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Lakota Local Schools will be closed Wednesday.

Most other building events and activities scheduled for Wednesday will be canceled as well. This includes, but is not limited to parent/teacher conferences and a Lakota staff community conversation.

Lakota’s enrollment center will also be closed. Liberty Early Childhood School had an information night scheduled at the enrollment center from 7 to 8 p.m.

Families, who planned to register for kindergarten Wednesday are still invited to register any time before March 28. The enrollment center is open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will also be open until 7 p.m. for kindergarten registration March 13 and March 20. Call, 513-682-4120 for further information.

For athletic event updates, please check each individual school’s athletic site.

For additional information, visit Lakota’s unscheduled school closings page.

UPDATE: 8:50 a.m. Wednesday - West Chester’s Nature Basket session is canceled due to the weather.

Posted in: News, Schools, Weather |

Tags: Tags: calamity days, delays, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota West, school closings, snow days

Lakota Local Schools has issued a two-hour delay for Friday.

There will be no morning kindergarten or preschool classes. Afternoon kindergarten will meet as scheduled.

If Lakota Local Schools decides to close, the school district will post it first on its website.

For additional information, visit Lakota’s unscheduled school closings page.

Posted in: News, Schools, Weather |

Tags: Tags: calamity days, delays, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota West, school closings, snow days

Lakota Local Schools has issued a two-hour delay today.

There will be no morning kindergarten or preschool classes. Afternoon kindergarten will meet as scheduled.

If Lakota Local Schools decides to close, the school district will post it first to its website.

For additional information, visit Lakota’s unscheduled school closings page.

Posted in: News, Schools, Weather |

Tags: Tags: calamity days, delays, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota West, school closings, snow days

The West Chester area could see its first significant snowfall of the winter season Tuesday, when an inch could accumulate.

Rain is likely after 3 a.m. until Tuesday afternoon. After 2 p.m., the rain could be possibly mixed with snow. Snowfall accumulations from a half of an inch to an inch are possible. Exact amount of snow accumulation will depend on how quickly the rain changes over to snow.

The high on Tuesday will be near 37 degrees. The low will be around 27.

• National Weather Service: West Chester 7-day forecast
• AccuWeather.com: West Chester extended forecast

The rest of the week should be dry, according to the 7-day forecast from the National Weather Service.

According to AccuWeather.com, besides Tuesday, this week should be dry. However, snow is being predicted for Jan. 2-3.

Last year, West Chester was hit with its first significant snowfall Dec. 4. The Lakota school district had its first snow day Dec. 13. Later that week, Lakota was closed again Dec. 16 after another snow storm hit the area – leaving West Chester residents’ yards under eight inches of snow.

Posted in: News, Weather |

Tags: Tags: Butler County weather, calamity days, Lakota snow day, Liberty Township Christmas, Liberty Township weather, National Weather Service, school closings, snow, snow days, West Chester Christmas, West Chester snow, West Chester weather

The weather is currently expected to be mild and dry on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, according to the National Weather Service. As of Monday, the forecast is mostly sunny with a near 40 degrees Saturday and partly sunny with a high near 42 Sunday.

Leading up to the holiday weekend, the weather is expected to be warmer but wet.

In all, about an inch is expected to accumulate by week’s end, adding onto a record amount of rainfall for a single year in Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.

Jennifer Edwards Baker of the Cincinnati Enquirer is reporting that just over 70 inches of rain has been recorded at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in Hebron in 2011. The typical rainfall per year is about 39.7 inches.

• National Weather Service: West Chester 7-day forecast
• AccuWeather.com: West Chester extended forecast

There is a 40 percent chance for rain Monday, mainly after 3 p.m. The high will be near 48 degrees. That evening, there is an 80 percent chance of precipitation and a low around 38.

There will be a 70 percent chance of rain Tuesday, mainly before 1 p.m. and a 80 percent chance Tuesday night. The high will be 51 and the low will be around 45.

More rain is likely Wednesday, with a 60 percent chance after 9 a.m. That night, there is a much slighter chance of rain before 2 a.m.

Before clearing up, there will be another chance for rain Thursday night.

According to AccuWeather.com, there appears to be little to no chance of snow before Dec. 30.

Last year, West Chester was hit with its first significant snowfall Dec. 4. Lakota had its first snow day Dec. 13. Later that week, school was closed again Dec. 16 after another snow storm hit the area – leaving West Chester residents’ yards under eight inches of snow.

Posted in: News, Weather |

Tags: Tags: Butler County weather, calamity days, Lakota snow day, Liberty Township Christmas, Liberty Township weather, National Weather Service, school closings, snow, snow days, West Chester Christmas, West Chester snow, West Chester weather

There appears to be little to no chance for measurable snow accumulation through Dec. 27, according to AccuWeather.com. The website is also predicting a high of 62 degrees Thursday.

The current forecast for Christmas Day is mostly cloudy with a high of 44 degrees and a low of 19. Christmas Eve, currently has lowest high of the extended forecast at 32 degrees.

Last year, West Chester was hit with its first significant snowfall Dec. 4. Lakota had its first snow day Dec. 13. Later that week, school was closed again Dec. 16 after another snow storm hit the area – leaving West Chester residents’ yards under eight inches of snow.

So far this winter, just traces of snow have fallen in Cincinnati Dec. 7 and Dec. 9, according to the National Weather Service in Wilmington.

This December, however, is not considered to be one of the least snowiest starts to the winter, meteorologist Andrew Snyder told the Enquirer. He said, at least 20 other winters have featured no snow the first two weeks of December and six Decembers (1908, 1931, 1940, 1941, 1971 and 1982) saw no snow.

While snow has been on the slim side so far this winter, there has been plenty of rain.

