Lakota Voters Approve Facilities Levy; District Begins Bond Planning
Lakota leaders confirmed that voters passed the November 3 levy, and the district has begun arranging bond sales for its master facilities plan.
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Friday, November 13, 2026
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Latest Ohio stories
State Board of Education of Ohio
Ohio announces $8.4 million educator-pipeline grant
Officials announced an $8.4 million Elevate Ohio grant over three years. Work was at an early stage, with pilot schools and institutions selected.
State Board of Education of Ohio
Board approves new paths for principals and school counselors
The board approved an interim principal license 11–5 and an interim school-counselor license 16–0. These paths require approved preparation, a district request and job evaluations.
Proposed teacher salary-placement change in grievance settlement
The Sept. 28 work-session agenda proposes settling an Hilliard Education Association grievance by counting qualifying chartered or nonpublic-school teaching experience toward salary placement without requiring the prior school to have contributed to a state retirement system. For eligible teachers hired from the 2022–23 school year through Sept. 22, 2026, it proposes up to two years of service credit effective Jan. 1, 2027; certain earlier hires could share a stipend pool capped at $20,000.
Middle school math time reduced after job cuts
In September 2026 the middle school reported less math class time after the staff cuts. More students are expected to need math help. Reading blocks were kept for students on reading improvement plans.
Archbold Area Local School District
District accepts gift of a new fieldhouse
On September 21, 2026, the board accepted the gift of a multi-use fieldhouse, the Miller Athletic Complex.
Tolles expansion remains on track as district plans four-story EMS and fire-training facility
Tolles Career & Technical Center reported that construction is continuing on a 50,000-square-foot expansion of classrooms and labs, targeted to open January 1 after the holiday break. The center also said it received $400,000 in the 2026 state capital budget to develop a four-story EMS and fire-training structure on the Tolles campus; the structure is still described as proposed and planned.
State Board of Education of Ohio
Philip Wagner takes over as state superintendent
The board chose Philip Wagner on March 9 by a 16–0 vote. At the September meeting, he said he began work July 31. Jason Wagner had served in the interim role.
Board to consider delegating spending authority for Capital Improvements Project Phase I
The September 14, 2026 board agenda includes a resolution (F2) that would delegate to the Chief Operating Officer authority to approve contract modifications, change orders, and change directives up to an Owner/Construction-Manager contingency amount for the districtwide Capital Improvements Project \u2013 Phase I, plus authority to grant related easements and seek permits, without prior board approval on each item.
More from the news desk
Board begins first reading of new purchasing card policy and revised credit card policy
The district is introducing a new Policy DJI/DJI-R governing procurement (purchasing) cards and revising Policy DJH/DJH-R on credit cards, submitted for first reading September 14, 2026, with adoption planned for October 12, 2026. The policies add convenience-fee rules, cardholder responsibilities, and reimbursement requirements for unsubstantiated purchases.
Board to consider FY2027 appropriations resolution totaling over $290 million districtwide
The September 14, 2026 agenda includes a resolution (F5) setting fiscal year 2026-2027 appropriations across all district funds, including a $274,206,309 General Fund and $6,502,000 Permanent Improvement fund, among other smaller funds.
Board begins first reading of revised student attendance and truancy policies
The Policy Review Committee is presenting revised policies JED (Student Absences and Excuses) and JEDA (Truancy) for a first reading on September 14, 2026, with a second reading September 28 and adoption planned October 12, 2026. Changes include updated definitions of chronic absenteeism, tiered intervention requirements, an absence-intervention team mandate, and revised parent-notification thresholds (notification at 4% of required hours, up from lower prior thresholds referenced elsewhere in the policy).
Lakota Board Accepts $77M State Facilities Partnership Funding Ahead of November Bond Vote
The board approved an OFCC (Ohio Facilities Construction Commission) resolution accepting $77 million in conditional state co-funding for a facilities project, tied to a bond issue that will appear on the November 2026 ballot. Acceptance of these funds limits the district to three total ballot attempts to pass the related bond issue before losing this funding priority.
Parent Raises Pedestrian Safety Concerns After District Discontinues Staffed Crosswalk Assistance Near Endeavor School
A parent publicly reported that district staff assistance at crosswalks near Endeavor Elementary was discontinued just days before the 2026-27 school year began, prompting him to organize volunteer parents to supervise the crosswalk. He cited the 2024 death of a Lakota East freshman struck and killed near school, and asked the board for a coordinated pedestrian-safety plan.
Lakota Approves New Classified Staff (LSA) Labor Contract with 2.5% Raises
The Lakota Board of Education approved a new collective bargaining agreement with the LSA (classified staff union) at the August 24, 2026 meeting. An earlier proposal with differentiated raises by job classification failed ratification by LSA membership in May; after renewed interest-based bargaining, a revised agreement providing a uniform 2.5% raise for all classifications was ratified by LSA on August 19 and then approved by the board.
District forecasts a negative balance and more deficits
In August 2026 the new treasurer said the district will spend about $957,000 more than it takes in this year. Its main fund will end the year about $379,000 below zero. The forecast shows a negative balance every year through 2031. It is worse than the February forecast, which had the district ending this year with money left over.
Four school leaders retire and are rehired
The principals of the high school, middle school and intermediate school, plus the middle school assistant principal, retired on June 30, 2026. The board then rehired all four on one-year contracts. It called the rehiring urgent because of four retirements at once, a new superintendent and treasurer, and money concerns.
Westerville City School District
Board approves five-year forecast
The Board approved its August five-year forecast, a planning document used to project district finances.
Washington Court House City Schools
$509,000 contract to renovate the historic auditorium
On August 24, 2026, the board approved a $509,000 contract with Brian Bros. Painting & Restoration to renovate the district's historic auditorium, including new plaster and paint. A $500,000 state grant (OFCC Round 5) supports the project.
Washington Court House City Schools
Forecast: money runs short by 2031 unless voters renew the income tax
The district's August 2026 five-year forecast says it will start spending more than it takes in from FY2028. If the 1% earned income tax is not renewed, its cash would fall from $15.7 million in June 2026 to about -$3.1 million by June 2031. The tax must be renewed by voters before the end of 2027.
Board posts five-year financial forecast materials
The August 24 meeting materials include the district's five-year financial forecast and list forecast approval on the Board of Education agenda.
Parma financial outlook discusses possible future spending and staffing reductions
At its August 20, 2026 meeting, Parma City School District leaders said the district was assessing a future spending-reduction plan and that a reduction in force could be part of it if new operating revenue is not generated.
South Euclid-Lyndhurst City School District
Board adopts 2027–2029 strategic plan
The South Euclid-Lyndhurst Board unanimously adopted a 2027–2029 strategic plan with six focus areas including academic excellence, career readiness, early childhood, technology, and wellness.
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