WestChesterBuzz.com

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.”

• Community has open conversation about Lakota’s present and future

The next school board meeting is at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 28, at the district’s central office at 5572 Princeton Road, in Liberty Township.

For more information on how to host or where to attend a “conversation,” visit lakotaonline.com for details.

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

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

By Adam Kiefaber and Michael D. Clark

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.

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

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

Cincinnati Enquirer’s Michael D. Clark reports:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Those campaigning to convince Lakota residents to hike their school taxes are confident voters will separate the recent infighting on the school board from the district’s financial needs for more tax money, according to a story from Cincinnati Enquirer education reporter Michael D. Clark.

Below is a portion of the article:

When asked about what impact the unusually public rift on the board might have on the tax levy campaign, Sandy Wheatley – a former Lakota school board member and now spokeswoman for the schools’ pro-levy group – says “none.”

“Boards of education have differences of opinion all the time,” Wheatley says.

“We have worked hard to elevate the discussion to a level that talks about the strength and reputation of both our community and school district and what would that mean to our community if we face a third levy defeat (in two years).”

The “infighting” began when a flier, written by Lakota Board of Education President Joan Powell, endorsed two other candidates running for school board rather than incumbent candidate Lynda O’Connor.

Also, in the flier, Powell wrote: “The past four years have been the toughest of my 14-year tenure on the Lakota board. You might presume that is due to the financial and other challenges before us, but it is not. Rather it is being a part of a board that does not work together and in doing so reduces its own effectiveness.”

She then continued to note that “we need a board that does not send mixed messages and that is willing to make the tough calls, regardless of their own personal consequences,” before she endorsed two candidates – former school board member Jamie Green and Julie Shaffer. (more…)

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

Tags: Tags: election 2011, Jamie Green, Joan Powell, Joan Powell flier, Julie Shaffer, Lakota school board, Lakota school board election, Lakota school board flier, Lucas Hall, Lynda O’Connor, Mark Etterling, NoLakota, Ohio election 2011, Ray Murray, Rich Hoffman, West Chester election

The infighting among Lakota school board members continued to boil Monday evening during its public meeting, according Cincinnati Enquirer education reporter Michael D. Clark.

The “infighting” began when a flier, written by Lakota Board of Education President Joan Powell, endorsed two other candidates running for school board rather than incumbent candidate Lynda O’Connor.

NoLakota spokesman Rich Hoffman posted the flier on his blog, Overmanwarrior’s Wisdom, last Monday, Oct. 17.

In the flier, Powell – who is not up for re-election to the governing board’s two open seats, wrote:

“The past four years have been the toughest of my 14-year tenure on the Lakota board. You might presume that is due to the financial and other challenges before us, but it is not. Rather it is being a part of a board that does not work together and in doing so reduces its own effectiveness.”

She then goes on to note that “we need a board that does not send mixed messages and that is willing to make the tough calls, regardless of their own personal consequences,” before she endorsed two candidates – former school board member Jamie Green and Julie Shaffer.

According to Clark, Powell singled out O’Connor in later comments to the Enquirer. When pressed to specify an example of O’Connor’s alleged actions as a board member, Powell said “I’d rather not comment on Lynda’s behavior … this is about inappropriate behavior that has gone on that makes the board ineffective.”

O’Connor fired back last week in an email to the Enquirer lashing out at both Powell and member Ray Murray, who also criticized O’Connor.

“Unfortunately, Joan has made it clear, even in her letter, that to her, open discussion and debate suggest that the board can’t work together. Only unanimous decisions are acceptable,” wrote O’Connor.

O’Connor used the board meeting’s comment portion to say “as a board member I will continue to speak up. Bullying doesn’t have any more place in the board room than it does on the school playground.”

Murray followed and declined to address O’Connor’s comments, saying “I’m not going to stoop low.”

Powell then spoke, saying “it’s not easy when you have words in put in your mouth that you never said and this has been a tough week all around.”

Among the audience of more than 60 was board candidate Mark Etterling, one of five people seeking a board seat along with candidate Luke Hall.

Etterling criticized Powell for mailing her flier and he said her words “indicates that she doesn’t like such dissension” on the board.

The flier will likely be discussed again Wednesday when the school board candidates will participate in a forum at the Lakota central office. The forum is scheduled to take place from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For more on the story, visit Cincinnati.com’s posts “Rifts open on Lakota school board” and “Lakota board members spar.”

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

Tags: Tags: election 2011, Jamie Green, Joan Powell, Joan Powell flier, Julie Shaffer, Lakota school board, Lakota school board election, Lakota school board flier, Lucas Hall, Lynda O’Connor, Mark Etterling, NoLakota, Ohio election 2011, Ray Murray, Rich Hoffman, West Chester election

Lakota Board of Education members continued interviewing applicants for the Butler County school system’s superintendent position Friday and will hold more interviews Saturday, according to Cincinnati.com.

Here is the rest of the report from Cincinnati.com:

The school board this week began holding executive sessions and closing meetings to the public as allowed under Ohio law for boards discussing personnel matters such as hiring a superintendent.

Ben Dibble, board member supervising the superintendent search, said the board is meeting at the Wingate Hotel, 7500 Tylers Place Blvd., West Chester Township, instead of at its Central Office in Liberty Township so “these important discussions (are) in an environment that provides privacy and will have minimal distractions.”

In December, members of the Lakota school board debated if the district should pay Hudepohl and Associates $50,000 for its search to find its replacement for Mike Taylor, who retired as the school’s district superintendent at the end of January.

