(Click on the hyperlinks above, in blue, to see more on each topic.)
Looks like the board will also vote on the naming of two facilities:
Lakota West High School soccer stadium to The Steve Cummins Soccer Park
Lakota West High School community room to The Mary Rhein Community Room
I’m told both are very well deserved; only knew Cummins briefly back in my high school soccer days at Colerain High. My buddy played for Cummins with Club Ohio, said the guy’s was always a class act and a heck of a coach.
Press release from Lakota Local Schools, Monday, Feb. 8:
Congressman Boehner Welcomes Lakota West Students to Washington
Congressman John Boehner (R-West Chester) met with 12 members of Lakota West High School’s Student Government at the U.S. Capitol. The students and their chaperone were visiting Washington, D.C., to attend a National Student Government Leadership Conference. Unfortunately, due to a severe winter storm in the D.C. Metro area, their conference has been cancelled.
“Extracurricular activities and community involvement are critical to the development and success of our young people,” Boehner said. “I was pleased to welcome these future leaders to our nation’s Capitol, and am sorry to hear the weather has forced the cancellation of their conference this weekend.”
You’ll see below a timeline of how things are expected to shake out over the next month or so, as well as the spreadsheet of just how the district is factoring the $6 million.
As you can see, the Board isn’t expected to vote on a final reduction in force (RIF) until March 8. But they’ll be hearing about it during the public meeting at 7 p.m., Monday, Feb. 8. I’ll be there, will you?
Superintendent Mike Taylor said Lakota will face two types of reductions: Permanent and temporary. The latter could be restored if a levy is approved in May, although the picture could be different if the levy fails in May, and the district is forced to head back to the polls in November.
Being considered is an incremental levy, which would require one vote for two different millage rates that would be effective in 2010 and 2012, and two traditional four-year levies.
The incremental levy proposes 6.9 mills, generating $19.32 million per year for the 2010 and 2011 fiscal years, and 4.9 mills, generating $13.72 million in 2012 and after. If voters approve the measure, the millage would change automatically in 2012.
Traditional levies — like the last measure voters approved in 2005 — include one for 7.9 mills that would generate $22.12 million per year, and another for 9.4 mills that would generate $26.32 million per year.
My other question to you is how do you feel about yesterday’s news being delivered to affected teachers and staff via Internet broadcast? Taylor explained to me on Monday there was no better way to inform hundreds of teachers and staff members in 22 school buildings spread across the 68-square-mile district.
I’m told there were a lot of tears yesterday, understandably so…
I’ll also endeavor here to respond to some of the questions and comments that result from this post and the story online.
One that caught my eye was from commenter “a mom that works,” who asked on Feb. 3 how much ballot issues will cost.
I asked the same question of Board of Elections Director Betty McGary last week regarding a story about a possible ballot issue to incorporate West Chester Twp.
McGary explained the cost is minimal (literally $700 to $800) for entities to place issues on ballots where other measures appear, i.e., like on the current Primary in May and the General Election in November.
But when we’re talking about a special election, say in February or August (where no other issues appear on a ballot), the cost is approximately $1,500 per precinct. There are 27 precincts in Liberty Twp., and 48 precincts in West Chester, for a total of $112,500.
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As for the video, Lakota officials said it would be posted on their site at the conclusion of the superintendent’s address. Here’s what they said: “The address will be video recorded and posted to the Lakota website for review after the initial address.”
Original post
Thursday morning, Jan. 28, Lakota Superintendent Mike Taylor delivered his first State of the Schools address at the Miami VOA Learning Center.
Although he never mentioned the word “levy,” Taylor discussed the need for community support, especially given the district’s recent growth in the face of immediate and impending state cuts and future state mandates, like all-day kindergarten.
The following is the story that will appear in Thursday’s print edition. I’ll also add some links within the story to refresh your memory about the last time the sides came together to hash out a new deal.
The big difference now, though, is the district will be entering negotiations with the Lakota Education Association and the Lakota Support Staff Association at the same time it campaigns for a new levy.
Should be an interesting few months.
Thoughts?
Story…
LIBERTY TWP. — Less than two years after Lakota Local Schools narrowly avoided a strike with its teachers union, negotiations have begun again in Butler County’s largest district.
