate Republicans introduced Thursday.
If the Republicans’ proposal becomes law, local schools would see the most impact in the 2014-2015 school year. Some local schools that are still recovering from financial hard times might be able to balance their budgets this coming school year, when the Senate plan would let them receive up to 6.25 percent more than current funding levels. In 2014-2015, the Senate proposal would allow schools to receive up to 10.5 percent in additional funding. The House plan had capped funding increases at 6 percent each year.
“It did not look like we were going to be able to balance our budget for next year, but now with the projected increase in funding, we believe that we will be able to stabilize our finances for one more year,” said Jenni Logan, treasurer for Lakota Local School District.
The Senate plan would give Lakota an extra $30,000 over the House plan this coming year, but an extra $2 million in 2014-2015. This coming year, Logan said, Lakota would still be on a salary freeze and would not be able to increase its number of teachers. With extra funding in 2014-2015, she said, the situation might improve.
The majority Senate Republicans’ plan would spend about $6.6 billion in 2013-2014 and $7 billion in 2014-2015, versus the $6.3 billion the state spent on its public schools this school year.
The Senate plan would spend $141.6 million more on public schools than the plan that passed the House this spring.
In Greater Cincinnati, the financial effects of the new plan would be mixed. For instance, most school districts would see minor changes in the Senate’s plan compared with the House’s plan. But a few districts would see some of the bigger dollar increases and several others – including some low-income districts – would see noticeable declines. (more…)
After moving to state minimum transportation two years ago, the school district announced Thursday that it will provide busing to all kindergarten and first grade students, beginning the 2013-2014 school year.
Chris Passarge, the school district’s chief operations officer, said that the service can be provided at no additional cost.
“Now that we have worked for a while with all the new routes and schedules since bus service was reduced, we identified some areas where we can rearrange some existing routes or schedules and include these bus runs in the system as well,” Passarge said.
“It may mean some longer routes in certain cases, or more students on some of the buses, but we think it’s important to try to restore busing to the schools serving the youngest students.”
Students who attend the pre-kindergarten classes, which are operated by Butler County, in the Lakota early childhood schools will receive bus service if identified in the student’s Individualized Education Plan as a related service.
For the past two school years, only K-8 students who live more than two miles from school received bus service. As part of the reduction, the district eliminated busing for all high school students.
This past year, the school district provided busing to 1,745 K-1 students and didn’t provided service to 527. Lakota also provided service to 5,033 other students in grades 2-8 and didn’t provide busing to 4,278 students in grades 2-8 or to 5,036 high school students.
The decision to move to state minimum transportation, prior to the 2011-2012 school year, left about 40 percent of Lakota’s students without busing and saved the school district approximately $2.8 million per year.
Due to the time it took to have children dropped off and picked up by parents, school officials were concerned instructional time was being lost in the classroom.
“We’ve been very concerned about the disproportionate amount of lost instructional time at the ECS buildings,” Passarge said. “With so many very young children being dropped off and picked up by parents in cars, you lose class time as so many children are essentially hand-walked to the proper car.”
Information about bus stops, bus routes and schedules will be available in August.
Below are the four schools affected by this busing change
Creekside Early Childhood School
5070 Tylersville Road
West Chester Township
513-874-0175
Liberty Early Childhood School
6040 Princeton Road
Liberty Township
513-777-6194
Shawnee Early Childhood School
9494 Sterling Drive
West Chester Township
513-779-3014
Wyandot Early Childhood School
7667 Summerlin Blvd.
Liberty Township
513-759-8100
The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty is currently accepting scholarship applications for the 2013-2014 school year for the Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund, which was created to assist student athletes in the Lakota school district with sports fees.
After the Lakota Board of Education made cuts prior to the 2011-2012 school year, athletic fees ballooned to $350 per sport for junior high athletes and to $550 per sport for high school students. Athletic fees for the 2010-2011 school year were $200 for junior high students and $300 for high school students.
