Latest reporting from the Education desk.
Education
Lakota Local Schools named ten staff members as its first Gem Award honorees of the 2026-27 school year, with recipients spanning eight buildings and roles from bus driver to speech pathologist.
Education
Lakota West Winter Guard invites students in grades 6–12 to a no-experience-required Try It Night on Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at the West Freshman Gym.
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Education
Lakota Local Schools announced more than 20 leadership changes across buildings and the district office on Wednesday, one day before the first day of school for the district's roughly 17,000 students.
Education
Cherokee Elementary in Liberty Township has named Seth Caudell as its new School Resource Officer for the 2026-27 school year, filling a position that turned over twice since April, with families able to meet him at the Aug. 11 open house.
Education
Miami University's 155-minute "Cradle of Coaches" documentary, previewed at Paycor Stadium on Aug. 4, premieres on Peacock on Aug. 17, featuring interviews with Sean McVay, John Harbaugh, Ben Roethlisberger and others connected to the Oxford coaching legacy that still connects to local football programs.
Education
Lakota Local School District opened applications Saturday, Aug. 1, for free and reduced-price school meals for the 2026-27 year, with a notable change: Ohio will cover full meal costs even for reduced-price qualifiers.
Education
The Lakota Board of Education approved a new attendance policy July 27 that counts all absences — excused, medical, and religious — toward chronic absenteeism, triggers earlier parent notifications, and establishes intervention teams at every school building ahead of the Aug. 13 start of classes.
Education
The Cherokee Elementary PTA invites all family members to its first monthly meeting of the 2026-27 school year on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at 6 p.m. in the Innovation HUB, highlighting flexible volunteer opportunities and the enrichment programs the group funds.
Education
Lakota Local Schools named Rebecca Tompkins executive director of curriculum and instruction, bringing back a former curriculum specialist who left the district years ago and returns from Sycamore Community Schools just two weeks before the August 13 start of classes.
Education
The Ohio Controlling Board approved more than $76 million in state funding for Lakota Local School District's facilities plan on July 21, securing the state's share and leaving a $223 million bond issue on the November 2026 ballot as the final step toward expanding high school, junior high and freshman facilities with no property tax increase.
Education
Lakota East High School families have until Friday, August 21, to register for the free junior PSAT/NMSQT exam on October 20, which qualifies students for National Merit Scholarships; freshmen and sophomores pay $18.
Education
The Lakota Board of Education unanimously voted to place a $223 million replacement bond on the November 3, 2026, ballot that would renovate middle and high schools and build four new elementary schools without raising property taxes for West Chester and Liberty Township homeowners.
Education
A roundup of back-to-school events across the Lakota Local School District area, including the Heritage ECS open house on Aug. 11, Liberty Center's block party on Aug. 1, Liberty Junior schedule pickup on Aug. 6, and the district's first Back-to-School Fair on Aug. 7.
Education
A steering team of Lakota teachers, staff, and administrators met Thursday, July 16, to begin building the district's next three-to-five-year strategic plan, drawing on more than 1,200 survey responses and two years of stakeholder data to shape curriculum and budget priorities for West Chester and Liberty Township schools.
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