This time, though, teachers will have to contend with an administration with a divided attention, split between inking a new deal amid a recession and leading a campaign for a levy that will appear on the May ballot.
This round of negotiations will include the district’s team, the Lakota Education Association and the Lakota Support Staff Association.
Officials from the State Employment Relations Board confirmed Tuesday, Jan. 26, they had received letters that notified them negotiations had begun for the two unions. The letters were postmarked Jan. 22.
The letters are the first step in bargaining for the 1,250-member LEA — which has a contract that expires June 30 — and the 650-member LSSA, and are a requirement of state law. It’s expected bargaining teams will be assembled for each side in the coming weeks.
The paired bargaining comes as a result of the district being forced to offer the LSSA only a one-year deal because state law requires enough cash on hand to fulfill contractual obligations, according to Board of Education President Joan Powell.
Powell said the teachers union and support staffs must work together with the district in order to ensure a solid financial future for Lakota, irrespective of the ballot issue.
“Unlike previous years, a levy alone is not going to be a solution,” Powell said. “And so it will take a shared responsibility from all parties … And that would include the teachers union to help remedy the situation.”
Added Powell: “Given our finances, that would be true whether or not a levy was on the ballot. This is our new reality.”
As of press time on Wednesday for The Pulse-Journal, LEA President Judy Buschle did not return calls and e-mails seeking comment.
In August 2008, the LEA declared it was at an impasse with the district following months failed negotiations.
Although the state-mandate of all-day kindergarten proposes school districts begin implementing the program next year, Lakota board members agreed last night to delay it for at least a year … perhaps longer.
Ray Murray cast the only dissenting vote, and board member Paul Lohr was absent due to illness.
The reasons for the delay are many, and I’ll post a pdf of the district’s position below.
Some of the highlights:
Expectation for more than 1,200 students to be enrolled when the program begins (which could be the 2012-13 school year);
The need for 27 classrooms in a new building (another early childhood school) that would cost between $16 million and $18 million and would require a bond issue to build;
The use of community buildings (like YMCAs, churches and portable classrooms) even if the program were to begin in 2011-12 school year);
Teacher costs would be an estimated $2.2 million … This in the face of an impending levy in May and a projected $28 million deficit by the 2011-12 school year.
Details won’t likely be decided until early next month, but Lakota board members agreed (at least in principle) on Monday to place a levy on the Primary ballot in May.
All members except Paul Lohr, who was absent Monday, Jan. 25, because of illness, said they would support going before voters May 4.
Making matters even more complicated, the district has officially opened negotiations with the Lakota Education Association, which recently sent a letter regarding the start of bargaining to the State Employment Relations Board.
It will be interesting to see how those two dynamics play out.
More details are expected to be revealed (like how much to ask of voters and which type of levy to pursue) on Saturday during the board’s annual work retreat.
Thoughts?
Here’s the rest of the story:
LIBERTY TWP. — The Lakota Board of Education agreed — in principle — Monday evening to place a levy on the Primary ballot in May.
Although there was no official vote, four of five board members said they would support a ballot issue in May. Board member Paul Lohr was absent Monday because of illness.
Superintendent Mike Taylor said Lakota must seek a levy in order to balance its budget and continue its mission of educating a growing population of nearly 18,000 students.
Facing a $28 million deficit for the 2011-12 school year, unfunded state mandates — such as all-day kindergarten — and additional state cuts this year and next, the district has no other choice, he said.
“I’ve never seen the landscape like it is with what we have to do,” Taylor said, adding the district’s financial situation must face a combination approach of seeking new dollars and reducing its existing budget.
Taylor said the district cut its budget by $4.2 million at the beginning of the year. Even with a levy approval, additional cuts and reorganization will be necessary, he said.
The board of education must decide before Feb. 18 — the deadline to place a levy on the May ballot — how much to ask of voters and what kind of levy will be requested.
Alongside those discussions, the board and its administration has also begun planning for bargaining sessions with the Lakota Education Association, whose contract expires June 30.
Lindsey reports about schools in Southwest Ohio's Lakota district and students, teachers and parents just like you for The Pulse-Journal newspaper. She wants your suggestions and questions for more news stories. Leave a comment here or e-mail Lindsey.
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