The fall deadlines to apply are June 21 for grades 7-8 and Aug. 15 for grades 9-12. The winter sports deadline is Sept. 23 and the spring sports deadline is Jan. 24, for all grades. A limited number of scholarships are available. Only one scholarship per student will be awarded in any given school year.
The Lakota Athletic Participation Fee Fund was established by private donations to assist families, who display a need, by covering half of the participation fee assessed to students participating in sports within Lakota Schools.
Applications will be reviewed by a selection committee comprised of residents from West Chester and Liberty towships. Applications can be obtained online at www.wclfoundation.com/LakotaAthleticParticipationFeeFund.asp. Please submit completed forms to The Community Foundation of West Chester/Liberty, 5641 Union Centre Drive, West Chester 45069.
For more information call the Community Foundation office at 513-874-5450.
Jeffrey Stec, who is the executive director of Citizens for Civic Renewal, was hired to facilitate Lakota’s Community Conversations to help find out what the community wants from its school district. Photo taken during a conversation session Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 at Lakota West High School. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.
Lakota’s new “Community Conversation” program, which began in late September and involves various community members hosting forums to help inform the school district on how to better serve its students, will have another session Monday from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at Coffee, Beans and Brew in Liberty Township.
Currently, Monday night’s session is the only one scheduled this month.
“The goal is reach out into the community, to get to hear from people we often don’t get to see,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said. “If you have an interest in the school district or in the growth of the community … we invite you to either host a conversation or be a part of it.”
Coffee, Beans and Brew is located at 7041 Yankee Road.
For more information on how to host or where to attend a conversation, visit Lakotaonline.com for details.
Jeffrey Stec, who is the executive director of Citizens for Civic Renewal, was hired to facilitate Lakota’s Community Conversations to help find out what the community wants from its school district. Photo taken during a conversation session Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 at Lakota West High School. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.
Lakota’s new “Community Conversation” program, which began in late September and involves various community members hosting forums to help inform the school district on how to better serve its students, already has multiple conversations set up this month.
“The goal is reach out into the community, to get to hear from people we often don’t get to see,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said. “If you have an interest in the school district or in the growth of the community … we invite you to either host a conversation or be a part of it.”
“Community Conversation” schedule for the rest of February:
Tuesday, Feb. 19
6-7:30 p.m.
Miami Voice of America Learning Center
7487 VOA Park Dr. West Chester Hosted by Lee Geiger, Dan Warnke, Don Crain
Tuesday, Feb. 26
7-8:30 p.m.
Independence Elementary
7480 Princeton Road, Liberty Township Hosted by Independence PTA
Thursday, Feb. 28
7-8:30 p.m.
Center Pointe Christian Church
5962 Hamilton-Mason Road, Liberty Township Hosted by Center Pointe Christian Church
For more information on how to host or where to attend a conversation, visit Lakotaonline.com for details.
Lakota school members to be available before board meetings
If you are having trouble getting in touch with a school board member, Lakota Local Schools is taking a new approach to combat that problem.
Joan Powell, the school board president, announced this week that beginning with the next regularly scheduled school board meeting, on Feb. 28, all board members have committed to be available to the community for 15 minutes before the meeting starts.
“There are already two times during the meeting when people can come to the podium and address the board,” Powell said. “That won’t change. But I know sometimes people are uncomfortable doing that, or prefer a more informal exchange with the board members. This will provide them with that opportunity.”
Since September the district has been holding “Community Conversations” throughout West Chester and Liberty townships, meeting with residents in living rooms, coffee shops, churches and other locations. Typically, the Lakota Board of Education is represented at these “conversations.”
Jeffrey Stec, who is the executive director of Citizens for Civic Renewal, was hired to facilitate Lakota’s Community Conversations to help find out what the community wants from its school district. Photo taken during a conversation session Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 at Lakota West High School. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.
Lakota’s new “Community Conversation” program, which began in late September and involves various community members hosting forums to help inform the school district on how to better serve its students, has two more conversations set up this month.
“The goal is reach out into the community, to get to hear from people we often don’t get to see,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said. “If you have an interest in the school district or in the growth of the community … we invite you to either host a conversation or be a part of it.”
