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Lakota to address potential cuts for grades 7-12

District presenting budget proposals as part of $9M in reductions for 2012-13 school year.

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer 9:51 PM Saturday, February 11, 2012

LIBERTY TWP. — The Lakota Local Schools administration will discuss proposed cuts on Monday for junior high and high schools in the district as part of $9 million in reductions for next school year.

The budget presentation is set for 7 p.m. in the auditorium of Lakota East High School’s main campus, 6840 Lakota Lane. The proposal will address programs at Lakota’s eight secondary school buildings that serve seven through 12th grades.

The session on Monday is the second of four sessions planned to review different aspects of the budget to address the $9 million projected deficit for the 2012-13 academic year.

“We’re taking a fresh look at the district’s operations by thoroughly scrutinizing everything. We’re finding even more innovative ways to prepare students for the future in the most cost-effective manner,” said Superintendent Karen Mantia.

District administrators are evaluating every subject, grade level, program and operation to decide what to eliminate, keep, streamline, consolidate or modernize. Ultimately, the board will vote on district’s recommendations. The process will involve layoffs because the district is running out of money. About 77 percent of the district’s budget is for personnel costs, district officials said.

The first session, held last month, proposed a restructuring for early childhood education. It calls for the Butler County Educational Service Center to head the preschool program. The ESC already administers the Head Start program. The restructuring is estimated to save $1.2 million, according to the district.

The administration’s budget proposal focusing on kindergarten through sixth grade is scheduled to be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 23, also at Lakota East, and a fourth budget proposal focusing on administration, athletics and other operations will be presented at 7 p.m. Feb. 27, also at Lakota East.

Written budget proposals will be posted at www.lakotaonline.com/budget no later than the start of each meeting. The budget web page contains a full report and executive summary about each proposal, answers to questions about budget proposals and a video of prior budget presentations.

The community can submit budget questions and comments to budgetcomments@lakotaonline.com.

In addition, district officials said there will be opportunities for the public to comment at each session.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or denise.wilson@coxinc.com.

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