WestChesterBuzz.com

Lakota lost principals at a high rate in 2012

WestChesterBuzz.com will count down the area’s top 12 stories of 2012 this month, concluding with West Chester’s most discussed topic of the year on Sunday, Dec. 30.

List of Lakota’s principals

Information taken from past articles written by Adam Kiefaber and Michael D. Clark

New changes within the Lakota school district like further teachers cuts, shorter school days for high school and junior high students, a healthier food menu for students, a pilot program to see how personal wireless devices like cell phones could help in the educational process and an influx of new school principals were among the fresh topics when school started Aug. 23, 2012.

In total, 10 of the school district’s 22 schools have new leaders. Many of those have been promoted within, replacing retired principals or others who have moved on to better paying positions in other school districts.

“Our new administrative team that we have in place, some of them have strong ties,” said Suzanna Davis, who is now the principal at Lakota East High School after being promoted from East’s freshman campus.

“Obviously, there is some history here in the district and they have done an outstanding job for us. They have been wonderful in terms of the culture of Lakota and being able to maintain those expectations.”

In addition to Davis, G. Elgin Card was promoted to lead Lakota West High School after previously serving as the principal of West’s Freshman Campus. Other new principals (full list above) include Brad Lovell (Creekside Early Childhood), Paulette Grady (Cherokee Elementary), Joanna Sears (Endeavor Elementary), Christina French (Hopewell Elementary), Ben Brown (Union Elementary), Eric Bauman (Liberty Junior), Stacy Millburg (Lakota East Freshman) and Jason Jackson (Lakota West Freshman).

While attrition fluctuation at any school district is an annual spring event, the extent at Lakota is unusually high in the district’s 55-year history, district officials said.

The leadership drain has officials at the academically top-rated school system worried.

“We have to put a tourniquet on this pretty quickly,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said during a school board meeting in June.

Lakota, with 17,400 students, is the second-largest district in Southwest Ohio (behind Cincinnati Public Schools) and seventh-largest in the state. Lakota is the largest school system among Ohio’s 613 public districts to earn the state’s highest rating – “Excellent with Distinction.”

But historically deep budget cuts in response to a string of tax levy defeats have left Lakota scrambling financially, with less staffing and fewer resources – all reasons cited by departing principals, Mantia said, based on her exit interviews.

“The number one reason is the financial insecurity from the failure of levies,” said Mantia, citing comments from those departing for other jobs.

Another reason for some departures reflects well on Lakota, Mantia said, in reference to extensive training Lakota provides principals. Lakota principals are in demand, she said.

Thomas Ash, a 39-year-veteran of public schools and now director of governmental relations for Ohio’s Buckeye Association of School Administrators, said Lakota is not alone.

“The turnover in building principals reflects both increased opportunities and anticipated public retirement reforms,” said Ash. “This year, about 60 of the superintendent vacancies in Ohio were filled by former school principals.”

“In addition, I would anticipate more retirements throughout the education profession over the next couple of years because of probable changes impacting both cost-of-living allowances and actual pension benefits,’’ Ash said. “Since they will not receive the benefits that they had anticipated a few years ago, they are electing to leave education sooner than they had planned.”

Lakota’s veteran school board member Joan Powell shares Mantia’s concern and she said pay freezes for school administrators – as part of sweeping budget cuts – play a role.

“This exodus of administrators is troubling but not surprising. These individuals have experienced a decrease in their take-home pay over the last five years, while being asked to take on more responsibilities with fewer resources,” Powell said.

“While some turnover is to be expected and can actually keep the organization dynamic, there is a point where you can risk losing the sense of connection and direction.’

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

Tags: Tags: Dr. Keith Kline, Elgin Card, Gary Elgin Card, Joan Powell, Karen Mantia, Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Lakota West principal Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Gary Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Richard Hamilton, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia, West Chester top 12 stories of 2012, West Chester top stories of 2012

Lakota West and Lakota East principals get settled

Michael D. Clark reports:

Being a principal of one of Greater Cincinnati’s largest high schools requires thinking on your feet.

