[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6059615,"mediaKeyId","3294109-c337558382490a1c3179ea81bda86226","parentId",3294109,"title","Students describe Purple Star programs for military families at Lakota Local board meeting","audioSeconds",808,"startMs",291000,"endMs",1099000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3294109-c337558382490a1c3179ea81bda86226&start=291&end=1099","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3294109-c337558382490a1c3179ea81bda86226/thumbnail_291000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6059615/Ohio/Students-describe-Purple-Star-programs-for-military-families-at-Lakota-Local-board-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059615-b83a93a5c32489e3a1b56ff7af5ec72e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771120247&Signature=VxmCV5~pJeJCPnIpeBxft8J-HEc9hHKWZXwU7hdOS9NfuBB6qMMl8uQbGQWBF8qhsdadWaASuBFS-Ha2XB3n8x7CYU4mmgbz-D4WZauP-x~GO9vJGp-M2h~Us5L3jCB-GAqYGW-0PadcVZDlIeBKZp7UBKnA~FcVTj3BPl5vRTFUgLanNG46NtC4pNTRgfzKzxpX2FlPflvmj4avAHx7IaoMU8qwqAmzuyGDTkU~Rdh4cXDfUaJqi4uMKhj6-r6m4RsUsFR~ujsmdGDRRUSXLy5EUiLJ-sAYh6bd1UzG8GPAydpFCYNM8tU1kJ0rlHe2Tx-sQdrgZUOr6b1Ng2YyxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lakota Local, OH ","date","2025-05-14T09:02:03.5Z","article","Students and staff from Cherokee Elementary School and Lakota East High School presented the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education with details of programs that support military-connected students after each school earned the Purple Star designation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.

The Purple Star recognizes K–12 schools that show a demonstrated commitment to students and families connected to the military. Board members were told that, statewide, “with over 3,000 public schools in Ohio, only 367 currently hold this title,” and that Cherokee and Lakota East are two of the district’s Purple Star schools.

Marcus Ott, a fifth grader at Cherokee Elementary, described activities the school holds for military families: “We have an annual Veterans Day ceremony, and students brought in pictures of family members who were or are currently in the military ... All scouts who attend Cherokee participate in a presentation of colors.” Cherokee staff and students also run a monthly “muffins with the military” program led by school counselor Jason Kennison to connect military families and give students peer support. Cherokee parent Alex Lang, who is serving in the Air National Guard, had a U.S. flag flown in the United Arab Emirates; the flag and certificate are displayed at the school, presenters said. The school resource officer, Army veteran Lieutenant Carl Sigmund, was presented with a wooden police flag by Greg Schneider, founder of Operation Ramp It Up, whose nonprofit builds ramps for veterans and people with mobility needs.

Student presenters said Cherokee maintains a page of community resources for military families and that the school currently has eight students with family members who are actively serving. Cherokee’s presentation noted the school’s longstanding traditions of honoring veterans and that Cherokee most recently renewed its Purple Star designation.

Lakota East students described a student-run Veterans Network that organizes year-round efforts including fundraising, Honor Flight Tri-State support, participation in national parades and a long-standing partnership with Blue Star Families. Emily Matting, a senior at Lakota East, said the club has joined school choir trips to Washington, D.C., to participate in national events and to greet returning Honor Flight veterans. Brooklyn Hendricks, the Veterans Club president, told the board the club’s weekend craft show averages about $1,200 in donations, which are given to West Chester VFW, West Chester American Legion and Honor Flight Tri-State.

Alumni and recent graduates who had participated in the club described Wreaths Across America and other volunteer activities that place students alongside veterans in community events. Board members praised the students’ presentations and invited the student groups to pose for photos to share on district social channels.

No board action was taken; the item was a student spotlight and informational presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lakota Board of Education Regular Meeting: May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Students and staff from Cherokee Elementary School and Lakota East High School presented the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education with details of programs that support military-connected students after each school earned the Purple Star designation from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.","taxTitle","Lakota Local, School Districts, Ohio","taxId",14477,"location","Ohio","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6059605,"Treasurer presents May update to five‑year forecast; district models reserve accounts and a 2029 levy",491,3259000,3750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3294109-c337558382490a1c3179ea81bda86226&start=3259&end=3750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3294109-c337558382490a1c3179ea81bda86226/thumbnail_3259000.jpg","/articles/6059605/Ohio/Treasurer-presents-May-update-to-fiveyear-forecast-district-models-reserve-accounts-and-a-2029-levy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059605-342f0066db585cfe8902c54bd0029e32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771120247&Signature=e0NlJjOaZ06nj0tzl4GbP0zsp8brZRxcULk1SCCSqSK3-EBG6KmnWQWVauKWWR8IPtmJRxEe37nWL8cECXyA2f24i2WbsPINnuaqrh1ddjyopdaXU7S6v5XxXXHWBh0tMm86CvIwbF2FKHyWkhhanp3NfRBNRK7EJgEZdWMdc3k8HxjRi86F0R-tvojsrpk1OVpF7L1xuRwK0ofL0wS43CRvY6ZJFduxcarcDBxd2TfTQdCSEZ0zeXMiQbkm2PvfDAG6Hc6~Zsd59C41b1-QoprMLRZDJ6nkhL0aeuo7qg-P86zDJCtgAmfnLgDcUixdUKIopghXBboIS6Y7xHKgtA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Treasurer Adam Zink presented the district’s May update to its five‑year forecast, telling the board the forecast is a management tool to show the district’s financial trajectory and to provide evidence for certification of financial obligations.

