Lakota Local Schools is a public school district serving students from West Chester and Liberty townships in Butler County, Ohio, in the northern suburbs of Cincinnati.[1] Serving nearly 15,000 students,[2] it is the largest school district in Butler County, second largest in southwestern Ohio and the seventh largest in the U.S. state of Ohio. It operates six early childhood (PK–2) schools, eight elementary schools, four junior high schools, two freshman schools and two high schools.[3]
Lakota was rated 'Excellent with Distinction' in the most recent Ohio Department of Education report card (2010–11), ranking in the top 7% of school districts statewide. They met 26 of 26 state indicators and had a graduation rate of over 95%. It is the largest school district in the state to earn the 'Excellent' designation.[4]
The current superintendent as of August2024(2024-08) is Dr. Ashley Whitely. She was previously assistant superintendent of Wyoming City Schools and an English teacher at Lakota East High School. She replaced previous superintendent Mr. Matt Miller who resigned in January of 2023 and interim superintendent Dr. Elizabeth Lolli who was the superintendent for the 2023/2024 school year.
History
The district in its current configuration was established in 1957 after the Union and Liberty school districts were combined. The district was originally known as the Liberty-Union School District and was renamed to Lakota Local School District in 1970.
Two of the district's schools, Union Elementary (1916) and Liberty Elementary (1928), were built prior to the consolidation. Liberty Elementary is still standing but Union Elementary has since been demolished. In 1959, the Board of Education built a high school for the district; three years later, a third elementary (Hopewell) was added.
From 1969 to 1978, three junior schools were built. The first, Lakota Junior School (1969), was built next to the high school and was later used as a freshman wing of the high school, and then the Lakota Early Childhood Center. It is now used to house the Creekside Early Childhood School. Hopewell Junior was opened in 1973, and Lakota Junior was replaced by Liberty Junior when it opened in 1976. Adena Elementary became the district's fourth when it opened in 1978.
Freedom Elementary opened in 1988, the same year an addition was built onto the high school. Two years later in 1990, Woodland and Shawnee elementary opened their doors. From 1992 to 1994, three new elementary schools (Heritage-1992, Cherokee, and Independence-1994), and a separate freshman building (1993) were built, as well as additions to six other buildings.
1997 marked the largest expansion to the Lakota district. In that year, two new high schools were opened (Lakota East and Lakota West). Freshmen were moved to the old high school building, and the freshman building became a third junior school (Lakota Ridge). Kindergarten students from most of the elementary schools were consolidated into the Lakota Early Childhood Center, which also holds preschool classes.
In 2003, Van Gorden Elementary (named after the family that donated the land it sits on) and Lakota Plains Junior School were opened, along with a new Central Office Building.
Starting from the school year 2007–08, there were many transfers throughout the district. New schools were being built and some students, as well as staff, were relocated to new schools. Lakota East Freshman school opened in the 2008–2009 school year for students who will attend Lakota East. The building that once contained freshmen for both high schools (which was once the old high school itself previous to 1997), became Lakota West Freshman for the students who will attend Lakota West.[5]
On Labor Day in September 2023, a fire in the Hopewell Junior building broke out in the coach’s office. Smoke was covering the whole building, but the fire stayed in the lower basement level. The building did not have sprinklers at the time due to its age. The cause of the fire was accidental. Fire Chief Rick Prinz stated an extension cord coiled up under sweaty jerseys and tents most likely causes the fire. It also included a lithium ion battery which further increased the fire. All classes were canceled for the rest of the week at the main building, but all classes moved to a near by church. When the building was able to be reoccupied, choir, band, all lunch periods, and more stayed at the church. Core instruction classes moved back to Hopewell.
Lakota, like many other neighboring districts, struggles with capacity issues in all buildings. Lakota Local Schools is currently working on a Master Facilities Plan to build, close, and repurpose current schools to fit the growing needs of the district. Many schools in the district have received barely sufficient or insufficient in terms of building condition. The current plan, approved by the school board in May 2023, plans on closing Creekside Early Childhood, Hopewell Early Childhood, Shawnee Early Childhood, Heritage Early Childhood, Adena Elementary, Freedom Elementary, Woodland Elementary, Hopewell Junior School, Liberty Junior School, and the Lakota West Freshman building. The district plans on repurposing the current Lakota East & Lakota West main campus into junior school buildings. Ridge Junior School, Plains Junior School, and the East Freshman buildings would become elementary buildings. The district plans on building three new elementary schools and two new high schools. The district plans on making preschool its own separate building, instead of operating at VanGorden elementary & Liberty Early Childhood. All preschool operations would move to the Liberty Building. All grades K–5 would be considered elementary, grades 6–8 would be junior schools and 9–12 would be high schools.
References
↑ School districts(PDF) (Map). 1:12,101. Hamilton, Ohio: Butler County GIS Department. February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 13, 2019.
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