That suits the energetic Elgin Card just fine. Card is in the first days of running the 1,900-student Lakota West High School. When the Butler County school building’s bells ring and students flood hallways, Card is often moving among them.

A recent school day saw Card simultaneously surveying student pedestrian traffic while also engaging a disgruntled teen irritated about being disciplined.

“You shouldn’t have suspended me,” the boy complained.

“I didn’t suspend you,” Card quickly but good-naturely retorted. “You suspended yourself.”

Card is one of two new school principals at Lakota Schools – the second-largest district in Greater Cincinnati.

Suzanna Davis, who is on maternity leave, is the new principal of Lakota East High School.

Together, Card and Davis are the administrative leaders of each high school and their feeder freshman schools, overseeing the education of more than 5,000 Lakota students.

Watching Card in action is Lakota West sophomore Baylee Carter, who likes what she sees.

“He is very active in the school and a great guy who is easy to get along with,” Baylee said. “I like how he makes small talk with students.”

Card is no stranger to Lakota West, having served as an assistant principal there from 2007-2009. He was also a grade-level principal at Hamilton County’s Princeton Schools, where he also taught.

He returned to work in Lakota in September 2011 and earlier this year was promoted to the top job at the high school to become Lakota’s first African-American high school principal in the district’s 54-year history.

Davis too is a Lakota veteran, a plus for the district, said Lakota Board of Education Vice President Julie Shaffer.

“Both Mr. Card and Mrs. Davis … have the rare ability to be well respected by their students, peers, staff and families,” Shaffer said.

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Dr. Keith Kline, Elgin Card, Gary Elgin Card, Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Suzanna Davis, Lakota West, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Lakota West principal Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Gary Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Richard Hamilton, Suzanna Davis

Michael D. Clark reports

The financial woes of one of the area’s highest-rated school districts has helped drive away more than half its principals in the last two school years.

Of Lakota Schools’ 20 building principal positions, seven – 35 percent – have recently resigned due to retirement or other jobs.

That follows the 2010-11 school year, which saw four principals depart, leaving Lakota with a 55 percent turnover rate among its school building leaders since spring 2011.

While attrition fluctuation at any school district is an annual spring event, the extent at Lakota is unusually high in the district’s 55-year history, district officials said.

The leadership drain has officials at the academically top-rated school system worried.

“We have to put a tourniquet on this pretty quickly,” Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said during a recent school board meeting.

The impact from this turnover is hard to gauge.

Lakota maintained it state rating of “Excellent with Distinction” for 2010-11 but the four principal departures began after classes ended in spring 2011. State rankings for the recently completed 2011-12 school year will not be available until August.

Lakota, with 17,400 students, is the second-largest district in Southwest Ohio (behind Cincinnati Public Schools) and seventh-largest in the state. Lakota is the largest school system among Ohio’s 613 public districts to earn the state’s highest rating.

But historically deep budget cuts in response to a recent string of tax levy defeats have left Lakota scrambling financially, with less staffing and fewer resources – all reasons cited by departing principals, Mantia said, based on her exit interviews.

Bus transportation has been eliminated for thousands, classes are larger, 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.

Moreover, voters have rejected three proposed school tax hikes in the last two years. This month Lakota officials announced that the unknown funding levels from the next state budget has prompted them to skip a levy try this fall. (more…)

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

Tags: Tags: Dr. Keith Kline, Elgin Card, Gary Elgin Card, Joan Powell, Karen Mantia, Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Lakota West principal Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Gary Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Richard Hamilton, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

Administrators from a large Chinese school district have requested more than 100 editions of Lakota East High School’s student-generated magazine Spark after its high school principal visited the Liberty Township school last November.

“They want to use the Spark to teach English in their curriculum, what better compliment could you get than that?” said Dean Hume, Lakota East journalism teacher and Spark advisor. “The administrators can say we use this publication to help our teachers teach our students proper grammar, how to write, how to use syntax, how to generate mood and tone, and how to report the news.

“I think it is a grand slam in the 9th inning with two outs for the English department.”

