WestChesterBuzz.com

As many parents were on their way to pick up their children from Cherokee Elementary School Wednesday, a car struck a student just a half-mile from the school at around 4 p.m.

The female student was on her bicycle crossing from the south side of Kyles Station Road to Aspen Trails Boulevard when an Acura SUV hit her, according to Ohio Highway Patrol Sgt. Brian Bost.

The incident took place only one-tenth of a mile before the school zone starts.

The speed limit on Kyles Station in the Cherokee Elementary school zone is 45 mph during non-school hours and 20 mph when school is in session. According to Bost and the driver, the car was traveling at 30 mph when it struck the girl.

While the investigation is still ongoing, it doesn’t appear that charges will be filed against the driver. The lone witness at the scene told Bost that “there wasn’t anything that could have been done” and that “the girl just darted out in front of the car.”

Furthermore, after the incident took place, Bost said the girl admitted that she wasn’t sure if she checked that side of the street before crossing.

Bost also described the girl to be coherent and was sitting up after the being hit. Bost later went to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Liberty Campus to visit the student and was “almost positive” that she would be released that night.

On Thursday, Cherokee Elementary School principal Paulette Grady confirmed in an email sent out to parents that the injuries to the student were not serious.

“The safety of our Cherokee Cheetahs is our number one priority. Together, we can ensure their safety by frequently reminding our children, to walk, ride their bikes, or scooters directly home after school, always to look both ways before crossing the street, and to be mindful of their surroundings. Our diligence and daily safety reminders are very important. Our students do hear us. Even though we take every precaution, accidents do happen.

Yesterday, one of our students was struck by a car. This accident occurred as many parents were on their way to Cherokee to pick up their children. We have been advised that the injuries to this student were not serious. The Cherokee staff and parents came together to assist in any way they could.

I would like to thank all of our families for following our safety procedures at arrival and dismissal. Our Cherokee community is awesome in every way.”

After Lakota cut busing back to state minimum levels, Cherokee parents complained at the start of the 2011-2012 school year about the safety of students without the aid of a crosswalk or crossing guards. (more…)

Posted in: Levy news, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: busing, busing cuts, Butler County Sheriff's Office, car accident, Cherokee Elementary, Cherokee Elementary School, Craig Schmidt, levy cuts, student struck by car, student struck by car Cherokee Elementary, teacher, teacher struck by car

A car stuck a child Wednesday afternoon not far from Cherokee Elementary School, according to a report by the Pulse Journal.

The Journal cited Butler County Sheriff’s dispatchers when reporting that a car on Kyles Station Road at Aspen Trails Boulevard hit a female juvenile at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Furthermore, the girl was reported to be on a bicycle crossing Kyles Station when an Acura SUV struck her.

The Journal also reported that the child was taken to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Liberty Campus with non-life threatening injuries.

• Pulse Journal: Child struck on bike near school

This is the second incident reported by the media involving a person being struck by a car near Cherokee Elementary since the Lakota school district decided to cut busing to the state minimum level.

On Sept. 15, 2011, a Cherokee Elementary teacher was struck by car while directing morning traffic. He was not taken to the hospital and the driver Craig Schmidt, 41, of Liberty Township drove off after striking the teacher with his car. Witnesses, however, were able to provide an accurate description of the vehicle to Butler County deputies.

Schmidt was later stopped near the intersection of State Route 747 and Hamilton-Mason Road, which is about four miles south of the school. He was later charged with reckless operation and negligent assault.

Less than a month prior to that incident, on the first day of school Aug. 26, Cherokee Elementary unveiled a new drop-off system. That morning, parents complained about the safety of students crossing the street since there wasn’t a crosswalk.

The latest incident on Wednesday, the Pulse reported that there wasn’t a crosswalk. According to the Pulse, the incident took place less than a mile west of the school.

Posted in: Levy news, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: busing, busing cuts, Butler County Sheriff's Office, car accident, Cherokee Elementary, Cherokee Elementary School, Craig Schmidt, levy cuts, teacher, teacher struck by car

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.

Mellow Mushroom in West Chester set to open on Labor Day – The owner of the Mellow Mushroom in West Chester said last week that his restaurant is looking to hire more than 100 employees and is targeting Labor Day, Sept. 3, as its opening date. The location of the Mellow Mushroom is in the former Rafferty’s at 9238 Floer Drive and Union Centre Boulevard.

Portion of LeSourdesville-West Chester Road reopens – The Butler County Engineer’s Office reported Tuesday that LeSourdsville-West Chester Road has reopened. A portion of the road, .6 mile north of Cherry Lane Farm Drive/Lyonhil Drive and ten feet south of Beckett Ridge Boulevard, had been closed since July 23.

Paulette Grady. Photo provided.

Paulette Grady named principal at Cherokee Elementary- The Lakota Board of Education approved the appointment of Paulette Grady to principal of Cherokee Elementary School during a special meeting last Monday. Grady had previously served as Cherokee’s assistant principal and will replace Jennifer Forren, who left to take an administration job in the Loveland school district.

