Frequently Asked Questions

Part of Lakota’s strategic plan calls for an in-depth assessment of our facilities. Called a Master Facilities Plan (MFP), this process is needed to develop and communicate a long-range vision for our school facilities that will protect our district’s most important physical assets - our 25 buildings valued at more than $632 million - and best support our students' current and future educational needs. It serves as a guide for assessing the long-term needs over the next 30+ years for facility improvements and the capital investments required to implement them.

The MFP will assist us with ensuring that our schools continue to provide a quality learning environment that fosters future-ready, student-centered and personalized learning experiences for every single learner every day.
 

The goal of our MFP is to continue providing exceptional learning environments that support our community’s vision for the future of education at Lakota, while utilizing existing facilities in the most fiscally responsible manner.

The last time Lakota completed a comprehensive plan was in the early 2000s, with an implementation in 2008. 

Some of Lakota’s facilities are showing significant signs of deterioration and are becoming increasingly expensive to maintain. In many cases, they are not equipped to provide students with the learning spaces that match current and future K-12 educational models.

Furthermore, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission's (OFCC) recent study projects continuing enrollment increases in the District’s northern schools. Many of these schools have already become overcrowded. In a few cases, this has meant the expansion or return of portable classrooms. Per the OFCC's standards for Ohio schools, Lakota is over capacity by more than 700 students, when evaluating square footage.

Finally, when Lakota renewed its membership in Ohio’s Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP) in 2024, it made the District eligible to begin receiving partial funding from the State for all system or building upgrades or improvements that are defined in the final approved Master Facilities Plan. Once the Board submits its Master Facilities Plan to the OFCC, it must be approved by the State. Then, the District can begin building a credit with the OFCC once it spends its first $1 million on projects in the approved plan.

Lakota's reimbursement rate through ELPP is currently 32% which equals about $200 million. Acceptance into ELPP is a non-binding agreement on the District’s part. That means, if funding sources have not been secured within one year, Lakota can re-apply for the program. The longer Lakota delays getting the MFP approved and funding sources secured, the bigger the risk of increased construction costs and a decrease in the reimbursement rate from ELPP.
 

The long-range Master Facilities Plan assesses the needs of all 21 Lakota school buildings, with Lakota Central and Creekside as part of West Freshman and Lakota's preschool part of VanGorden Elementary and Liberty Early Childhood schools. Some schools would be replaced, consolidated, expanded or renovated, while others will receive more routine maintenance to bring them up to new standards over the span of the plan’s 30+-year implementation. With the MFP looking 30+ years into the future, every building will be included in the plan, even if just for standard renovations to address normal aging and maintenance. 

Design work has already begun on the master facilities plan. The Board is seeking voter approval in November 2025 to pass a bond issue to fund the plan. If the bond issue passes, the estimated timeline is as follows:

At this time, it does not appear that students will need to move buildings during the construction and renovations of Lakota's schools. While some of the work will need to take place during the school day, we will try to make disruptions as minimal as possible to our students and staff.

After careful consideration, including gathering feedback from multiple community listening sessions, the Lakota Board of Education approved this plan during the 2023-2024 school year. 

At its June 30 regular meeting, the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education took the formal step of placing a bond issue on the November 2025 ballot to fund renovations to aging facilities and the construction of new buildings to meet the District’s growing enrollment, enhance student safety and support academic achievement through learning environments.

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If the bond issue and permanent improvement (PI) levy is not approved by voters on Nov. 4, the Board of Education would decide the next steps.

In order to avoid the 3.12 net-mill operating and PI levy forecasted for Nov. 2028, the first phase of the Master Facilities Plan (6-12 buildings) must be operational by the 2028-2029 school year for the District to see anticipated operational savings and offset forecasted deficit spending. This higher millage operating levy is based on maintaining Lakota's current footprint of 21 buildings and current programming. It would not provide operational savings, renovated or new buildings or enhanced programming.

Currently, Lakota is out of space and cannot add classrooms to either lower class sizes or add additional programs. If class sizes continue to rise to levels that are consistently 30+, the District would need to consider ways to get space for additional classrooms, especially in K-6. This means possible elimination of K-6 specials and/or all-day kindergarten.

School resource officers (SROs) would also continue to be shared across campuses. 

The inflationary component of waiting is estimated to be $2 million per month.

The cost to not move forward with the plan and renovate our current buildings is estimated to cost more than $480 million, without additional square footage to accommodate enrollment growth.