Well before Chinese school administrators requested copies of the award-winning publication, principal Yuan Ye of Jingman No. 1 High School in the Hubei Province of China visited Lakota East to learn more about the educational system in the United States.

During his visit, the principal, who comes from a very test-driven educational system in China, was fascinated by the creativity of the students.

“He was very intrigued about what was going on in our classrooms in particular to the creative and thinking ‘outside-the-box activities’ and how we move our students to be thinkers and not just memorizers,” Lakota East principal Keith Kline said.

“The Chinese are trying to focus more on critical thinking skills, creativity and teamwork and want to get away from their test-driven structure, which is huge for them. It is interesting because our country seems to be going in the opposite direction.”

Kline saw the Chinese educational system firsthand when he visited Yuan Ye’s high school in April. He reported back about the emphasis placed on tests, the length of the school day and the work ethic displayed by the students.

In order to get into Jingman and other high schools, Chinese students must pass a test in the 9th grade. Then, in the 12th grade, students must pass another exam to determine where they can go to college. Failure on either exam leads to an early introduction to the job market.

Chinese high school students also experience longer school days, which begin at 6 a.m., and progresses until an 11:30 lunch, picks back up at 2:30 and lasts until 10 p.m. The only evening students are away from school is Sunday, after they’ve completed mandatory study tables.

“Over there, the work ethic of their students and their society as a whole is much more elevated than it is here,” Kline said. “If I could marry their work ethic with our instruction there would be no stopping us. They are trying to get to where we are instructionally and once they do, that will certainly be a challenge for us as a country.”

During Kline’s visit in China, he showed Yuan Ye the article Spark junior reporter Mohinee Mukherjee wrote about the Chinese educator’s visit. The Chinese school district than decided that Spark could help teach its students the English language and about American teenage culture.

“It is incredible. I get chills just thinking about it,” sophomore Amanda Weisbrod said of the Spark being used as a study tool in China. “We are globally recognized now, not just nationally. To think that some of our stories are going to be read by people from all around world is just really, really awesome.”

While China looks to add some creative courses, students at Lakota East warn against a switch to a more test-driven approach in the United States.

“I am not a big fan of standardized tests. I hate them and I am pretty sure every student here hates them,” junior Emily Chao said. “If we did move towards standardized tests, we would become robots. We would literally just sit there and do stuff, and not to do it well.”

Sophomore Angela Ferguson, whose mom is Chinese, agreed with Chao and her fellow classmates.

“Obviously the Chinese are doing something right by going off their test scores and how it has affected their economy. At the same time, I think that it is placing their students at a real disadvantage because they are learning, but they are not growing,” Ferguson said.

“Schools are always talking about how we could be like China because they are doing so well, but I think if we continue with that mentality it is not going to lead us anywhere good.”

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools, Student achievements |

Tags: Tags: Dr. Keith Kline, Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota East Spark, Lakota East Spark Magazine, Spark, The Spark

For second time this spring, the Lakota Board of Education voted unanimously to promote one of its associate principals to the position of high school principal for the 2012-2013 academic year.

Suzanna Davis, who has served as the associate principal at the Lakota East Freshman Campus since Aug. of 2007, will replace Keith Kline, who is leaving at the end of the school year to take the assistant superintendent job in the West Clermont Local School District.

Davis also served as the assistant principal at the Lakota East Freshman Campus during the 2006-2007 school year. Prior to that, Davis served as an assistant principal at Deer Park Junior/Senior High School from Aug. 2003 to Aug. 2006.

The school board approved the appointment of Davis after Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia made the recommendation, calling Davis “a perfect fit,” during the school board meeting Monday.

“She has a lot of experience in secondary education, she has had a great mentor, she is extremely professional and she is great with secondary kids,” Mantia said. “She is firm, but fair and innovative, so she is definitely the right fit.”

In her new position, Davis will oversee 2,700 students and 140 teachers between the Lakota East high school and freshman campuses.

She will be under a two-year contract that will include a base salary of $100,000. Kline, who was the Lakota East principal since 2007, had a salary of $106,844 in 2011-2012.

