Dream. Design. Deliver: How WE are Building the Future of Learning

Over the past month, students, staff, parents and community members came together in a series of visioning sessions to imagine what the future of education could look like—and how Lakota school facilities can support that vision. These collaborative meetings, focusing on the high school and future middle schools for now, were filled with energy, creativity and a shared commitment to student success. 

“We are looking at our schools from an educational perspective, not from the building,” said Superintendent Ashley Whitely. She explained that educational programming will drive the Master Facilities Plan; not the building layout. The purpose of these first visioning sessions is to gather community input about the types of programming Lakota students have the opportunity to explore and how the buildings could best support them.

Elevar Design Group Senior Designer Lisa Cameron Gulley instructed attendees to “Think big. Define the need, not the solution. Think about instruction, not construction. The architectural part will come, but building the curriculum first is very important.”

A Shared Vision Across All Schools

While each session focused on the unique needs of its building, several powerful themes emerged across all three:

Flexible Future-Ready Spaces: Across all buildings, there was a strong desire for adaptable classrooms, collaborative hubs and multi-use areas that support co-teaching, small group instruction and evolving instructional models. Participants emphasized the importance of modular furniture, mobile science stations and spaces that can be reconfigured as needs change. From movable furniture to whiteboard walls,

Student-Centered and Inclusive Design: From creating accessible hallways, sensory-friendly spaces and calming self-regulation areas to integrating special education classrooms within instructional teams, the focus remained on supporting every learner. Participants also called for quiet academic zones, flexible seating and spaces that reflect how students learn best.

Community and Collaboration: All three groups envisioned schools that serve not just students, but the broader community. Ideas included shared-use spaces, outdoor classrooms, senior citizen meeting areas and spaces for performances, meetings and events. Partnerships with local businesses and both townships to create real-world learning opportunities were also encouraged by the group.

Safety and Accessibility: Thoughtful traffic flow, secure entrances and inclusive design were central to every conversation. Participants discussed the need for community entrances that don’t disrupt instruction, frosted glass for privacy and supervision-friendly layouts for large common areas.

Natural Light and Wellness: Bright, welcoming spaces with access to natural light and calming aesthetics were seen as essential to student well-being and engagement. Skylights, open-air courtyards and warm, non-clinical design elements were all suggested.

Technology and Innovation: Participants called for modern tools like recording studios, flexible technology setups in classrooms and plenty of outlets to support evolving instructional needs. Students even suggested separate spaces for teachers to prepare flipped-classroom recordings and teachers championed multi-wall projection capabilities.

High School: Designing for Possibility

At the high school session, the message was clear: start with the curriculum, not the construction. Participants from both Lakota East and West imagined a future where learning spaces are designed around instruction—not the other way around. Ideas included:

• Flexible classroom design where the teacher can determine where the “front” of the classroom should be based on the day’s lesson;
• Collaborative hubs for both students and teachers;
• Learning spaces that bring modern workplace features into the classroom while staying true to the spirit of a high school experience;
• An arena-style gym with expanded locker and weight rooms;
• Upgraded performing arts spaces and offsite athletics or art complexes;
• Opportunities to partner with West Chester and Liberty townships, as well as local businesses; and
• Community-use spaces that are separate from instructional wings.

East-side Middle School: Supporting Teams and Transitions

The future east-side middle school session focused on balancing team-based learning with shared content spaces. Participants envisioned:

• Flexible classrooms with co-teaching capabilities including soundproof partitions between classrooms;
• Outdoor learning areas;
• Both centralized and grade-level administration offices;
• Makerspaces, hubs space and mobile science stations;
• Special education and English learner integration within instructional teams; and
• Natural light and age-appropriate design for sixth graders.

The participants also encouraged a more fluid schedule to allow deeper learning blocks. Additionally, importance was placed on transitioning students from elementary to middle school, with thoughtful design ideas to help sixth graders feel at home.

West-side Middle School: Unity and Innovation

At the future west-side middle school session, the conversation centered on creating a cohesive school identity while embracing innovation. Highlights included:

• An auditorium-style space that also serves the greater community;
• Outdoor classrooms and garage doors in the cafeteria to offer both indoor and outdoor dining options;
• Resource pantries for each grade level;
• Self-regulation areas for student support;
• Flexible seating, circular classroom layouts and recording studios;
• Community-use areas near the main entrance for easy access and less disruption of the learning day;
• Branding and design continuity to ensure new and existing parts of the building feel like one unified school; and
• Quiet academic zones and sensory friendly areas.

Continued Engagement

Rising Lakota West senior Rishi Koul was excited to be a part of the visioning process saying, “I like thinking that I’m starting some good change for the school, even though I won’t be here to see it finished.” These three visioning sessions are just the beginning.

As the District moves forward with the Master Facilities Plan, the community’s voice will continue to shape the future of Lakota Local Schools. More opportunities to get involved, including K-5 visioning sessions, will be announced in the coming weeks and months. The greater Lakota community is encouraged to get involved and help build learning environments that inspire every student, every day.