When accounting for the additional square footage and locally funded initiatives accounted for in the Master Facilities Plan, the total is more than $667 million. Furthermore, by not partnering with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, we would not receive the 32% state co-funding.

More information can be found in this presentation.

A recent state assessment by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) found that 12 of our 21 buildings are in “deficient” or “borderline” condition*. "Deficient" does not mean that the school is unsafe or not being maintained properly by the District. The OFCC will pay 32% of the cost to build a new school, but nothing to renovate it. Any deviation from these recommendations would require Lakota to cover 100% of the renovation costs, as opposed to 68% with the OFCC's reimbursement. By partnering with the OFCC, the State will co-fund about $200 million of the plan.

Lakota applied, and was granted, a waiver on the three borderline schools which will allow for renovations instead of decommissioning the buildings.

In addition, enrollment is growing—especially in our northern schools. Since 2018, we’ve added 600 students, and some schools are already using portable classrooms to keep up. Our current enrollment has already exceeded projections from both state and independent studies. Per the OFCC's standards for Ohio schools, Lakota is over capacity by more than 700 students, when evaluating square footage. It is expected that Lakota will see an additional 2,000 students in the next 10 years, which is a normal pace. 

The Master Facilities Plan addresses both aging infrastructure and growing enrollment to ensure our schools are safe, modern and ready for the future.

*Note: Creekside, West Freshman and Central share one building.

Every building in the district has been assessed by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). Assessments are completed for the entire facility and evaluate 23 major building components, including structure, systems, technology and safety.

When assessing buildings, the OFCC evaluates based on 20 years for renovations and 50 years for new construction.

At each school, the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) evaluates 23 major building components. Based on the current condition, a renovation cost is assigned to each component and covers all upgrades required over the next 30+ years to match the condition of a new building. Renovation costs are revised annually by the OFCC.

The OFCC also assigns each building a replacement cost, which is determined by multiplying the building’s square footage by the cost per square foot. The per square foot new construction cost is set by the OFCC and is based on other school construction throughout the state. 

The OFCC uses the following formula to determine a building’s overall condition rating and if it should be renovated or replaced: Cost to Renovate / Cost to Replace = %. Based on that percentage, a building is classified as follows:

* Under ELPP, the district would receive the state funding only if renovated. 

** The District can apply for a waiver from the OFCC, allowing them to receive state funding to renovate instead of replace, only if approved.

View Lakota’s current building condition ratings, as assigned by the OFCC. 

Being classified as “Deficient Condition,” or receiving a percentage rating of 68 or above (replacement cost divided by renovation cost), does not mean that the school is currently unsafe or unfit and not being maintained properly by the District. In some cases, the school may get a deficient rating based on the goals of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) to bring all buildings up to a “new” standard over the next 30+ years of its life. 

For example, an existing roof may be nine years old and performing as designed. Under normal use and maintenance, this roof could last another 10 to 15 years. In the OFCC program, however, this roof would be considered “deficient” as they would want to eventually replace it with a new roof with a long-term warranty.

With Lakota's participation in the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), the OFCC will pay 32% of the cost to build a new school, but nothing to renovate it. Any deviation from these recommendations would require Lakota to cover 100% of the renovation costs, as opposed to 68% with the OFCC's reimbursement.

No Lakota school is considered unsafe in its current condition. Being classified as “Deficient Condition,” or receiving a percentage rating of 68 or above (replacement cost divided by renovation cost), does not mean that the school is currently unsafe or unfit and not being maintained properly by the district. In some cases, the school may get a deficient rating based on the goals of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) to bring all buildings up to a “new” standard over the next 30+ years of its life. 

Despite some of the difficulties and challenges that come with maintaining aging systems, even our oldest schools meet state safety codes and regulations established at the time of the building’s construction. This does not mean they are current with today’s safety and health codes. In some of our buildings, certain system upgrades - like improved air filtration systems as requested during the pandemic, for example - cannot be supported by current systems without a complete replacement.

Lakota is partnering with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) to co-fund the project. The District will receive 32%, which equals about $200 million, through the OFCC to fund phase three of the Master Facilities Plan.

In order to receive this funding, the District must follow the OFCC recommendations for whether a building should be renovated or rebuilt. These decisions are based on the State’s professional assessments and cost analyses. Lakota may appeal to the State for further review if we disagree with their assessment, which we have done.