School board members Joan Powell, Ben Dibble and Paul Lohr voted in favor of spending the money for the search firm, while members Ray Murray and Lynda O’Connor voted against the hiring of the firm and thought the district shouldn’t spend the money.

After Taylor’s official retirement took place, Ron Spurlock took over the position on an interim basis. Prior to his appointment, Spurlock has served as the assistant superintendent for the past four years.

For more information about Lakota’s superintendent search, visit lakotaonline.com.

(Photo: Principal and Managing Director of Hudepohl and Associates Gary Hudepohl gave a presentation updating the current status for the new Lakota superintendent to the Lakota Board of Education during board meeting in late March)

Posted in: Board of Education, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Ben Dibble, Gary Hudepohl, Hudepohl and Associates, Joan Powell, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota superintendent search, Lakota West, Lynda O'Connor, Mike Taylor, Paul Lohr, Ray Murray, Ron Spurlock

Principal and Managing Director of Hudepohl and Associates Gary Hudepohl gave a presentation updating the current status for the search for Lakota’s new superintendent to the Lakota Board of Education during tonight’s meeting.

Hudepohl (photo) discussed his firm’s strategy for the search in front a packed house of Lakota parents, teachers and students, who were at Lakota Central Office to learn more about the upcoming cuts to the 2011-2012 school year.

The search firm has already begun making recruiting calls and targeting potential candidates for the position. The job has also been posted on various websites and will be advertised in the March 30th publication of Education Week in order to reach a national audience.

The search firm also complied research based on more than 365 community members, who provided the firm input on what type of superintendent they were looking for.

In December, members of the Lakota school board debated if the district should pay Hudepohl and Associates $50,000 for its search to find its replacement for Mike Taylor, who retired as the school’s district superintendent at the end of January.

School board members Joan Powell, Ben Dibble and Paul Lohr voted in favor of spending the money for the search firm, while members Ray Murray and Lynda O’Connor voted against the hiring of the firm and thought the district shouldn’t spend the money.

After Taylor’s official retirement took place, Ron Spurlock took over the position on an interim basis. Prior to his appointment, Spurlock has served as the assistant superintendent for the past four years.

For more information about Lakota’s superintendent search, visit lakotaonline.com.

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Ben Dibble, Gary Hudepohl, Hudepohl and Associates, Joan Powell, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota superintendent search, Lakota West, Lynda O'Connor, Mike Taylor, Paul Lohr, Ray Murray, Ron Spurlock

The Lakota Board of Education will have its first regularly scheduled school board meeting of 2011 tonight, Monday, Jan. 10 at the central office in Liberty Township. The board will first meet in executive session at 4:30 p.m. for the purpose of discussing negotiations and the employment, evaluation, dismissal or compensation of public employees, according to the school district’s website. The board will then reconvene into regular session at 7 p.m., which is open to the public.

On tonight’s agenda is a resolution requesting a waiver from the requirement for all-day, every-day kindergarten for 2011-12 and 2012-13.

In the agenda it reads:

WHEREAS the Lakota Board of Education hereby declares that providing all‐day, every‐day kindergarten during state fiscal years 2012 and 2013 in accordance with the requirements of Ohio Revised Code Section 3321.05 will present a hardship to the school district; and

WHEREAS the Lakota Board of Education understands that the waiver is only for the delay of all‐day, every‐day kindergarten for state fiscal years 2012 and 2013:

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Lakota Board of Education hereby authorizes the district Superintendent to submit to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction this resolution and justification for requesting a delay of the implementation of all‐day, every‐day kindergarten for state fiscal years 2012 and 2013, and to submit a phase‐in implementation plan of all‐day, every‐day kindergarten.

In November of 2010, Ohio Senator Gary Cates spoke at a school board meeting claiming the school district should be able to save money when the state doesn’t mandate all-day kindergarten. At the time, Cates believed Governor-to-be John Kasich would eliminate the mandate for all-day kindergarten. (more…)

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

Tags: Tags: busing, cuts, Gary Cates, Governor John Kasich, Joan Powell, John Kasich, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota school board, Lakota West, Mike Taylor, Ray Murray, reducitons, school board meeting, school levy, Senator Gary Cates

The Lakota Board of Education decided to re-appoint Joan Powell as the school board president this evening during its annual organizational meeting. The board also determined the 2011 Lakota school board schedule during the meeting Jan. 7.

The board actually nominated members Ray Murray and Joan Powell for the title. Powell retained the honor, which she held last year and has been a school board member for 14 years, after the board voted 3-to-2 in her favor.

“I think you have done a wonderful job building what we have here, but times are changed,” Murray said to Powell before the vote took place.

“I am very sensitive about spending money. I don’t want to do the same old thing. In my mind, that is insanity.”

Murray has been a member of the school board for the past two years.

“I am in agreement with Ray that we need a change,” school board member Lynda O’Connor said.

O’Connor and Murray used the example of the board spending $50,000 in its search for a new superintendent for the need for a change.

At the board’s last meeting, Dec. 13, Powell, Ben Dibble and Paul Lohr voted in favor of spending the money for a search firm, Hudepohl and Associates, to help find the replacement for Lakota Superintendent Mike Taylor, who is set to retire at the end of the month. (more…)

Posted in: Board of Education, Schools |

Tags: Tags: Hudepohl and Associates, Joan Powell, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota school board, Lakota West, Lynda O'Connor, Mike Taylor, Ray Murray, Ron Spurlock, school board meeting, school levy