West Chester Fresh Market to open Aug. 22 – A public relations specialist, who works for The Fresh Market, announced last Tuesday evening that its new West Chester store will open Aug. 22. Jordan Worrall of BRAVE Public Relations said there will be a “large-scale grand opening event” when the business, 7720 Voice of America Centre Drive, opens its doors at 9 a.m. that day.

Local athlete featured in Cincinnati Children’s ad – This summer, Cincinnati Children’s has been airing an advertisement featuring 2011 Lakota West graduate and now Michigan volleyball star Lexi Dannemiller, who went Children’s for rehab on her knees. Lexi’s mom, Maria, who was also interviewed for the commercial, discussed the experience with WestChesterBuzz.com.

Black Cherry Chocolate Chip is Graeter’s ‘Mystery Flavor’ – Graeter’s revealed its latest “mystery flavor” last Wednesday. The new flavor is … Black Cherry Chocolate Chip. According to Graeter’s Facebook page, it is all natural black cherry flavored ice cream loaded with black cherries and its signature dark chocolate chunks.

Joe Morgan talks baseball in West Chester – There to interact with fans and help publicize his new Honda dealership in Monroe, Hall of Fame second baseman Joe Morgan visited the Sports Gallery in West Chester last Thursday night for an autograph session. While at the event, the senior advisor of the Cincinnati Reds talked about the current team.

Swine flu confirmed at Butler County Fair – The Centers for Disease Control confirmed last Thursday that nine of 10 suspected influenza cases at the Butler County Fair have tested positive for the H3N2v swine flu. That puts Butler County in the lead for confirmed H3N2v cases so far this year throughout the country.

Suspect, who is being described as a heavy set male with a European accent, used credit cards he stole from lockers at West Chester fitness clubs to purchase electronics, police say. Photo provided.

Suspect wanted for stealing credit cards from local gyms – The West Chester Police Department is looking for information to help identify a suspect, who is wanted for taking credit cards out of lockers at local fitness clubs in West Chester. The suspect, who is being described as a heavy set male with a European accent, was able to get into locked lockers at both Urban Active and LA Fitness in West Chester on July 21 and 22.

Music retailer opening at Bridgewater Falls in late August – A music retailer featuring guitars, amps, drums, keyboards, microphones and more is expected to open in the Bridgewater Falls Lifestyle Shopping Center in late August. Play on This! specializes in music wares and wearables and is the nation’s only authorized retailer for Two Old Hippies merchandise.

Returning starters primed for fast start for Lakota East – With nine returning starters on offense, including a junior quarterback who was a backup at this time last summer, Lakota East head coach Rick Haynes feels that his team should get off to a fast start in 2012. WestChesterBuzz.com previews the season, as summer practice officially began last week.

Expectations are high at Lakota West – The Firebirds are hoping to return to the postseason after it has suffered back-to-back losing seasons. The main question heading into the season, however, is who will be the quarterback? WestChesterBuzz.com previews the season, as summer practice officially began last week.

Posted in: Board of Education, Business, Crime, Fall sports, News, Schools, Sports |

Tags: Tags: Butler County Fair swine flu, Cherokee Elementary School, Fresh Market, Fresh Market West Chester, Graeter's mystery flavor, Graeter's West Chester, H3N2v swine flu Ohio, Joe Morgan, Joe Morgan Cincinnati Reds, Joe Morgan signing, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East football, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West football, Lakota West sports, Lexi Dannemiller, Mellow Mushroom, Mellow Mushroom West Chester, Michigan volleyball, Paulette Grady, Paulette Grady Cherokee Elementary, Play on This, Play on This Bridgewater Falls, University of Michigan volleyball, West Chester fitness club thief

The Lakota Board of Education approved the appointment of Paulette Grady to principal of Cherokee Elementary School during a special meeting Monday.

Grady had previously served as Cherokee’s assistant principal and will replace Jennifer Forren, who left to take an administration job in the Loveland school district.

In her new role, Grady will receive a base salary of $89,500 for three years.

Paulette Grady. Photo provided.

Prior to serving at Cherokee, Grady has worked in the Lakota school district since 1989 and has been a teacher at Shawnee and Liberty elementary schools and has served as an assistant principal at Woodland Elementary School.

She also has served as an adjunct professor at Xavier and Miami universities.

During her time at Lakota, Grady has received several awards including the West Chester Kiwanis Lakota Teacher of the Year and the Lakota Parent Advisory Group Inclusion Award.

• Lakota losing principals at high rate
• Lakota names four new principals
• Suzanna Davis named principal at Lakota East High School
• Elgin Card named principal at Lakota West High School

She received a bachelor of science in early childhood education from Salem College in Salem, W.Va.; a master of education from Xavier; and a master of educational leadership from Miami.

Cherokee, located at 5345 Kyles Station Road in Liberty Township, has about 800 pupils in second through sixth grades.

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Cherokee Elementary School, Lakota Board of Education, Paulette Grady, Paulette Grady Cherokee Elementary

Cincinnati Enquirer Denise Smith Amos reports:

About half the nation’s public schools failed to meet federal No Child Left Behind progress goals, a national study showed Thursday, adding grist to federal policymakers’ arguments to give waivers to states to change the standards for “adequate yearly progress” in schools.