In fact, 2011 is the wettest year on record with 69.9 inches of rain recorded so far with just over two weeks to go before New Year’s.

More rain is expected this week and could begin around 2 a.m. tonight and continue until 11 a.m. Wednesday, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service. Between the same hours Thursday morning, occasional showers are expected.

The upcoming weekend, however, is expected to be either mostly sunny or partly cloudy each day with highs in the low-to-mid 40s and lows in the mid 20s.

Posted in: News, Weather |

Tags: Tags: Butler County weather, calamity days, Lakota snow day, Liberty Township Christmas, Liberty Township weather, National Weather Service, school closings, snow, snow days, West Chester Christmas, West Chester snow, West Chester weather

Many parents in the Lakota school district have recently received an email informing them of important planning information regarding the end of school and changes for the 2011-2012 school year.

In April, Ohio Governor John Kasich signed into law a provision that will provide schools with five calamity days per year. Lakota Local Schools and other public school districts in the state of Ohio began the school year with three calamity days.

The measure applies to this school year and means that Lakota, with exception to morning and afternoon kindergarten students, will not have to make up any more days this June.

The last day of school for students in grades 1-12 will be Thursday, June 2. There will be an early release on the final day of school.

For kindergarten students, the make-up day will be Friday, June 3rd, which will also be an early release day.

Lakota Local Schools canceled classes for the sixth time for grades 1-12 this winter Feb. 1 due to icy conditions. The school district made up one of those days by having classes on Feb. 18.

Prior to this measure, Lakota was going to have to make up two more days. Potential make-up days on the 2010-2011 Lakota academic schedule include June 3 and June 6-8.

There will also be no school for Memorial Day, which is Monday, May 30.

School hours – starting and ending times – for 2011-2012 were also included in the email.

High Schools
Lakota East High School 7:30 a.m. – 2:39 p.m.
Lakota East Freshman School 7:15 a.m. – 2:24 p.m.
Lakota West High School 7:30 a.m. – 2:39 p.m.
Lakota West Freshman School 7:15 a.m. – 2:24 p.m. (more…)

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

Tags: Tags: academic schedule, bell times, busing, calamity days, cuts, Lakota Board of Education, reductions, snow days

Ohio Governor John Kasich signed into law a provision on April 13 that will provide schools with five calamity days per year. Lakota Local Schools and other public school districts in the state of Ohio began the school year with three calamity days.

The measure applies to this school year and means that Lakota, with exception to morning and afternoon kindergarten students, will not have to make up any more days this June.

The last day of school for students in grades 1-12 will be Thursday, June 2. There will be an early release on the final day of school.

For kindergarten students, the make-up day will be Friday, June 3rd, which will also be an early release day.

Lakota Local Schools canceled classes for the sixth time for grades 1-12 this winter Feb. 1 due to icy conditions. The school district made up one of those days by having classes on Feb. 18.

Prior to this measure, Lakota was going to have to make up two more days. Potential make-up days on the 2010-2011 Lakota academic schedule include June 3 and June 6-8.

Ted Strickland, Kasich’s predecessor, actually cutback the allowed “snow days” from five to three last year. According to the Associated Press, Strickland reduced the amount of “snow days” as a way to ensure more classroom time for Ohio’s students.

(File photo of West Chester residents enjoying a snow day this winter)

Posted in: Board of Education, Government, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: calamity days, Governor John Kasich, John Kasich, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota West, school closings, snow days, Ted Strickland

Ohio Governor John Kasich signed a bill Wednesday, April 13, that will provide schools with five calamity days per year. Lakota Local Schools and other public school districts in the state of Ohio began the school year with three calamity days.

The measure applies to this school year and means that Lakota will not have to make up any more days this June.

Lakota Local Schools canceled classes for the sixth time this winter Feb. 1 due to icy conditions. The school district made up one of those days by having classes on Feb. 18.

Prior to this measure, Lakota was going to have to make up two more days. Potential make-up days on the 2010-2011 Lakota academic schedule include June 3 and June 6-8.

Ted Strickland, Kasich’s predecessor, actually cutback the allowed “snow days” from five to three last year. According to the Associated Press, Strickland reduced the amount of “snow days” as a way to ensure more classroom time for Ohio’s students.

(File photo of West Chester residents enjoying a snow day this winter)

Posted in: Board of Education, Government, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: calamity days, Governor John Kasich, John Kasich, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota West, school closings, snow days, Ted Strickland

After using up its last calamity day of the 2010-2011 school year yesterday, Lakota Local Schools has issued a two-hour delay today, Jan. 12.

The two-hour delay was issued at 5:30 a.m.

The school district also issued a two-hour delay yesterday, before deciding to close its schools at around 7:30 a.m.

Currently, Ohio schools receive three calamity days – otherwise known as “snow days.” Lakota Local Schools were also closed this school year on Dec. 13 and Dec. 16 in 2010.

During that week in December, Governor-elect John Kasich told the Dayton Daily News that he would switch back to five calamity days for Ohio schools. Kasich officially took office this week.

>>>TRAFFIC CONDITIONS<<<

Ted Strickland, Kasich’s predecessor, actually cutback the allowed “snow days” from five to three last year. According to the Associated Press, Strickland reduced the amount of “snow days” as a way to ensure more classroom time for Ohio’s students.

If Lakota Local Schools decides to close, the school district will post it first to its website.

UPDATE: Bus service in some subdivisions, primarily in Liberty Township, may be spotty. If bus does not come, please call your school and your student will be excused today. Update from Lakota Local Schools website at 7:44 a.m.

Posted in: Board of Education, Government, News, Schools |

Tags: Tags: calamity days, delays, Governor John Kasich, John Kasich, Lakota East, Lakota Local Schools, Lakota West, school closings, snow days, Ted Strickland