WestChesterBuzz.com

Gail Allshouse. Photo provided.

The Lakota Board of Education approved the appointment of Allshouse Monday night. Her salary in her new role, which begins next school year, will be $89,500.

“Gail is an outstanding leader and educator,” said Karen Mantia, Lakota superintendent. “She is the right person to carry on the strong leadership that Clayton has provided at VanGorden.”

Allshouse graduated from Saint Leo University with a bachelor of arts in elementary education. She earned a master of education in reading in 1999 and a master of education in educational administration in 2005, both from Miami University.

She started her career in education as a fifth grade teacher at Donovan Intermediate School in Lebanon. At Lakota schools, Allshouse served as a reading specialist at Adena Elementary School from 1999 to 2007. Since then, Allshouse has been an assistant principal at Freedom, Adena and Endeavor elementary schools.

Clayton Ash, who is retiring as principal of VanGorden Elementary School, started his career in education at Lakota in 1981 as a sixth grade teacher at Liberty Junior School. He taught for 11 years at both Liberty and Woodland Elementary School before becoming assistant principal at Woodland in 1992. He was named principal at Liberty Elementary in 1999 and became principal at VanGorden in 2007.

Ash graduated from Bowling Green State University with a bachelor of science in elementary education. He also earned a master of education and administration from Miami University.

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Clayton Ash, Gail Allshouse, Karen Mantia, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota’s VanGorden Elementary School, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia, VanGorden Elementary School

New standards will change teaching methods, tests

Michael D. Clark

This year marks the beginning of sweeping changes in the way Ohio students learn.

The largest wave of school reforms in decades is headed to your child’s classroom, likely impacting how every K-12 student learns. This “perfect storm” of school changes – most starting at the beginning of the 2013-14 school year in August – is designed to better prepare students for life after high school.

Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia. Photo taken by Tony Jones.

The changes brought on by adapting national “core curriculum” standards will challenge students and are designed to prepare “students for college and careers,” says Mason School Associate Superintendent Amy Spicher.

“Kids will have to use higher thinking skills, and the tests will be more rigorous,’’ Spicher says. “And they will have to explain their reasoning behind their answers.”

Among changes coming:

• Students in all grades will be tested more often using in-class computers. They will apply what they learn to solving more real-life problems as part of their math, science and English instruction.
• For the first time, third-graders will be held to higher reading standards. If they don’t achieve them, they will be held back.
• Parents will have assurances that the teachers and “intervention specialists” helping their children in reading and other subjects have met new, state-mandated qualifications.
• Teachers and principals will have annual job performance evaluations tied to uniform state criteria. Salary increases will be based on meeting those criteria.
• Parents will have a better idea of the comparative quality of their child’s school when the state begins phasing in “A-F” letter grades rather than the current vague category labels that have been in place since 1999.

“I like the direction of the reforms,’’ says Lakota schools parent Kathy Cook, who is PTO president at Plains Junior School in Butler County. “It will mean more expanded answers for students and showing what they know.” (more…)

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Bill Coley, Karen Mantia, Kathy Cook, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

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.

Gary Elgin Card, who served as the Lakota West Freshman Campus Associate Principal last year, was promoted to the position of principal at Lakota West High School. Card replaced retired Lakota West Principal Richard Hamilton. Photo taken by Tony Jones in Sept. of 2012.

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

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.

Karen Mantia
Lakota Local Enrollment: 17,409
State rating 2010-11: Excellent w/ Distinction
Salary: $165,000
(Retire-rehire)

Superintendents’ benefits are best in class- Denise Amos of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported last week that after Ohio cut nearly $2 billion from public-school budgets over the last two years, districts throughout the state cut hundreds of teaching jobs and froze teacher salaries. Many superintendents and treasurers also froze their salaries, sharing in the pain. However, many top school executives received perks in compensation packages that most other educators don’t receive and that many in private business don’t get.

Liberty Township fire rating upgraded – Sue Kiesewetter reported last week for The Cincinnati Enquirer that Liberty Township’s fire rating has been upgraded by two categories by the Insurance Services Office. Effective Oct. 1 the township will be rated at a fire protection class 4, up from the class 6 rating it now holds. The ratings are oftentimes a factor in the premium structure of many insurance providers.

Students file off their bus and into the Cincinnati Art Museum for a field trip, Oct. 2. Photo provided by The Cincinnati Enquirer.

Field trips might as well be ancient history- Michael D. Clark reported last week that no one saw it coming at the time, but when then-President George W. Bush came to Butler County in 2002 to sign the historic No Child Left Behind act, he also signed the death warrant for many school field trips.

Early voting has begun – Last Tuesday was the first day Ohioans could vote. In effort to help voters, Cincinnati.com has everything you need to know to help you vote – plus some cool fun stuff, too.

