WestChesterBuzz.com

Sue Kiesewetter reports:

Students in grades 2-12 who live within the boundaries of the Lakota school district are invited to participate in the Dream the Dream in 2013 contest as part of the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King Day in West Chester and Liberty townships.

Next year marks the 50th anniversary of Dr. King’s “I have a dream” speech in which he looked ahead and saw a better world for his children.

Participants in the contest are being asked to put themselves in King’s position if he lived in 2013 and write their own version of his speech. What would a more perfect world look like for your descendants, what would you say and what would that vision look like?

Junior and senior high school age children should compose the equivalent of a two-minute speech and submit a typewritten entry. Those in grades 2-6 should submit their entry as a poster or other artwork.

Posters may – but are not required to – include a written explanation of what is depicted. Presentations on compact discs or DVDs should be done in IBM PC format.

The contest is open to students attending public, private or parochial schools along with those who are home schooled. Groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or church youth groups are also invited to participate.

A $20 cash prize will be awarded to one entry in the following categories: elementary, junior high, high school, English as a Second Language and Special Education. A $50 grand prize will be awarded to the overall winner. All who enter will receive a certificate of participation.

Submissions will be on display during the Jan. 21 evening program at Live the Dream: Our Declaration of Unity Celebration at Cornerstone United Methodist Church in Liberty Township.

The deadline for entries is 4 p.m. Nov. 26. They can be turned in to any Lakota elementary, junior or senior high school; as well as the West Chester or Liberty Township administration buildings.

Information: 513-860-4049

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: contest, dream the dream, i have a dream, jr., Lakota schools, Martin Luther King, poster, students

Michael D. Clark reports:

For the second consecutive year, Lakota schools are looking to cut dozens of teaching jobs to reduce costs and avoid a projected budget shortfall.

Lakota officials Monday unveiled the latest round of proposed budget reductions at a public school board meeting at Lakota East High School. More than 300 parents, residents and school employees packed into its auditorium.

“We face a difficult balancing act and a series of tough choices,” said Lakota Superintendent Karen Mantia.

District officials called for slicing $4.3 million, including eliminating a total of 69 teaching positions at the junior high, freshman and high school buildings next school year. The latest round would raise class sizes in the eight affected schools from an average of 25 students per teacher to 28 starting at the beginning of the 2012-13 school year in August. The schools: Lakota East and West high schools, Lakota East and West freshman schools and four junior highs – Hopewell, Lakota Plains, Lakota Ridge and Liberty – would also have their class days shortened by 30-34 minutes and would start later in the morning.

Graduation credit requirements would drop from 21 to 20 for the class of 2013 and high school students’ choices of elective courses could shrink if not enough students enroll in some of the classes offered next school year. The district has 18,000 students.

Officials also announced expansion of a joint Butler Tech curricula to expose junior high students to science, technology, engineering, applied arts, math and medical fields.

Pending approval by Butler Tech officials, the program would be funded by the career technology school that serves students and adults in the county.

Voters in Lakota have rejected three proposed school tax hikes since 2010.

The sweeping cuts for grades 7-12 are the latest in a series of recommendations to slice costs by $9 million in Greater Cincinnati’s second largest school system.

Lakota’s annual operating budget is about $154 million, and the district faces a $14.1 million projected deficit in 2015 without voter approval of a new operating tax some time in 2012.

The ballot losing streak has prompted officials to cut more then $25 million from the operating budget in recent years. Last year busing for thousands of students was cut along with dozens of teaching positions.

“With three failed levies, we have to adjust.

“There is simply no choice,” said Mantia.

The board is expected to decide on the proposed reduction plan by mid-March.

Lakota has retained its state academic ranking of “Excellent With Distinction” and is the largest district in Ohio to earn that rating.

Largely untouched so far are Lakota’s popular high school band programs.

Marching bands at Lakota West and Lakota East have won national acclaim in recent years with performances at the Rose Parade in California and at Pearl Harbor memorial parade in Hawaii.

Details, as well as options for public comment regarding the proposed budget cuts, will be posted online, said school officials, at Lakota’s web site: www.lakotaonline.com/ budget.

Posted in: Schools |

Tags: Tags: budget, Butler Tech, jobs, Karen Mantia, Lakota East High School, Lakota schools, Lakota West High School, students, tax levy, taxes, teachers

Lakota East students will be honored for their academic achievements during two separate ceremonies.

More than 750 students in grades 9-11 will be recognized May 17. Seniors will be recognized during a May 19 program that includes announcements of scholarships.

Both programs begin at 6:30 p.m. and will be held in the main campus gymnasium, 6840 Lakota Lane in Liberty Township. They are open to the community.

Information: 513-755-7211

Posted in: Events, School events, Schools |

Tags: Tags: academic awards, awards night, Lakota East High School, liberty township, students, West Chester