Lakota Local Schools is governed by a five-member Board of Education.

The Board hires and evaluates a Superintendent of Schools and a Treasurer of the Board. The Board’s duties include the following:

• Adopting an annual budget and appropriation measures.

• Exercising its taxing power to provide funds for the operation of the District.

• Considering and passing upon the recommendations of the Superintendent in all matters of policy, appointment or dismissal of employees, salary schedules or other personnel regulations, courses of study, selection of textbooks, or other matters pertaining to the welfare of schools.

• Informing the public concerning the progress and needs of the schools, and to solicit and weigh public opinion as it affects the schools.

Board members are elected at large for four year terms. A member may serve unlimited consecutive terms. Board members are elected according to a schedule that staggers their term expiration dates. Officers serve a term of one year, and may be re-elected. The Board sets meeting dates in January for the entire calendar year.

Meetings
Generally, the Board meets on the second and fourth Monday night of each month.  Meetings are usually held at the Central Office at 7:00 p.m.  Dates and places for Board meetings are listed here and announced in the newspapers. The public is welcome.

Regularly-scheduled Board of Education meetings are videotaped by West Chester Cable and shown on West Chester Cable public access channels. See community TV schedule on right.

Public comment during meetings
We welcome comments and questions at Board Meetings.  Public participants must be residents of the District or Lakota staff, and have a legitimate interest in the action of the Board.  Public comment is limited to three minutes.

There are two opportunities at each regular Board meeting for residents of the Lakota Local School District to address the Board. This is the time when members of the public may direct concerns, suggestions, questions, or comments to the Board.

In general, the Board oversees district-wide issues and policies.  If you have individual concerns about a specific situation or student, it's best to first talk with the teacher, building principal, or school administrator.  Lakota's goal is to work together with parents to resolve issues quickly, and staff members closest to the situation are better able to do so.

However, if you still have questions or concerns after working with the staff member, feel free to contact the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent.

During the "Public Comments" section of the meeting, local residents who would like to address the board are invited to the podium.  You will be asked to state your name and address, and may speak for up to three minutes.  The public participation session is normally limited to 45 minutes.

To protect employees' rights to privacy, the Board does not hear complaints or comments about specific employees in public session.

Board Response
The Board will occasionally respond immediately to questions or comments if appropriate, but will often instruct the Superintendent or Treasurer to do further research and report back to the Board and resident.  If you have specific questions, you will receive a response either at the meeting or shortly thereafter.  The Board wants to ensure that it is fully informed before responding, and so if your questions are not addressed during the meeting, this does not indicate a lack of interest on the Board's part.  A response will be forthcoming.

Executive Sessions
All Board meetings are open to the public.  During those meetings, the Board may call a closed-door session, called an executive session.  Ohio law allows executive sessions for discussion only, and only to discuss personnel, property purchases, pending legal action, employee negotiations, or security.  The Board may not take any votes or other action during executive sessions.