If Lakota chooses to renovate a school when the OFCC recommends rebuilding, Lakota would have to fund 100% of the renovation costs.

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The State of Ohio considers it a conflict of interest to have schools evaluated by local contractors during the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission's (OFCC) assessment. They want independent reviews and hire companies specifically outside of the area because involving local contractors in the evaluation of buildings could give them an advantage when project bidding opens.

The District did enlist two local architects to validate the OFCC's assessments. During this review, Lakota appealed to the State to re-assess three schools they initially classified as decommission. These schools, Cherokee, Independence and Ridge, will now be renovated.

The District has now hired Skanska/Megan/Shook as its Construction Manager at Risk, who are local contractors and have members who live in West Chester and Liberty townships. These companies have validated the OFCC's process.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) conducted extensive research when determining square footage standards for classrooms. It was determined that 900 square feet (SF) was the appropriate size to accommodate current and future student needs for 25 students per class, which is their standard. 

It was also determined that districts could reduce the overall classroom size by 10%, to no less than 810 SF, noting that this would provide extra space for developing creative learning spaces, common areas and other instructional areas like art and music.

While 900 SF is the OFCC’s recommended square footage, the minimum acceptable traditional classroom size is 810 SF. 

Current Lakota square footage examples include:

Lakota's Master Facilities Plan calls for additions along with four new K-5 schools. Examples of the additional square footage to be added includes:

Although the Master Facilities Plan calls for a smaller building footprint, going from 21 buildings to 16, the total square footage would increase by 249,522 square feet. Here's how:

In 2018, decommissioning was assumed to occur in 2023. We then had a pandemic, four superintendents in two years and changes in school board members. While these factors paused work on the Master Facilities Plan, maintenance on the buildings did not stop. Instead, decisions were made that were thought to be more fiscally responsible. 

For example, in 2018, putting a new roof on West Freshman when we thought it would be decommissioned in 2023 would not have been a fiscally responsible decision. Instead, patches were done on the roof.

Longevity is factored into this plan. We want our buildings to last 50 years or longer.

In prior years, we have not partnered with the State's Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, including when many of the schools slated for decommissioning were built. By partnering with the OFCC, the new schools, and the renovated ones, will be constructed in a way that meets the State's standards for longevity.

Planning for school facilities is different than planning to build a new house. Funding in form of a bond issue must be secured before the blueprints are discussed. However, we do know what the estimated square footage will be. Additionally, our architect, Elevar, has provided us with some examples of what the additions to Lakota East, West, East Freshman and Plains could look like.

The District owns enough land to accommodate the four new K-5 schools listed in the approved plan. Therefore, the Board does not believe additional land will be needed. However, district leaders have met with representatives from both West Chester and Liberty townships, as well as Butler County, to discuss if there is an opportunity to partner for locations beyond land that Lakota currently owns.
 

Decreasing Lakota’s overall building count, including the final approved plan, means constructing larger schools to accommodate all of our students. How attendance zones are redeveloped and district lines redrawn will determine the numbers making up each building. 
 

While redistricting will inevitably be a part of this process, we understand that it is important to our families that our schools follow a neighborhood model, meaning schools would be geographically situated to serve surrounding neighborhoods and students residing within the same neighborhood would not attend different schools. We will do our best to continue this.

Enrollment studies are crucial so the District can monitor growth areas and be prepared to handle large groups of students, referred to as "bubbles", as they move through the grade bands.
 

We understand that many of our community partners utilize our facilities and outdoor spaces. This is something that will be closely considered as we finalize things like building locations and how to best utilize buildings that would close. 
 

The schools that are slated to be decommissioned have been rated as “deficient” by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), not Lakota. "Deficient" does not mean that the school is unsafe or not being maintained properly by the District. The OFCC will pay 32% of the cost to build a new school, but nothing to renovate it. Any deviation from these recommendations would require Lakota to cover 100% of the renovation costs, as opposed to 68% with the OFCC's reimbursement.

Some of this land on which the “deficient” buildings stand will be used to build the four new K-5 schools called for in the plan. For the remaining properties, no final decisions have been made but the buildings will be demolished and the property would be reset.

Possible outcomes may include:

• Repurposing for community or district use;
• Selling the property to generate revenue; or
• Converting to green space or other public benefits.

The Board is committed to a transparent process and will actively seek community input before making any decisions. Updates and opportunities for engagement will be posted on the Master Facilities calendar.