“I have had the opportunity to watch Lakota East evolve into a world-class high school, with an outstanding staff, engaged parents, a supportive community and the best high school students in the nation,” Davis said. “I look forward to continuing to build on that strong foundation.”

In April, the school board also approved the promotion of Lakota West Freshman Campus Associate Principal Gary Elgin Card to the position of principal at Lakota West High School. Card will replace current Lakota West Principal Richard Hamilton, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

Card’s two-year contract, effective Aug. 1, 2012, includes a base salary of $100,000. Hamilton’s salary during the 2011-2012 school year is $110,370.

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Dr. Keith Kline, Elgin Card, Gary Elgin Card, Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Suzanna Davis, Lakota West, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Lakota West principal Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Gary Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Richard Hamilton, Suzanna Davis

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.

Lakota to lose both high school principals- With the West Clermont school board’s recent approval of Keith Kline (current principal at Lakota East) as its new assistant superintendent, the Lakota school district will be entering the 2012-2013 school year with different principals at both high schools. Meanwhile, Richard Hamilton, who has served as the principal at Lakota West for the past 13 years, is retiring at the end of the school year in July.

Former Lakota East wrestler to compete in 2012 Olympics – About 10 years ago, Pliev had offers to wrestle at universities throughout the United States. He was coming off back-to-back state and national wrestling titles at Lakota East and seemed destined to accomplish his dream of becoming an Olympian. His journey, however, took a few unique turns.

Mothers of twins grow special bond in West Chester– One of the largest mothers of multiples groups in the nation is right here in West Chester. The local twins club started in 1988 with six members. It has grown to more than 230 members today.

U.S. News ranks Lakota high schools among nation’s best – Lakota high schools made U.S. News & World Report’s list of top-ranked public high schools in the state and nation. Schools were awarded gold, silver or bronze medals based on a range of performance indicators, such as state proficiency standards and how well they prepare students for college. Both schools were among 93 Ohio public high schools to earn a silver medal.

West Chester firefighters have new pact – The West Chester Board of Trustees approved a three-year contract with the township’s fire lieutenants and firefighters last Tuesday. The contract affects 57 full-timers who are represented by the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 3518, and replaces a contract that expired at the end of last year.

AK Steel makes Fortune 500 list – AK Steel, which is headquartered in West Chester, was recently named to this year’s Fortune 500 list of America’s largest corporations. The company was ranked 381st on this year’s list and generated approximately $6.5 billion in revenue in 2011.

West Chester day care child abuser gets 80 years – Dan Horn reported that a Mason man will likely spend the rest of his life in prison for molesting boys at his mother’s in-home day care in West Chester and sharing photos of the abuse over the Internet. A federal judge sentenced Andrew Keith, 29, to 80 years in prison last Wednesday for producing and sharing child pornography.

Sectional tournament update: Lakota teams advance – The Lakota West baseball team, along with the Lakota East and Lakota West softball teams, won their postseason matchups in the sectional tournament last Wednesday. Both baseball teams also advanced to district semifinal games with wins last Thursday. All four teams will play in district semifinal games this week.

Boehner listens to small business owners in Hamilton- House Speaker John Boehner Friday accused President Obama of being “AWOL for about eight months” as he campaigns non-stop for re-election. Boehner’s remarks came during a visit to United Performance Metals here where he listened to the concerns of local small business owners.

Lakota East teacher investigated over prom funds – A Lakota East High School teacher is the focus of an investigation by police in connection with missing funds from the Butler County school’s prom fund. The teacher, who resigned earlier this week, was not named by Lakota school officials in their released statement last Friday.

Fallen West Chester Marine to receive Purple Heart – The body of Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling will return to his Butler County hometown Sunday as the latest recipient of the prestigious Purple Heart Award, military officials said last Friday. The Moeller High School graduate and bomb disposal specialist, 25, was shot in the chest and killed Sunday by someone, possibly a Taliban member, wearing an Afghan National Army uniform – a person supposed to be an ally of U.S. forces.