Tuesday, Jan. 15
7 to 8:30 p.m.
6787 Eagle Creek Drive, Liberty Township Hosted by Susan McLaughlin
Thursday, Jan. 31
7 to 8:30 p.m.
6788 Eldorado Drive, Liberty Township Hosted by Terri Ryan
The school district is strongly encouraging its community members from all different perspectives to host conversations. There is no time table to when the conversations will end, but the plan is continue these talks for a long period.
For more information on how to host or where to attend a conversation, visit lakotaonline.com for details.
Newly appointed Lakota school board president Joan Powell announced on Monday night that she wouldn’t be running for her seat this fall. She is one of Greater Cincinnati’s longest tenured board members.
“This will be my last year on the board,” Powell said during the regularly scheduled school board meeting.
“16 years is enough. A friend of mine (Sandy Wheatley), who served on the board for 12 years, told me you will know when it is time … I just knew that it was time.”
The 16-year board veteran first took office in 1998 and her tenure on the board coincided with Lakota’s booming student population that has seen the Butler County district become the second largest in Southwest Ohio and the eighth largest in the state.
“She has been able to see the evolution of changes that have occurred in education,” said Karen Mantia, Lakota superintendent. “She also has a grasp of where it is going, so that past experience really guides her to see what the future will look like and we will miss that.”
Powell’s leadership has often been credited for some of Lakota’s many successes, but on occasion she has also been the center of controversy. Most recently, Powell in 2011 publicly criticized fellow board members for not working together and impeding the board’s effectiveness.
During Powell’s stint on the board, Lakota rose both in size and academic prominence, becoming the largest district in Ohio to consistently earn the state department of education’s highest academic rating.
“It has been incredible amount of time. Lakota has doubled in size since I first started on the board. There have been so many changes,” said Powell, 61, who is a realtor with Huff Realty in West Chester, also has two grandchildren and two children.
“I have worked with four different superintendents. I can’t think of how many governors. Lakota has seen a lot of change and I hope Lakota can remain so successful because I really do believe that it holds a valuable place in this community.”
The 17,300-student district has not seen voters pass a new operating levy since 2005 and saw three school tax issues rejected at the ballot in the last two years. The district has cut more than $36 million in personnel and programs in recent years and is anticipated to go back to the voters for a new school tax later this year.
Two other board members, whose terms are up after the year, Ray Murray and Ben Dibble said they were both planning to run for their seats.
Both Murray and Dibble began serving on the board in January of 2010.
The remaining board members Lynda O’Connor and Julie Shaffer were most recently elected in the fall of 2011 and began four-year terms in January of 2012.
Shaffer is currently serving her first term on the school board, while O’Connor is serving her second four-year term.
Jeffrey Stec, who is the executive director of Citizens for Civic Renewal, was hired to facilitate Lakota’s Community Conversations to help find out what the community wants from its school district. Photo taken during a conversation session Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012 at Lakota West High School. Photo by Adam Kiefaber.
Lakota’s new “Community Conversation” program, which began in late September and involves various community members hosting forums to help inform the school district on how to better serve its students, has multiple conversations set up this week.
“The goal is reach out into the community, to get to hear from people we often don’t get to see,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said. “If you have an interest in the school district or in the growth of the community … we invite you to either host a conversation or be a part of it.”
Tuesday, Jan. 8
7 to 8:30 p.m.
6406 Hughes Ridge Lane, Liberty Township Hosted by Kari Gutzwiller
Wednesday, Jan. 9
7 to 8:30 p.m.
Lakota Central Office
5572 Princeton Road, Liberty Township Hosted by Multicultural Comm.
Thursday, Jan. 10
7 to 8 p.m.
VanGorden Elementary
6475 LeSourdsville West Chester Road, Liberty Township
Friday, Jan. 11
1 to 2 p.m.
Northpointe Townhomes
5215 Westwind Ave., Hamilton Hosted by Carl Wynne
The school district is strongly encouraging its community members from all different perspectives to host conversations. There is no time table to when the conversations will end, but the plan is continue these talks for a long period.