The first phase of the plan will be to build additions at both Lakota East and West High Schools as well as East Freshman and Plains Junior. With this construction slated to be complete by the start of the 2028-2029 school year, ninth graders will move to the high schools and students in grades 6-8 will attend either East Freshman or Plains. 

The second phase of the plan calls for the construction of the four new K-5 buildings, which are scheduled to open for the 2029-2030 school year.

Our new architect, Elevar, has proposed several different layout options for the additions to our secondary schools that will have less of an impact on student learning, as well as be more cost effective. While there will be some disruption as the additions are connected to the existing buildings, it is our hope that it is as minimal as possible. When feasible, construction will occur after hours or during breaks.

This process will be repeated when renovations are done to primary, or grade K-5, schools.

The safety of our students and staff is always Lakota's first priority. As such, improvements and updates are regularly implemented throughout our schools. However, improving safety features is included in the Master Facilities Plan (MFP).

During the design process, safety will be overlaid in all discussions. Examples of areas of consideration include:

• Enhanced security around entrances;
• Cameras;
• Lock features for classrooms; and
• ADA compliance.

Additionally, with a smaller footprint of 16 schools, compared to the current 21, we will be able to provide a school resource officer at every school, as opposed to the current model of some being shared across campuses.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) sets the state standards for school facilities across Ohio. To determine the size of a building, it uses a specific formula to calculate the amount of square footage required per student based on enrollment studies. 

When the additions and renovations are complete at our 6-12 schools, both high schools, East Freshman and Plains will all increase in size by about 50%. This space will not only accommodate a new grade coming to the existing schools (sixth or ninth), but also allow for future growth.

The four new K-5 elementary schools will be built to accommodate about 880 students.

Although the Master Facilities Plan calls for a smaller building footprint, going from 21 buildings to 16, the total square footage would increase by 249,522 square feet. Here's how:

If voters approve the November 2025 bond issue, the estimated timeline is as follows:

It is the District's goal to have construction complete at the start of the school year to avoid moving students mid-year.

Following careful review of several factors to determine the best sites, the District announced the four new K-5 buildings will be located on the current campuses: 

1. Shawnee Early Childhood School (ECS);
2. Hopewell Junior and Hopewell ECS;
3. West Freshman, Creekside and Lakota Central; and
4. Liberty Junior and Woodland Elementary.

Some of the factors evaluated include: 

• Geographic balance across the District to serve all neighborhoods equitably;
• Current and projected enrollment patterns;
• Availability and condition of existing school properties;
• Transportation and traffic flow considerations; and
• Opportunities for community partnerships or shared use.

Contingent on the passage of the November 4, 2025 bond issue, all four new schools would open their doors in time for the start of the 2029-2030 school year.  

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Decreasing Lakota’s overall building count, including the final approved plan, means extensive renovations, including additions, on Lakota East and West high schools, East Freshman and Plains Junior. It also includes constructing larger schools to accommodate all of our students. How attendance zones are redeveloped and district lines redrawn will determine the numbers making up each building. 

While specific projects and upgrades cannot be determined until the Board and committee work through the logistics and details of the approved plan, each of our schools will be updated to meet current and future standards as determined by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). The MFP looks 30+ years into the future, so every building will be included in the plan with upgrades and improvements to bring it up to current design standards.

Furthermore, buildings that are slated to serve a different grade band than they currently serve will require modifications. These costs are considered in each of the options being considered. 

We will closely consider the required modifications to make any transitions for buildings impacted by grade-band changes. These costs are factored into the final approved plan.

The first phase of the plan will be to build additions at both Lakota East and West High Schools as well as East Freshman and Plains Junior. With this construction slated to be complete by the start of the 2028-2029 school year, ninth graders will move to the high schools and students in grades 6-8 will attend either East Freshman or Plains. 

The second phase of the plan calls for the construction of the four new K-5 buildings, which are scheduled to open for the 2029-2030 school year.

The safety of our students and staff is always our first priority. Construction zones will be physically separated from student areas and contractors will adhere to strict safety and background check requirements. Work will be phased to minimize disruption to learning and students will not have access to any construction areas. 

Yes. All buildings will receive updated mechanical systems, including energy-efficient HVAC, modern electrical systems, and improved air quality standards.

Planning for school facilities is different than planning to build a new house. Funding in form of a bond issue must be secured before the blueprints are discussed. However, we do know what the estimated square footage will be. Additionally, our architect, Elevar, has provided us with some examples of what the additions to Lakota East, West, East Freshman and Plains could look like.