Posted in: Board of Education, Crime, Election, Government, News, Schools, Sports, Spring sports, Student achievements, Winter Sports |

Tags: Tags: 2012 Summer Olympics, death, Dr. Keith Kline, J.P. Huling, J.P. Huling death, John Boehner, John Boehner Cincinnati, John Boehner photos, John Boehner West Chester, Keith Kline, Khetag Pliev, Khetag Pliev 2012 Summer Olympics, Khetag Pliev Olympics, Khetag Pliev Team Canada, Khetag Pliev wrestling, Lakota East, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota East Sports, Lakota West, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Lakota West sports, military, Richard Hamilton, Twins Club West Chester, U.S. Marine Sgt. John Patrick “J.P.” Huling, United Performance Metals, West Chester Fire Department, West Chester Mothers of Twins & More Club

With the West Clermont school board’s recent approval of Keith Kline as its new assistant superintendent, the Lakota school district will be entering the 2012-2013 school year with different principals at both high schools.

Kline, who has served as the principal at Lakota East since 2007, will serve as the assistant superintendent of administration and personnel at West Clermont. Kline will replace current Assistant Superintendent Al Delgado.

His responsibilities will include recruitment, employee hiring, retention and evaluation, contract negotiations and employee grievances, and liaison to the teachers union.

In his new position, Kline will have the salary of $123,746. This year, Kline’s salary at Lakota East was $106,844.

The job opening for Lakota East principal was posted on lakotaonline.com May 1. Like Kline, the new principal will oversee both the Lakota East main and freshman campuses. Combined, the two schools have approximately 2,700 students.

The job description lists a salary of $91,000-to-$118,000 based on experience. The date of employment is Aug. 1.

Meanwhile, Richard Hamilton, who has served as the principal at Lakota West for the past 13 years, is retiring at the end of the school year in July.

Hamilton’s plan in retirement, which was announced in December of 2011, is to return to coaching.

Next year, he will help coach the Lakota East and Lakota West varsity swimming programs. He has also coached swimming at Glen Oak, Wooster and Princeton high schools, as well as served as an assistant coach at Southern Illinois University.

In April, the school board voted unanimously to promote Gary Elgin Card, associate principal at the Lakota West Freshman Campus, to the position of principal at Lakota West. Card’s two-year contract includes a base salary of $100,000.

This year, Hamilton’s salary was $110,370.

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Dr. Keith Kline, Elgin Card, Gary Elgin Card, Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, Lakota West, Lakota West Freshman Campus, Lakota West principal Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Gary Elgin Card, Lakota West principal Richard Hamilton, Richard Hamilton

Lakota East High School, in conjunction with the United States Southern District Court, will be hosting a naturalization ceremony this Friday, Nov. 4, in the main campus gymnasium.

During the ceremony, students, staff and guests will witness approximately 60 individuals receive their United States citizenship. Lakota East hosted this event in 2008 when 67 individuals from 28 different countries were sworn in as U.S. citizens.

“This is a powerful ceremony that East is very proud to host,” said Keith Kline, principal of Lakota East. “It gives our students a new perspective on the importance of being a U.S. citizen, something others desire and work very hard to achieve.”

East has 57 students representing 15 countries and 13 different languages enrolled in their English as a second language program.

“It is critically important that all our students appreciate the freedoms we are afforded in this country – something no one should take for granted,” Kline said.

Part of the ceremony will include performances by the Eastside Voices and Symphonic Winds (pre-ceremony music starting at 12:30 p.m.).

Others participating in the ceremony include students from American sign language classes, English as a second language program and Lakota East eagle scouts.

Butler Tech students, who are part of the East work and family life program, will prepare a reception for new citizens after the swearing in ceremony.

Magistrate Judge Karen L. Litkovitz will be presiding over the ceremony, which begins at 1 p.m. Members of the Lakota community are welcome to attend.

Posted in: Events, News, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Dr. Keith Kline, Eastside Voices and Symphonic Winds, Keith Kline, Lakota East, Lakota East principal Dr. Keith Kline, Lakota East principal Keith Kline, naturalization ceremony, United States citizenship, United States Southern District Court