Zink said revenues for fiscal 2025 are slightly higher than anticipated because of a modest increase in state aid tied to component funding, and because interest‑income estimates have held up better than expected. He said the district is modeling a levy that would collect in fiscal 2029; “when you look at the impact … it's actually 3.4,” Zink said, referring to the modeled levy figure discussed on the forecast slide.

On the expense side, Zink warned of a spike in projected severance payments caused by an unusually large cohort of retirements. “We are pushing 72 at this moment,” he said of the number of expected retirements that affect severance liabilities; the administration said some employees have delayed pension appointments into July, which could add additional retirements and increase near‑term severance costs.

Zink also said the district increased its health‑care inflation assumption from 4% to 6% across forecast years and is proposing three reserve accounts—transportation (bus fleet), curriculum and severance—to smooth year‑to‑year fluctuations. He said the transportation reserve would assume the district ultimately purchases the yellow‑bus fleet (currently owned by Peterman) and plans a rolling 16‑bus replacement per year while phasing the reserve use over 10 years. The administration clarified that the district is not shifting to in‑house transportation operations at this time: it intends to own the physical fleet while continuing to contract operations and maintenance, which the treasurer said would reduce the Peterman contract cost and broaden vendor competition for service.

Board members asked questions about the assumptions and timelines. The board’s facilities committee reported that a master‑facility planning process is underway and that the board will consider a resolution of necessity on June 16 to start a bond timeline; June 30 was identified as the likely certification date for a ballot measure and a July training on levy/ bond roles and rules is scheduled if the board advances a measure. The treasurer said the district’s property‑tax reappraisal cycle produces a large revenue impact in the year following reappraisal; the forecast shows a significant revenue uptick in fiscal 2027 tied to that cycle.

No action on the forecast was required at the meeting; the presentation was informational. The administration said it will continue monitoring retirements, enrollment, health‑care rates and interest and will update the board at subsequent meetings.","Treasurer presented an updated five‑year forecast showing modest revenue gains, higher projected severance and health‑care costs, a modeled levy in fiscal 2029 and a proposal to fund reserve accounts for transportation, curriculum and severance; district also discussed potential master‑facility plans and bond‑timeline meetings in June and July.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6059612,"Lakota Local board hears first read on centralized unpaid‑absence policy for staff",245,1931000,2176000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3294109-c337558382490a1c3179ea81bda86226&start=1931&end=2176","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3294109-c337558382490a1c3179ea81bda86226/thumbnail_1931000.jpg","/articles/6059612/Ohio/Lakota-Local-board-hears-first-read-on-centralized-unpaidabsence-policy-for-staff","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6059612-e675be21db2875a8cb61706eb7459d32/orig.mp4?Expires=1771120247&Signature=RB1xIKYo4n3ZAr7GpHsDKAH2lljnRxtKVALGJ6rkR6N3Zhxxfa6vs6zCGFaPppBQbiUWeecq4gUAGgxJxLy4Um7B1uvDtoR67sGJ~aSgH92GG-C4oHD2cIzKoXNyrS3zw3tlYQgvu5v8J7KYwbiS4BLE~ksl-VzF52KEEYGnmgpfC199S1nTG6ZAivgzqQTJT7ICQfYJmum8u13GNGyASUoBxHbJY2nFBd62kuuwWGTFOoX8CMguKpV9HjhRIUr6ASt8T2W02TiZCYhp77Gw7~6ukcsDhRK8oHNk1-gaHIvO3kwnl7ngexYu57-fg3OCZA1e1Uc~LS~FTtJFu-9bsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Dr. Whaley presented four district policies for first reading designed to centralize and limit unpaid absences for staff, saying the proposals would route unpaid‑absence requests to a single approver and require employees to exhaust their three personal days before unpaid leave would be considered.

“Their 3 personal days have to be exhausted before an unpaid absence would even be considered,” Superintendent Dr. Whaley told the Board during the policy committee report. She said the district began collecting unpaid‑absence requests centrally this year because those requests had been handled inconsistently across 23 buildings.

Board members on both the policy committee and the full board pressed for more bargaining‑table involvement. Board member Miss French said she was “disappointed that this isn’t in a memorandum of understanding,” arguing that it would be more stable if the leave rules lived in negotiated contract language rather than district policy. Other board members warned the policy’s black‑and‑white language could eliminate manager discretion for rare, extenuating personal circumstances and might produce unintended consequences, including staff departures.

Superintendent Dr. Whaley said the draft policy would give the superintendent sole approval authority “so that I calibrate accordingly when things are denied or when they’re approved” and that the policy language was intended as an interim step until bargaining begins. The superintendent also said association leadership had not been willing to negotiate an MOU this spring and that similar language had been adapted from a neighboring district’s collective bargaining agreement with minor modifications.

Board members asked clarifying questions about specific cases discussed during the meeting, such as whether an employee could accompany a spouse on an incentive sales trip; the superintendent characterized spousal business trips as vacation for the non‑employee spouse rather than a district‑approved unpaid absence. Board members and the superintendent discussed adding parameters such as past attendance records, years of service and other negotiated safeguards if the policy proceeds.

No vote was taken tonight; the item was presented for first read and discussion. Board members indicated they expect further discussion with association leadership and possible revision before a second read or any implementation.","Superintendent presented four draft policies to standardize unpaid‑absence approvals, funneling requests to the superintendent and requiring exhaustion of personal days; board members urged bargaining‑table discussion and flagged potential unintended consequences.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Students describe Purple Star programs for military families at Lakota Local board meeting

Treasurer presents May update to five‑year forecast; district models reserve accounts and a 2029 levy

Lakota Local board hears first read on centralized unpaid‑absence policy for staff