If Issue 10 passes on Nov. 4, community input would be involved in the design process. 

The new grade configuration reduces building transitions, creating more stability and stronger academic continuity for students. The extended time in one school helps students build stronger bonds with staff and families, improving academic outcomes. 

The new grade-band configurations, coupled with additions and renovations, will open more classroom space in our schools. This will give district leaders more flexibility to adjust class sizes by adding additional sections when needed. The reconfiguration will also support additional programming opportunities without adding staff. 

Currently, many of our schools do not have space to accommodate additional classrooms, even though many classes, especially in K-6, have 27+ students in them. This has caused the District to invest in modular classrooms and shift to shared spaces for things like specials and intervention support. 

Learn more about Lakota's student capacity versus the State's recommendations.

New and renovated buildings will include fully accessible, purpose-built spaces for special education programs. The plan prioritizes inclusive design and improved access to specialized services.

Athletic facilities are typically locally funded initiatives (LFIs) and are not eligible for co-funding by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The amount of the project includes money to invest in athletic facilities at both high school campuses. District leaders are also discussing potential partnerships to assist with the funding of these facilities.

The District has worked extensively with our local law enforcement partners, West Chester and Liberty townships and Butler County to evaluate pedestrian safety at our schools this year. Should traffic patterns change due to additions at schools, this will be carefully evaluated and changes shared with our families. New and renovated schools will include updated site designs to improve traffic circulation, drop-off zones, and pedestrian pathways. The District will work with local law enforcement and municipalities on traffic planning.

A middle school model, grades 6-8, is educationally sound and is between elementary and high school. A junior high model, which we currently have, is a more direct transition to high school. 

Especially in larger buildings, the goal is to prioritize relationship buildings and ensure that students travel in cohorts together to facilitate socialization. By building the model correctly and staffing it appropriately, this can be very successful.

Possibly. Reducing the building footprint means more efficient bus routes. This could, in turn, alter start times. Should this occur, any changes would be communicated well in advance of being implemented.

Possibly. If we get to the point where we have to get space back for regular classrooms, it's likely all operating expenses will be on the table as we look for operational savings.

To bring the Master Facilities Plan to life, we’ll need a combination of state support and local funding:

• State Reimbursement: The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) will reimburse the District for 32% of the costs for approved projects, which equals about $200 million. Once the plan is approved by the OFCC, Lakota will lock in its 32% reimbursement rate once it spends $1 million in projects on the approved plan.
• Local Bond Issue: The remaining funds will come from a bond issue, which requires voter approval on Nov. 4. 

The ballot language will show a 4.99 mill bond issue and 0.95 permanent improvement levy because it must be calculated as if collection would begin in 20206. However, the net increase to our taxpayers would be 2.66 mills because collection would not begin until 2029. This is because:

• Three independent financial firms have verified that Lakota will not need to collect more than 3.99 mills on the bond issue because of the state co-funding and delayed collection.
• 2.28 mills from the 2005 and 2000 bond issues will be fully paid off in 2029. This means the taxes currently collected for those bonds will no longer be needed. This is referred to as “bonds rolling off.”
• Because of the 2.28 mills rolling off, the actual increase in taxes, or net increase, of 2.66 mills will be lower than the full amount shown on the ballot.

In other words, some of the new cost will be offset by the old debt rolling off. This helps reduce the financial impact on taxpayers while still allowing the District to invest in new and renovated schools.

The Lakota Board of Education approved two resolutions of intent to ensure that no more than 2.66 mills would be collected and that collection would not begin until 2029.

The ballot language and Butler County Auditor's calculator for Lakota's upcoming bond issue and permanent improvement levy are calculated as if the District would begin collections in 2026. This is not the case.

The ballot language, as well as the Butler County Auditor's calculator, cannot include details outlining how the Master Facilities Plan will be financed which is why it will show a higher amount than the net impact to taxpayers. This includes the delayed collection until 2029 and the lower net increase to taxpayers due to previous debt being paid off in 2028. 

The Lakota Board of Education approved two resolutions of intent to ensure no collection would begin until 2029 and that the increased millage would not be more than 2.66 net mills.
 

Bond Issue

A bond issue would authorize Lakota to sell bonds to raise money for capital improvement projects supporting the Master Facilities Plan. Like a mortgage, the District must repay the bonds over time.

