Lakota families now have one less hurdle between their students and new school buildings.
The Ohio Controlling Board formally approved more than $76 million in state funding for Lakota Local School District on Tuesday, July 21, locking in the state's share of the district's $300 million Master Facilities Plan.
State Rep. Jennifer Gross (R-West Chester) announced the approval Sunday in an Ohio House press release. The money comes through the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program, administered by the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission, and will fund major additions to Lakota East and Lakota West high schools, Plains Junior School and East Freshman Campus.
Gross called the funding "an incredible investment" and said the upgrades will give students modern learning environments while bringing state income-tax dollars back to the district.
With the state dollars secured, the remaining $223 million depends on voters. The Lakota Board of Education unanimously approved placing a 2.2-mill, 37-year replacement bond issue on the November 2026 ballot at its Tuesday, June 9 meeting. Because the new bond replaces an existing 2.23-mill bond, with collections not beginning until 2029 when the current bond expires, property taxes would not increase. The bond would cost approximately $77 per $100,000 of home value annually, according to district figures.
Board member Benjamin Nguyen told WCPO on Friday that the structure protects taxpayers. "It's a replacement levy ... Lakota is not going to be responsible for any uptick in property taxes," Nguyen said.
What gets built
Phase one calls for roughly 143,000 square feet of additions at both Lakota East and Lakota West, about 130,000 square feet at Plains Junior and about 127,000 square feet at East Freshman. The plan shifts the district to a 6-8 junior high model and a 9-12 high school model. The grade-band shift would also reduce K-5 class sizes from 27 or more students, with some classrooms exceeding 30, to a target of 21 to 24.
When construction wraps, Adena Elementary, Ridge Junior and the West Freshman/Creekside/Lakota Central building would close, dropping the district from 21 school buildings to 18.
What's at stake in November
Lakota serves approximately 17,000 students across West Chester Township and Liberty Township, making it one of Ohio's largest districts. Voters rejected a larger $506 million bond issue and levy on Nov. 4, 2025. The scaled-back plan and the no-tax-increase structure represent the board's second attempt.
If the bond passes and construction begins on schedule, design work would start in November 2026, construction in June 2027, and new buildings would open by August 2029. The district plans to hold community information sessions before the vote, with dates to be shared on Lakota's website and through ParentSquare notifications.