Ohio, which plans to apply for a waiver, did better than the nation: 60 percent of its schools met federal goals in the last school year, but half its districts failed to.

Lakota Local Schools, Cincinnati’s second largest school district, had nine of its 20 schools fail to make federal annual academic progress goals.

• Database: Local ‘No Child’ ratings
• Cincinnati Enquirer: Local schools fail ‘No Child Left Behind’ goals

Among those not meeting the federal goals includes Creekside Early Childhood School, Endeavor Elementary School, Independence Elementary School, Cherokee Elementary School, Heritage Elementary School, Liberty Early Childhood School, Union Elementary School, Wyandot Early Childhood School and Lakota East High School.

Besides Creekside, Endeavor and Independence, those same schools failed to meet progress goals in 2010.

Schools that failed to meet progress goals in 2010, but met them in 2011 includes Freedom Elementary, VanGorden Elementary School and Lakota West High School.

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Cherokee Elementary School, Creekside Early Childhood School, Endeavor Elementary School, Freedom Elementary, Heritage Elementary School, Independence Elementary School, Lakota, Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota schools, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Liberty Early Childhood School, No Child Left Behind, Union Elementary School, VanGorden Elementary School, Wyandot Early Childhood School

The Lakota school district posted a release on its website Tuesday, vowing that it is taking additional steps to make it even safer and more orderly for students who get to school in private vehicles or on foot or bicycles.

In the release, the school district said that is working with West Chester and Liberty townships as well as Butler County on the following initiatives:

• Training and expanding the number of crossing guards.

• Developing recommended routes to each school – with safety in mind — for students who ride bicycles or walk.

• Increasing and improving traffic signs and signals near schools.

• Training students to be safe as they walk or bike to school.

• Releasing students who walk home from school after students who are picked up in cars.

• Placing speed-detection signs in areas in Liberty Township with heavy pedestrian and vehicular traffic to increase drivers’ awareness of their speed.

• Arranging for police and sheriff’s deputies to direct traffic near eight schools, instead of school staff doing so. In West Chester, the schools are Adena Elementary, Freedom Elementary, Endeavor Elementary, Union Elementary and Heritage Elementary. In Liberty, the schools are East High School, Independence Elementary and Woodland Elementary.

On Friday, district officials discussed those measures with officials from the township administrations, the West Chester Police Department, the Butler County Sheriff’s Office and the Butler County Engineer’s Office.

According to the district, the meeting had been scheduled before a parent hit a Cherokee Elementary School teacher with his car Thursday. (more…)

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

Tags: Tags: busing, busing cuts, Butler County Engineer's Office, Butler County Sheriff's Office, Butler County Sheriff’s Office, car accident, Cherokee Elementary, Cherokee Elementary School, Craig Schmidt, levy cuts, teacher, teacher struck by car, West Chester Police Department

A 58-year-old male teacher at Cherokee Elementary was treated for minor injuries after being struck by a vehicle in the school’s parking lot this morning around 9:15 a.m. The teacher, who was helping to direct cars, children and parents, was treated at the scene by Liberty Township Squad members and did not require to be transported to the hospital.

The car also bumped into a custodian, who was not hurt.

“The safety of students, staff and visitors is paramount and safety protocols on the school grounds, especially as children and all visitors are entering and exiting, will be enforced,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said.

The driver of the vehicle, Craig Schmidt, 41, of Liberty Township drove off after striking the teacher with his car. Witnesses, however, were able to provide an accurate description of the vehicle to Butler County deputies.

Schmidt was later stopped near the intersection of State Route 747 and Hamilton-Mason Road, which is about four miles south of the school. The driver has been cited to Butler County Area II Court in Hamilton and has been charged with reckless operation and negligent assault.

“Our main concern is for the safety of our children and parents as well as the safety of our staff who are directing the traffic in our parking lot,” wrote Cherokee Principal Jennifer Forren and Assistant Principal Paulette Grady.

After having its levy fail last November, the Lakota school district decided to cut busing to the state minimum level. The busing cuts will save the district approximately $2.8 million this school year.

Those cuts affect more than 7,800 students and have caused long traffic lines during the morning and afternoon drop-off times. According to a release from the school district, more than 800 pupils enter and exit Cherokee each day. Furthermore, about 18 staff members are involved in the drop-off and pick-up process.

It is unclear, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer, if Lakota officials will be able to restore any of the busing should the new operating levy be approved Nov. 8. If passed, the 4.75-mill tax levy would bring in $12.6 million annually to the district and will increase taxes approximately $147 annually on a $100,000 house.

On the first day of school, Aug. 26, Cherokee Elementary unveiled a new drop-off system. That morning, parents complained about the safety of students crossing the street. The school still doesn’t have a crosswalk or crossing guards.

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

Tags: Tags: busing, busing cuts, Butler County Sheriff's Office, car accident, Cherokee Elementary, Cherokee Elementary School, Craig Schmidt, levy cuts, teacher, teacher struck by car