District News

The Lakota School Board has announced that the Community Conversations that have been scheduled for this year must be temporarily postponed.

The Community Conversation about Gifted Education on 8/13 has been postponed.

The Lakota Science & Engineering Fair is an opportunity for our students in grades 5-12 to showcase an individual or group project based in science or engineering

Interim Superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lolli notified Lakota families that the contract between Petermann and the bus drivers' union was approved Sept. 7, which means bus service will resume again for all students on Friday, Sept. 8.

A tentative agreement has been reached between Petermann and its union. The union will vote Thursday, Sept. 7.

LEADS (Lakota Enrichment and Academic Development of Students) is a parent booster group for parents of children who have been identified as gifted. 

In an email to parents on Sept. 2, 2023, Interim Superintendent Elizabeth Lolli shared that limited transportation will be available to students with disabilities in kindergarten through high school. 

Our transportation provider, Petermann, has asked us to share the message below with our families. We will continue to keep you updated as we learn more information about the bus driver strike.

A message was shared the evening of Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 to notify Lakota parents and guardians that Petermann Transportation bus drivers did not accept the proposed contract and have voted to strike, effective Friday, Sept. 1. 

At all grade levels while the strike is in force, students will not be marked tardy or absent because of parent work conflicts, traffic, responsibilities for dropping off younger siblings, etc.

Read the message shared to help Lakota parents and guardians prepare for the possibility of a bus strike as a result of this Thursday's vote to approve the contract between the bus drivers' union and Lakota's contracted transportation provider, Petermann.

Over two days on Aug. 16 and 17, Lakota welcomed 17,664 students back into our schools for the start of the 2023-2024 school year. The traditional staggered start gave staff and students the opportunity to spend extra time building relationships with one another and adjusting to their new routines in a smaller group setting.

DI Program Information and Q&A Meetings:
Tuesday, Sept 5th at 6:30 PM in the cafeteria at Union Elementary
Monday, Sept 11th at 6:30 PM in the cafeteria at Independence Elementary

Lakota’s newly formed Community Diversity Council, which includes parents, community members and staff, met for the first time, bringing members of the community together to collaborate and share ideas with district leaders on ways to support all students. 

Lakota’s Community Curriculum Advisory Team (CCAT) is looking for feedback from parents, students, staff and community members via a ThoughtExchange that closes Aug. 31.

As we prepare for a new school year, please review these important reminders from Lakota's Child Nutrition Department about eating breakfast and lunch at school. Learn more about menus, meal prices, EZPay, food allergies and more.

Members of Lakota's Community Curriculum Advisory Team learned the ins and outs of the state report card at its June meeting.

Lakota Local Schools has begun utilizing the Ohio Checkbook as yet another example of its pledge towards fiscal transparency. Fiscal Year 2023 data is now available with quarterly updates to follow.

At the July 5 evening special meeting, the Lakota Board of Education voted to appoint Dr. Elizabeth Lolli as the interim superintendent to lead Lakota Local Schools for the next year. Dr. Lolli, who has spent 45 years in K-12 public education, will join the Lakota team effective July 19, pending the completion of negotiations and background checks.

School Board President Lynda O'Connor announced, on behalf of the Board of Education, that a search for an interim superintendent would begin this week.

On June 27, Lakota Local Schools hosted a “Meet the Candidates” night as an opportunity for community members to hear from the three superintendent finalists.

Lakota’s new Community Curriculum Advisory Team (CCAT) is off and running. Here is a recap of the team's first meeting.

WE are excited to welcome our students back for the start of the 2023-2024 school year! As the new year approaches, we know your questions are piling up, which is why we want to help you find answers and stay on top of your back-to-school to do list.

Whether you are brand new to the Lakota family or returning for another year, take a moment to visit Lakota's 2023-2024 Back-to-School Hub for all the information you need for a successful start to the new school year.

The district will provide each student in grades K-8 with a supply kit at the start of the school year that includes most of the school supplies needed. Find your school and view additional supplies that students need to provide.

Following the announcement of the finalists in the ongoing search for Lakota's next superintendent, the Board of Education is inviting staff, parents, students and community members to a series of question and answer (Q&A) sessions with each of the top candidates on Tuesday, June 27.

The Lakota Local Schools Board of Education took another important step in its search for a new superintendent, announcing four finalists to continue on in the interview process. The vote to approve the motion took place at the conclusion of the Board’s June 14 special meeting, which also marked the end of the first round of interviews.

Plans are being finalized for the Board’s second round of interviews the week of June 26, which will also include an opportunity for a community meet-and-greet.

At its regular June 5 meeting, the Lakota Board of Education approved the creation of a Community Diversity Council to help support the district’s nearly 17,500 students in their educational experience.

Lakota's annual Financial Prospectus is coming to mailboxes soon. Learn how Lakota is being good stewards of our taxpayers’ dollars and prioritizing fiscal responsibility.

A passion project led by first-year teacher Molly Zaenkert gave her kindergartners at Heritage ECS more than just a crash course in over 20 different occupations. Their special weekly classroom visitors also accelerated their reading, writing and social studies skills in ways she never fully anticipated. 

The “Innovation Museum” at Wyandot ECS earlier this month put on full display the power of personalized learning. Melissa Riehle’s second-graders were handed the question,”How can we innovate to improve the world around us?” and they answered it with calm down bracelets, hover phones and flying cars, just to name a few.

Wednesday, May 24 is the last day of school for all Lakota students. Here are the summer and back-to-school updates you need to know now, including start dates, transportation requests, the summer lunch program, summer hours and more. Look for more information on Lakota's Back-to-School Hub webpage by mid-July. 

To ease the transition to a new school year and honor families’ requests for alternative pick-up and drop-off locations for transportation, Lakota is asking that families submit transportation forms by Aug. 3 to receive transportation on the first day of the 2023-24 school. Note that all transportations forms are now a part of FinalForms.

The Lakota Local School District, in partnership with the Faith Alliance, is participating in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program this year. Meals will be provided daily to all children (ages 18 and younger and individuals with disabilities through age 21) - free of charge and regardless of income - beginning May 31 through Aug. 1 (except for July 3&4). The summer program is funded through the USDA and implemented at no cost to the district.

Another adjustment to the 2023-2024 academic calendar - updated again on May 15, 2023 - moves the official first day of school for students in grades K-12 back to the original date of Wednesday, Aug. 16, including a staggered start. The last day for students, now May 23, falls one day later than originally communicated and the beginning of the year staff professional development days return to Aug. 11, 14 and 15. 

With the new grade bands approved by the Lakota Board of Education, the Master Facilities Committee met on May 5, 2023 to continue its discussion on how best to make the plan become a reality and meet the future educational needs of Lakota students in a fiscally responsible way.

On behalf of the Lakota Board of Education, Board President Lynda O'Connor shares details regarding upcoming opportunities to participate in community focus groups to help inform the search for a new superintendent. Meetings are organized by relationship to the district and occur at various times on May 17 and May 31.