District News

Friday, May 20 is the last day of school for all Lakota students. We hope that everyone has a safe and fun summer break with family and friends. Area residents are reminded that many more children will now be outside playing during the day and to use caution, especially in residential neighborhoods.

Chris Passarge, Chief Operations Officer at Lakota Local Schools, was awarded the 2022 Southwest Region Distinguished Service Award and the statewide 2022 Virginia Ramsey Service Award by the Ohio Association of School Business Officials’ (OASBO) Foundation for School Business Management at its 2022 Annual Conference & Expo in Columbus. 

The Lakota District is soliciting community input on the 2023-2024 district calendar. Lakota staff, students, parents and community members are invited to review the current draft before any final recommendation is presented to the school board.

The following message was shared by Lakota Superintendent Matthew Miller on Thursday, May 5 to update parents on further action being taken in response to the situation involving Board of Education Member Darbi Boddy the day prior and for the safety of all students and staff.  
 

The safety and security of our students and staff is a responsibility we take very seriously at Lakota Local Schools. We have very specific policies and procedures in place explicitly for the protection of our school community. 

The Lakota Local Schools Board of Education called for an emergency meeting this afternoon to ask for a resolution to censure Board Member Darbi Boddy and also request her resignation. The resolution to censure passed 4-1. The motion to request Boddy’s resignation passed 4-0, with Boddy leaving the meeting before the vote took place.

At the April 14 Master Facilities Committee meeting, the Board narrowed down several plan options to prepare for future community engagement sessions. The options, which fall into three different grade-band configurations, also include estimated costs associated with each.

The following email was sent to Lakota families to share information regarding a ransomware attack on Battelle for Kids. Some Lakota students' information may be a part of this security breach.

The 2022-2023 lottery application for seats in Lakota’s tuition-based preschool program, provided in partnership with the Butler County Educational Service Center, is getting a late start this year due to significant changes in preschool special education operating standards regulated by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and in accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). 

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) would like to invite you to participate in a short, 25 question survey about your involvement in your student’s education.  

The Ohio Department of Education recently selected Cherokee Elementary as a 2022 Purple Star school for its outstanding commitment to serving military-connected students and families.

Matt Miller, superintendent and CEO of Lakota Local Schools, has been named the 2022 EmpowerED Digital Superintendent of the Year by CoSN, a premier association of K-12 education technology leaders, and AASA, The School Superintendents Association. Miller received this honor in recognition of his efforts to ensure all students are engaged and inspired learners who have access to equitable and inclusive learning environments.

Parents of all incoming kindergartners for the 2022-2023 school year are invited to join Lakota's "Kindergarten Readiness Learning Session," being offered virtually on Tuesday, May 3 from 7-8 p.m. 

For an impressive eighth year in a row, Lakota Local Schools has earned the Auditor of State Award with Distinction from the Ohio Auditor of State. This recognition comes after the Fiscal Year 2021 financial audit.

April is the “Month of the Military Child.” As a way of lifting up all our military families, Lakota is proud to announce a district-wide “Military Family Spirit Week” April 25 through April 29.  
 

At the March 28 school board meeting, Lakota’s treasurer and CFO, Jenni Logan, announced that she will retire on Aug. 1. “Lakota has been my home for the past 11 plus years,” she told the Board. “This decision has been one I have personally struggled with, but have now reached a sense of peace and know it is the right thing and right time for me and my family.”

What if you could create the next Disney theme park? To quote America’s favorite mouse, “Oh, boy!” Sixth-graders at VanGorden Elementary School got a glimpse into life as an Imagineer when they were tasked with dreaming up a new "land."

"Anyone have thoughts on how to store the new stylus pens we now use in math class? I need an organization system to hold 25-30 pens so kids can take as needed and I can easily see all 25 are there at the end of class."

The Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Southwest Region is presenting this year’s prestigious President’s Award to the entire team of Lakota nurses.