Operating Levy

An operating levy is taxpayers' support for the District to pay its day-to-day operating expenses. Like a checking account, Lakota uses the majority of its operating fund to pay for instruction, pupil support, instructional support and extracurricular activities.

Permanent Improvement (PI) Levy

A permanent improvement, or PI, levy is the taxpayers' support for the District to pay for expenses that have a lifespan of at least five years. Like a savings account, Lakota uses this money for long-term expenses. Examples include curriculum purchases, technology and the upkeep and maintenance of Lakota's buildings.

In anticipation of the master facilities plan (MFP), Lakota’s finance leadership has been laying the groundwork to ease the burden on the taxpayers as much as possible. This includes taking advantage of lower interest rates to refinance district debt and pay it off earlier. Currently, residents pay over three mills to the school district for its current debts, which will be mostly paid off in 2028. As this debt is paid off, the District would replace it with new debt incurred from the MFP, a strategy that can be compared to a car owner who buys a new car just as they’ve paid off their old one. 

The Lakota Board of Education approved two resolutions of intent to ensure no collection would begin until 2029 and that the increased millage would not be more than 2.66 net mills. As a result, the net overall increase to the taxpayer to cover the full cost of the MFP is lowered.

The Lakota Board of Education determined that this bond issue is essential to fund the construction, renovation and modernization of school facilities as outlined in our Master Facilities Plan. This funding will address critical infrastructure needs and create future-ready learning environments for all Lakota students, including:

• Construction of four new elementary schools:
  • These new K–5 buildings will replace aging facilities and reduce the total number of buildings the District operates, creating a more efficient footprint and improving the educational experience.
• Major additions and renovations at Lakota East and West high schools, East Freshman and Plains Junior School:
  • These upgrades will increase capacity and modernize instructional, athletic and performing arts spaces.
• Comprehensive renovations at multiple elementary and junior schools:
  • Facilities like Cherokee, Independence and Ridge Junior schools will receive significant updates to align with modern learning needs.
• Demolition of outdated facilities:
  • Several older school buildings will be taken offline and safely removed to support long-term efficiency and reduce maintenance costs.
• District-wide safety and security enhancements:
  • Projects include improved visitor entry systems, upgraded lighting, secure vestibules and ADA compliance improvements across all sites.
• Upgraded learning environments for the arts and extracurricular programs:
  • Plans include renovated music and art classrooms and new or enhanced athletic fields. The District is also exploring potential partnerships that may open opportunities for a dedicated performance space.
• Improved site designs for traffic and pedestrian flow:
  • Each construction or renovation project will include updates to drop-off zones, parking and walkways to enhance safety and efficiency.
• Modern infrastructure and energy efficiency:
  • All buildings will receive updated HVAC, electrical and building systems that reduce operating costs and improve indoor air quality.
• Support for new grade configurations and smoother student transitions:
  • Fewer building transitions and appropriately grouped grade levels will support academic performance and social-emotional well-being. 

This investment is not just about buildings—it’s about making sure every Lakota student learns in an environment that matches the demands of today and tomorrow's worlds. Through a partnership with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), the District qualifies for 32% in state co-funding, which equals about $200 million, reducing the burden on local taxpayers.
 

Lakota is partnering with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) to co-fund the project. The District will receive 32%, which equals about $200 million, through the OFCC to fund phase three of the Master Facilities Plan.

In order to receive this funding, the District must follow the OFCC recommendations for whether a building should be renovated or rebuilt. These decisions are based on the State’s professional assessments and cost analyses. Lakota may appeal to the State for further review if we disagree with their assessment, which we have done.

If Lakota chooses to not follow the OFCC's ratings, Lakota would have to fund 100% of the renovation costs for improvements not matching OFCC recommendations.

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While decreasing Lakota’s building count from 21 to 16 means some buildings will be larger to accommodate all our students, we still anticipate some operational savings in areas like transportation, utility costs, systems maintenance and buildings/grounds upkeep, for example. Operational savings through staffing are forecasted through natural attrition and retirements.

Click on the graphic below to view the full document.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission's (OFCC) design requirements were previously very strict. Now, there are more options for school districts to choose from when planning renovations and new construction. 

Additionally, Lakota now qualifies for 32% co-funding. This would bring about $200 million back to the community for Lakota to use to renovate buildings.

When a district partners with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), they must pass a one-half mill (0.5) permanent improvement (PI) levy. This is required because, if the State is investing dollars in a school district, they want to ensure that the district has secured the funds to maintain the facilities for the long-term. 

