The Lakota Local School Board voted unanimously to approve the second reading of updated board policies, adopt an ordinance and approve personnel and donation items during its regular meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Weidley opened remarks by reading a nomination for a staff recognition program that honored Erin Schneider, an English teacher at Lakota East High School. Reading a former student's letter, Dr. Weidley quoted, “She allowed me space to eat lunch when I had no one,” to illustrate the individual impact district staff have on students. Dr. Weidley also said the district held gym (GEM) awards this month to recognize staff contributions.

The student-count update Dr. Weidley provided was dated Jan. 6: the district had 17,457 students on the Monday reported, a decline of 165 from the same time last year. The superintendent said 29 students completed graduation requirements at Lakota Central at the end of the first semester, and 23 students from Lakota East and West were approved to begin attending Lakota Central for the second semester. Dr. Weidley noted the second semester began a day late because of weather and that there were 88 school days remaining in the 2024–25 school year.

Board members briefly discussed a recently released Joint Committee on Property Tax Reform report. A trustee said the board’s finance committee will analyze the report’s recommendations to estimate the potential fiscal impact on the district; at the time of the meeting trustees reported that additional phase-in years mentioned in some proposals appeared unlikely and that more information would be presented at an upcoming finance committee meeting or work session.

On the consent and action agenda, the board took three recorded votes. For the second reading of board policies (agenda item 20A) the board approved the policies as presented. For agenda item 21A, listed as approval of an ordinance, the board approved the ordinance (the ordinance number and text were not specified in the public remarks). For items 22A and 22B, the board approved personnel actions and donations. Roll-call votes for these items were recorded in the meeting minutes; the recorded responses in the meeting were unanimous yes votes from the trustees present.

Board members used closing comments to thank custodial and maintenance staff for clearing parking lots and sidewalks after heavy snowfall, to celebrate staff recognized at the GEM/gym awards, to remind the community that Jan. 20 is a holiday for Martin Luther King Jr., and to note upcoming events such as the East–West basketball doubleheader on Jan. 24. Trustees also noted that January is school-board appreciation month and said formal recognition will be scheduled at the Jan. 27 meeting.

The meeting concluded with a unanimous motion to adjourn.