Lakota East junior Bobby Brown ran for 89 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries in a 28-7 loss against Sycamore Oct. 5, 2012. Photo taken by Barb Trimble of TrimPhotoAndVideo.com.

Sycamore shuts down Lakota East in 28-7 win– Many in the region considered it to be the game of week, Lakota East however couldn’t beat out Greater Miami Conference opponent Sycamore – losing 28-7 Friday night.

Humana adding 200 jobs in West Chester, Springdale – Cliff Peale reported last week that Humana’s mail-order pharmacy service is hiring 200 new jobs in the region’s northern reaches. The pharmacist, pharmacy tech, inventor management and shipping jobs will be at the West Chester distribution center and Springdale offices of RightSource, which is operated by Humana.

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: employment, hiring, humana, inventor management, jobs, Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, mail-order pharmacy, pharmacy tech, shipping, springdale, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia, West Chester

The Lakota School District will be taking a survey among both parents and other community residents, to assess the progress of instructional technology initiatives across the district. The survey will assess how the district uses instructional technology for educational purposes.

• New to Lakota: School district adjusting to changes

Data from this survey will be analyzed to create an overall picture of technology use in Lakota schools for the purposes of district technology planning.

The survey will be distributed to parents of students this week by email. A link to the survey will also be available soon on the school district’s website, at www.lakotaonline.com.

For more information, call the district’s central office at 513-874-5505.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: Lakota, Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota student focus group, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West High School

Emma King hugs her mom, Mandy, before getting on the bus for first day of school at Adena Elementary last August (2011). Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

Local students in grades 1-12 will return to school this morning, as the Lakota school district begins its 2012-2013 academic year.

On the first day, students will have to adjust to a few changes including shorter school days for high school and junior high students, a healthier breakfast and lunch menu, as well as being allowed to use personal wireless devices for educational purposes.

• New to Lakota: Healthier food options
• New to Lakota: Wireless devices allowed in classroom
• New to Lakota: Shorter school days

As the Lakota community learns about the changes Thursday, WestChesterBuzz.com will interview the school district’s staff and students to find out what is being said within our local school walls.

Be sure to click on links provided to find out more about the changes and to visit WestChesterBuzz.com this afternoon for more on the story.

On another note, not all students begin class today, kindergarteners will have their first day next Tuesday, Aug. 28.

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

Tags: Tags: Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota academic schedule, Lakota Bell Times, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota busing, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota food, Lakota food options, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota reductions, Lakota school menus, Lakota student focus group, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, reductions, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

During a focus group at the Lakota Central Office May 3, 2012, it was the students teaching Lakota administrators on how to better run the state’s seventh-largest school system. The focus group influenced the Lakota Board of Education to allow the use of wireless devices in the classroom. In picture, Lakota student Jennifer Shafer shares her opinion. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

When Lakota high school students arrive for the first day of school Thursday, they will be able to use something in the classroom that they haven’t been able to use before – their cell phone.

Based on the recommendation by students of the state’s seventh-largest school system, the Lakota school board approved revised policies that now allow its students to use personal Wireless Communication Devices (WCDs) in school.

Students voiced their desire to use WCDs, which include laptop computers, tablets, e-book readers, some iPods and all types of mobile phones, during student-led focus groups with Lakota officials. The focus groups took place in May, as the school district looked for more effective ways to educate its students.

While the students got their wish, there is a catch, as they can only use their wireless devices for instructional purposes and with the permission of a teacher.

Students will also be able to use the devices before and after school, during lunch, and in between classes as long as they’re not creating a distraction, disruption or otherwise interfering with the educational environment.

• New to Lakota: Healthier food options
• New to Lakota: Shorter school days

“This is something we’ve been working on for a long time,” said Ben Dibble, president of the Lakota Board of Education. “Wireless devices are part of many workplaces and part of daily life, and they need to be part of schools as well, especially with all the new ways they can be used in the classroom.”

Beginning this fall, Lakota East and Lakota West high schools will be piloting a “Bring Your Own Technology” initiative. The data collected from the initiative will provide the district a model for a broader rollout of the program.

“A major impetus for this came from the students,“ Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia said. “They told us last year that they have these devices and they want to use them in class, for learning, just as they use them in so many other areas of their lives.”

Obviously, there will be restrictions on student use of WCDs. For example, students will not be allowed to use devices in locker rooms or bathrooms. They will also be required to turn off their phones during tests or throughout testing week.

Students, who violate the district’s policy on WCDs, may be subject to discipline and may have their device confiscated. Illegal activity will prompt the district to alert local law enforcement.

For more information on rules and restrictions of WCDs in the classroom, visit lakotaonline.com.