Lakota 's request for a .95 mill PI levy accounts for anticipated future changes to Lakota's tax base. In other words, increased property valuation will result in lower effective millage. By asking for slightly more than is required by the OFCC, Lakota is not as likely to have to return to taxpayers when the effective millage decreases to meet the 0.5 state requirement. 

Permanent improvement funds can only be used on items with a lifespan of five years or more. This includes facility maintenance.

Lakota's Master Facilities Plan (MFP) includes an eight percent inflation rate and five percent tariff assessment. The District has hired a Construction Manager at Risk whose primary role is to ensure that the architect and builder are working within budget.

Should the project come in under budget, this would be a lower debt payment for the District and an earlier roll-off of for this tax collection.

No. Lakota, and all Ohio schools, must follow the law about spending. Salaries are paid from Lakota's general operating fund, not permanent improvement or bond funds.

Operating Levy

An operating levy is taxpayers' support for the District to pay its day-to-day operating expenses. Like a checking account, Lakota uses the majority of its operating fund to pay for instruction, pupil support, instructional support and extracurricular activities.

The last time Lakota was on the ballot for an operating levy was in 2013. This levy was supposed to fund Lakota for five years but is forecasted to stretch to 15 years.

Permanent Improvement (PI) Levy

A permanent improvement, or PI, levy is the taxpayers' support for the District to pay for expenses that have a lifespan of at least five years. Like a savings account, Lakota uses this money for long-term expenses. Examples include curriculum purchases, technology and the upkeep and maintenance of Lakota's buildings.

The last time Lakota was on the ballot for permanent improvement levy was in 2013, a levy that was supposed to last for five years. Lakota's partnership for co-funding through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) requires the District to pass a 0.5 mill permanent improvement levy to be used for facility maintenance and upkeep.

Bond Issue

A bond issue would authorize Lakota to sell bonds to raise money for capital improvement projects supporting the Master Facilities Plan. Like a mortgage, the District must repay the bonds over time. 

The last time Lakota was on the ballot for a bond issue was in 2005.

Lakota has had three independent financial firms verify that the District will not need to collect more than 3.99 mills for the bond issue. This is due to the state co-funding and forecasted changes to the tax base.

Read the reports:

1. Bradley Payne
2. RBC
3. Stifel

Lakota has structured financing so that, if Issue 10 passes on Nov. 4, bonds will be sold in two phases with payments beginning in 2029. This delay will lower the net impact to taxpayers.

Lakota currently receives 26.5 mills from Class 1 residential/agricultural property taxes. This is broken down as follows: 

• Operating levy: 23.3 mills (64.14 voted)
• Permanent Improvement (PI) levy: 1.09 mills (2 mills voted)
• Bond levy: 2.12 mills (the County Auditor sets millage each year to meet the debt payment obligation)

Operating and PI funds can only collect at the amount approved by voters. This means, as the community grows and property values increase, the millage collected (mills) decreases. For example, the current PI millage was approved at 2 mills in 2013 but now collects at 1.09 mills. This is because of House Bill 920. Millage related to bond issues is set by the county auditor and is adjusted to meet the debt payment.

Examples of fiscal oversight can be seen in the shift to purchase curriculum in cycles, as opposed to open options. Not only does this help with fiscal planning but ensures continuity across the District. Elimination of lease agreement with competitive bid purchases to reduce long-term expense. Another example is that both Superintendent Whitely and Treasurer Zink both approve every purchase order submitted for spending. Finally, in previous years, the District used multiple legal firms. This has been narrowed down and only Superintendent Whitely and Treasurer Zink can contact them unless otherwise approved. 

Interest rates are calculated in the contingency and the $506 million bond issue is the maximum.

The approved plan includes a 10% inflation rate and 5% tariff allowance. Additionally, inflation rates were higher when the plan was approved by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission. The district strategically did not include interest income from the bond proceeds in the budgeted project calculation, although these must be used on the project. This is estimated to bring in an additional $25 million for the project as an additional reserve with the overall goal being to complete the project under budget. 

The Board of Education set the cap for millage collections at 2.66 mills for this project or Issue 10. Coming in under budget would reduce this for all residents. 

The grade reconfiguration for the master facilities plan is a direct response to the community’s strong request for fewer building transitions, as conveyed during community feedback forums. Furthermore, the K-5, 6-8 and 9-12 models, which the approved plan uses, are more commonly used in the K-12 educational environment and allow the District to be more efficient with our learning spaces.