For more information on how to host or where to attend a conversation, visit lakotaonline.com for details.
When Lakota students started this school year, they saw fewer teachers, staff specialists and have fewer course options, thanks to about $10.5 million in sweeping budget cuts approved March 12 by the district’s school board.
The Lakota board voted to accept in 2012 some of the deepest budget reductions in the 18,000-student district’s 55-year history. The district is running out of money after voters have rejected three tax hikes in two years.
The board votes brings an end to a rare string of public discussions on hundreds of details in the five budget-cutting plans – pre-school, kindergarten and elementary, junior and senior high, athletics and district-wide operations – brought to the board in the last two months by Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia.
“It saddens all of us that we have to face these issues,” Mantia told an audience of more than 200 residents and school employees in Lakota East High School’s auditorium, “but we are not the federal government, and we can not spend more money than we bring in.” she said.
The cuts in Ohio’s seventh-largest school system were projected to include 141 teaching, classroom specialist, school nurse and school staff positions, and nine school and central office administrators. Also downsized was the amount of time students will have for arts, music and physical education activities; class periods for high school students; and the number of graduation credits required, from 21 to 20.
Lakota officials simultaneously introduced a new core curricular program designed to help meet tougher pending state standards. Officials have contented that the reduced times in arts, music and gym classes will allow for more instruction in core subjects.
Longtime Lakota parent Lisa Babcock criticized the board for shrinking the learning options for her children. She has already taken some of her kids out of Lakota for private schools and may soon remove all her children due to this latest round of budget cuts.
“I know things are going to get worse,” said Babcock.
The board voted on each reduction proposal separately, and the closet margin was a 3-2 vote, with members Julie Shaffer and Joan Powell opposing the out-sourcing of Lakota’s pre-school program to Butler County’s Head Start program.
Lakota officials said the $10.5 million in reductions for 2012-13 will balloon to nearly $11 million due to increased payments for unemployment compensation and severance pay.
At the time of the cuts, Lakota’s annual operating budget was $154 million. Furthermore, after the cuts were announced, the district faced a projected budget shortfall of $14.1 million in 2015.
Lakota Local Schools still faces financial hole
UPDATE: Lakota Schools have slowed but not stopped its financial bleeding, officials said during a school board meeting on Oct. 22.
The school system – impacted by three tax levy defeats in the last two years all resulting in historically deep personnel and program cuts – still faces insolvency in 2014, officials said.
“There’s not much change bottom-line. We are predicting our spending deficit will return,” said Lakota Treasurer Jenni Logan during the district’s five-year, financial forecast, which is mandated bi-annually by state law.
“We are still going to balance our budget this year and need to keep our eye on next year and make decisions,” but Logan, added that “predictability beyond fiscal year 2013 is challenging (and) the long-term financial direction of the district must be addressed.”
She said Lakota faces a $1.8 million projected budget deficit by 2014.
Despite the news last week that Lakota continued its streak of earning the state’s highest academic rating of “Excellent with Distinction” for the 2011-2012 school year, officials at the Butler County district are worried.
Lakota is Southwest Ohio’s second largest school system.
Bus transportation has been eliminated for thousands, classes are larger, and dozens of teacher, building staff positions and central office jobs have been eliminated as budgets have been cut $35 million in the last three school years.
The district’s $146 million operating budget for this school year is less than it spent in 2009. Lakota receives 40 percent of its annual operating budget from state funding and 60 percent from local tax revenue.
Earlier this year, school families in Lakota thought they might see the district try for another school tax hike before the end of 2012. But with the state’s biennium budget proposals coming in early 2013 – and deadline for state funding approval set by that state budget facing a deadline of June 30, 2013 – that unknown budget factor helped prompt district officials’ earlier decision to avoid the ballot this year.
The school board took no budgetary actions after the presentation.
“There are more things we don’t know now than we do know. Additional information is needed before we assume revenue beyond January 2013,” said Logan.