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota East, Lakota East High School, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota student focus group, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Lakota West High School, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

The Lakota Board of Education, minus two of its five board members, unanimously approved the hiring of Randy Oppenheimer Monday as a consultant to fill its open community relations position.

Randy Oppenheimer. Photo provided.

Oppenheimer was approved by the school board Monday on the recommendation of Superintendent Karen Mantia, who was absent from the board meeting due to a death in the family.

“This is a critical position,” Mantia stated in a press release from the school district. “It’s much more than just sending out information about the schools, although that’s important. We also need to do a lot of listening to our community and that’s what Randy is known for.

“We were very pleased to find someone with his skills.”

Oppenheimer developed “his skills” serving as the community relations director at the nearby Fairfield school district from 2000 to 2002 and from 2007 to 2011. He has also served as the board chairman of Partners in Prime, which is senior citizens agency that recently merged with Community First Solutions.

He has also served as the editor of the Fairfield Echo and as the city editor of the Middletown Journal.

In his new role, Oppenheimer will be responsible for planning and carrying out all of the district’s communications initiatives. He will also oversee media relations, the district’s website, and the school district’s relationships with community groups.

Oppenheimer will be paid $67,000 under a 50-week consulting contract. As a consultant, Oppenheimer is not considered a district employee and will not receive benefits.

It is unclear what role Elliot Grossman will serve in the Lakota school district after serving as its community relations consultant since October. Lakota Assistant Superintendent Robb Vogelmann said that role still needs to be discussed with Mantia.

Details regarding Grossman’s role and future compensation will not be known until Mantia returns to her office, which may not be until next week.

Grossman was brought in by the school district after Lakota gave former community relations director Laura Kursman a $90,000 settlement to end her employment. As part of the agreement, Kursman cannot apply for future Lakota job openings.

From October 2011 to July 16, 2012, the school district paid Grossman just more than $73,000 for his services.

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Elliot Grossman, Executive Director of School Community Relations, Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Laura Kursman, Mantia, Randy Oppenheimer, Randy Oppenheimer lakota, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia

Robb Vogelmann, who was named the principal at Liberty Junior in 2009, was approved by the Lakota Board of Education as the school district's new assistant superintendent June 25, 2012. Photo taken by Adam Kiefaber.

The Lakota Board of Education approved at its regularly scheduled meeting Monday the hiring of a new assistant superintendent and a new open enrollment policy, which allows children of Lakota employees who don’t live in the school district to attend Lakota schools.

Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia recommended Robb Vogelmann, who was named principal at Liberty Junior School three years ago, for the district’s open assistant superintendent position.

The board then unanimously approved Vogelmann, who will be Lakota’s only assistant superintendent after Ron Spurlock and Lon Stettler announced their retirements in December.

“The demands of the position will be challenging,” Mantia said. “But Mr. Vogelmann is perfected suited for this difficult role.

“He has a perfect handle on trends in education, a solid understanding of what it takes to run a great school and cares deeply about this community.”

Prior to being principal at Liberty Junior, Vogelmann served as an assistant principal at Lakota East High School since 2002. Prior to that, he was a math teacher at Liberty Junior since 1997.

“I am very grateful to be part of the dynamic leadership of this district,” said Vogelmann, who will earn a base salary $116,000. “I just hope to continue to work hard and keep the tradition of Lakota and the badge of honor that it carries with its name of quality education.

“To be able to represent the district as a whole and be one of the leaders is the biggest accomplishment of my career at this point.”

The decision to fill only one of the assistant superintendent positions was made shortly after voters rejected the third proposed Lakota school tax levy in two years. As a result, the school district has been forced to cut $35 million from its operating budget during the past three school years.

The school board has decided to not seek another levy this November.

Meanwhile, also at Monday’s meeting, the board approved an open enrollment policy.

Lakota officials claim that the district has not had the capacity to accept students who live outside the district because population growth had been so steep for so long.

However, just this past year, enrollment dropped 3 percent as 500 fewer students enrolled into Lakota schools compared to the 2010-2011 school year.

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

Tags: Tags: Karen Manita, Karen Mantia, Lakota, Lakota assistant superintendent Robb Vogelmann, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota reductions, Lakota school board, Lakota school levy, Lakota Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia, Lakota West, Liberty Junior, Liberty Junior Robb Vogelmann, Liberty Junior School, Robb Vogelmann, Ron Spurlock, Superintendent Dr. Karen Mantia, superintendent Karen Mantia

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.

Keith Kline, who has served as the principal at Lakota East since 2007, is leaving to take the assistant superintendent of administration and personnel position at West Clermont. Photo provided.

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.

Richard Hamilton is retiring after being principal at Lakota West for the past 13 years. Photo taken by Tony Jones.

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