The grade configuration changes mean a broader mix of ages in each building and students remaining in the same building longer and with fewer transitions. Having older students (fourth and fifth grades) in the same building as K-3 students, for example, means added mentoring opportunities among older students and younger students. Having students remain in the same building for longer facilitates stronger relationships between staff and students and their families. All of this contributes to stronger academic performance.

The Board of Education and Lakota Local Schools are committed to student safety, making it the first priority, always. The shift to fewer buildings will also assist the District in maintaining a consistent number of school resource officers in our schools.
 

The new grade configuration reduces building transitions, creating more stability and stronger academic continuity for students. The extended time in one school helps students build stronger bonds with staff and families, improving academic outcomes. 

The decision to move to a middle school model was made carefully with the best interest of Lakota’s students at the forefront. There are many opportunities to explore now that a middle school configuration, grades 6-8 in one building, has been approved. For example, while sixth graders might not have the same athletic opportunities as the seventh and eighth graders, the new configuration could mean more opportunities such as exposure to band and choir earlier.

Enrollment dictates the space that will be required to support current and future students and their learning needs, so Lakota’s projected enrollment is a major factor in the facilities plans being considered. The State completed an updated enrollment study in the Fall 2024, which the District will use to build out the plan.

Additionally, following the State's standards for square footage per student, Lakota is currently over capacity by more than 700 students. 

The most recent 10-year enrollment study completed in 2024 projects continuing increases in the District’s northern schools, which are already becoming overcrowded and, in some cases, have meant the expansion or return of portable classrooms. Since 2018, Lakota’s enrollment has increased by 600 students. In fact, our current enrollment has already surpassed the growth predicted through studies completed by both the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) and an independent company. 

The 30+-year facilities plan outlives the 10-year enrollment outlook, so while the options address the anticipated growth in pockets of our community, we cannot guarantee that future changes to the school configurations will not be required to address enrollment figures beyond the 10-year projection.

Current projections by the OFCC show that the District will peak around 19,000 students, compared to the current enrollment of 17,000.

Open (Inter-district) enrollment refers to students who attend Lakota Local Schools but do not live in West Chester or Liberty townships. Prior to the 2024-2025 school year, open-enrolled students had not been approved in several years because of space constraints. Exceptions could be made for staff members and siblings of students who were already open enrolled.

In May 2024, it was announced that changes had been made to Administrative Guideline 5113 and that open enrollment would no longer be offered for students in grades K-6. Additionally, only Lakota staff and  students enrolled in grades 7-12 would be grandfathered through. While staff may apply for open enrollment, we do not accept applications from non-staff families. There are currently 64 open-enrolled staff member students.

An open, honest and transparent process that involves the community from the beginning is of critical importance to Lakota. A compilation of community meetings, focus groups, online surveys and even one-on-one conversations, emails and phone calls will shape the final outcome. 

Frequent data sharing and input gathering has driven our development of the possible options and then the narrowing of the options. To help inform a final selection, the Board gathered community feedback through meetings, conversations and ThoughtExchanges. After careful consideration, the Board approved a final plan at its Dec. 12, 2022 meeting. During the 2023-2024 school year, the Board made adjustments to the plan in order to reduce the estimated cost of the overall plan.

Visioning sessions for grades 6-12 took place in the spring of 2025. Future visioning sessions for grades K-5 will take place in the coming months. Led by our architect, Elevar, participants share feedback on programming which will lead into the design process of our schools. 
 

Community focus groups and conversations held before, during and after the pandemic revealed some common themes that shaped the Master Facilities Plan. These include a desire for:  

• Fewer building transitions;
• Smaller class sizes;
• Personalized learning experiences;
• Flexible learning spaces for collaboration;
• Continued upgrades to safety and security; and 
• Increased mental health support.
   

The final Lakota Schools Master Facilities Plan will benefit every resident, whether they currently have children in our schools or not. The exceptional education provided at Lakota already makes it a district of choice for our families. More sustainable and modern schools to match that of some of our neighboring and competitor districts will make homes even more marketable and valuable to prospective homeowners. Moreover, providing students with facilities that match their learning needs is one way of investing in our future.
 

Absolutely. Community engagement opportunities to gather feedback will be posted on the Master Facilities Plan calendar. There will be visioning sessions, surveys and design forums to gather feedback as plans are finalized.