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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:

Lakota School officials announced Wednesday that the next school board meeting will be moved from district’s Central Office to Lakota East High School to accommodate an anticipated large crowd.

The Lakota Board of Education will meet Monday at the Liberty Township high school – 6840 Lakota Lane – to publicly discuss cutting personnel and student programs in grades 7-12 for next school year.

The reductions are the latest in a series of unveiled phases for eliminating $9 million from Lakota’s operating budget in the wake of three tax levy ballot defeats since 2010.

At the last board meeting, administrators rolled out the first – preschool programs – of a seven-phase plan in exactly where the $9 million would be cut.

At the board’s Feb. 13 meeting the reduction plan for grades 7-12 is to be unveiled, followed in subsequent weeks by plans for elementary grades, administration, district-wide personnel, business and extracurricular programs.

Lakota voters rejected three operating levies from 2010 to 2011, the most recent in November.

Lakota is Greater Cincinnati’s second largest school district after Cincinnati Public Schools.

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

Tags: Tags: Lakota, Lakota cuts, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota preschool, Lakota preschool program, Lakota reductions, Lakota school board, Lakota school levy, Lakota West, reductions, school board meeting, school levy

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

The Lakota Board of Education will meet this afternoon, Jan. 7, at 4:30 p.m. at the Lakota Central Office in Liberty Township for an organizational meeting, which will help determine the 2011 Lakota school board schedule.

The organizational meeting is open to the public.

The school district has, however, already announced that it will meet for the first time this year on Monday, Jan. 10. 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. for the regularly scheduled school board meeting. Both meetings will be held at the district’s central office in Liberty Township.

The Lakota Board of Education only met once in December and in that meeting every school board member voted in approval to make cuts to its busing.

The transportation reductions will go in effect Jan. 18, 2011, and impact more than 6,000 students.

The reduction plan will eliminate the busing for all high school students. In addition to high school busing, the plan will also eliminate busing in January for students in grades kindergarten through sixth, who live within one mile of the school, and for students in grades seventh and eighth, who live within two miles of the school. (more…)

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

Tags: Tags: busing, cuts, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota school board, Lakota West, Mike Taylor, reductions, school board meeting, school levy

Despite cancelling classes, the Lakota Board of Education has decided to have its scheduled school board meeting tonight, Dec. 13, at 7 p.m.

On tonight’s agenda is the vote to approve the following transportation reductions:

Effective January 18th, 2011 Phase I:
- No transportation for students in grade 9‐12; This includes private and parochial students who live in the Lakota Local School District.
- Transportation exclusion zones for junior high students who live within the two-mile drive distance of their school.
- Transportation exclusion zones for early childhood and elementary students who live within an approximate one (1) mile drive distance of their school.

Effective 2011‐12 school year Phase II:
- Increase the transportation exclusion zones for early childhood and elementary students who live within an approximate one-mile drive distance of their school to the state minimum two-mile drive distance of their school.

At the last school board meeting, Nov. 29, the board didn’t vote on the transportation reduction plan. Instead Lakota Superintendent Mike Taylor recommended that the school district should implement the move to state minimum transportation for grades kindergarten through sixth grade into two phases.

Previously, the Lakota Board of Education appeared ready to pass a transportation reduction plan that included the elimination of busing in January 2011 for students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade, who live within two miles of the school.

The first phase of Taylor’s recommendation, which was viewed favorably by the school board, was to eliminate busing Jan. 18, 2011, for students K-6 who live within one mile (without splitting neighborhoods) of their school. Phase two will take place just prior to the 2011-2012 school year, which will complete the move to state minimum transportation and the two-mile distance from each school. (more…)

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

Tags: Tags: busing, cuts, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota West, reductions, school board meeting, school levy

Lakota Local Schools announced at 6:18 a.m. this morning that school is closed today, Dec. 13. Last night around 9 p.m., the school district decided to go on a two-hour delay.

Lakota also has a school board meeting scheduled for Monday night at 7 p.m. The highly anticipated vote on reductions to Lakota’s transportation is on tonight’s agenda.

Typically, when school districts close, school board meetings will be re-scheduled.

According to the school district’s athletic protocol, when school is cancelled or dismissed early for snow, all junior high athletic activities (games and practices) will be cancelled for that day.

>>>TRAFFIC CONDITIONS<<<

For high school sports, when school is cancelled or dismissed early for snow, decisions on practices and/or games will be made by building administration based upon projected road and weather conditions.

According to the Greater Miami Conference website, the second round of the chess season will be played at Sycamore High School on Tuesday, December 14. Play begins at 8:20 a.m. and the last match will begin at 5:10 p.m. An awards ceremony will take place immediately after the conclusion of round nine. It was originally scheduled for today.

The only other sporting event on the varsity schedule today, Dec. 13, is a Lakota West bowling match at Sycamore this afternoon at 4 p.m.

Cincinnati.com is following all school closings live.

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

Tags: Tags: busing, calamity days, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota school board, Lakota West, reductions, school board meeting, school closings, school levy, snow, snow days, state minimum transportation, weather, West Chester weather

Lakota Local Schools has announced that it will be on a two-hour delay Monday, Dec. 13, due inclement weather.

Morning preschool and kindergarten classes are canceled. Afternoon preschool and kindergarten will meet as normal.

Lakota also has a school board meeting scheduled for Monday night at 7 p.m. The highly anticipated vote on reductions to Lakota’s transportation is on tomorrow night’s agenda.

Cincinnati.com is following all school closings live.

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

Tags: Tags: busing, calamity days, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota school board, reductions, school board meeting, school closings, school levy, snow, snow days, state minimum transportation, weather, West Chester weather

Butler County has already issued a Level 1 snow emergency and the now there is a possibility of school delays or closings for Monday, Dec. 13.

A Level 1 snow emergency means, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office website, that “roadways are hazardous and motorists are urged to drive cautiously.”

There are two levels after Level 1. Level 2 limits roadways to “those who feel it is necessary to drive.” Level 3 closes all roadways to non-emergency personnel. Furthermore (Level 3), “anyone traveling on the roads may subject themselves to arrest.”

The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for this weekend on Friday, Dec. 10. It is also providing a more-detailed forecast for tonight.

Occasional snow showers and areas of blowing snow before midnight, then snow showers likely and areas of blowing snow after midnight. Low around 17. Blustery, with a west wind 13 to 20 mph becoming north. Chance of precipitation is 100%. Total nighttime snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches possible.

It also details the forecast for Monday:

Snow showers likely and areas of blowing snow before 11am, then areas of blowing snow and a chance of snow showers after 11am. Cloudy, with a high near 22. Wind chill values as low as zero. Blustery, with a north wind between 18 and 20 mph, with gusts as high as 33 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New snow accumulation of less than one inch possible.

Lakota Local Schools will contact the news media if a closing or delay takes place. According to the Lakota Local Schools website, the school district has the goal to make decisions to have a delay or cancellation by 5:30 a.m. or the night before, if possible.

Lakota also has a school board meeting scheduled for Monday night at 7 p.m. The highly anticipated vote on reductions to Lakota’s transportation is on tomorrow night’s agenda.

Cincinnati.com is following all school closings live.

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

Tags: Tags: busing, calamity days, Lakota Board of Education, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota school board, reductions, school board meeting, school closings, school levy, snow, snow days, state minimum transportation, weather, West Chester weather