THANK YOU!

Our most sincere THANK YOU to our school district community for their support!

The support of our staff, our parents and our community is unmatched.

The passing of our new facilities bond issue is a huge win for the students and families our district will serve for generations to come, the teachers and support staff who will be serving those students and families for generations to come and our community, as a whole.

We have so much for which to be thankful!

We are...
…Big Lex!

Dear Lexington Community,

I want to share the latest update regarding our new facilities project.

Over the past several months, we have been working with the State of Ohio and our State legislators to move forward with our new facilities project as quickly as possible. In order to maximize the process and begin the project while interests rates remain low and to provide our students with new buildings as soon as possible, the Board of Education has decided to apply to participate in the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP) with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC). ELPP is designed to give districts, not yet eligible to receive their State/OFCC share of the cost of the project, the opportunity to move ahead with portions of their project using the local share approved by their voters.

To participate in ELPP, there is an application form and a couple Board resolutions our Board of Education is required to approve and submit to the OFCC by early April. During our Board of Ed. meeting last evening, our Board approved our application and one of the two resolutions required.  The information needed for the final resolution needs to come to us from the OFCC. The OFCC assured us we will receive that information by next week.  Our Board will then schedule a Special Board meeting to approve the final resolution. 

Our ELPP application will be on the April 25, 2019, OFCC Commission meeting agenda for approval. Our application then needs to be approved by the State Controlling Board.  That meeting is May 20, 2019. Upon approval from the Commission and Controlling Board, we would be able to begin working with the architects on the planning/design process and timeline for one of our buildings as soon as early June 2019. To participate in ELPP, we must follow the process as required by OFCC, in order to be eligible to move forward with our project using our local share of the cost. We will know if we can proceed for sure following the May 20 meeting of the Controlling Board. This is all GOOD news.

As part of the ELPP application process, our Board does need to determine which building we will use our local share to build and which building we will wait to build until we receive the OFCC funds. The local share of the cost approved by our community is $55.95 million dollars. This is enough money to build either of our two new buildings. 

Based on many factors, including the recommendations of school finance and building experts, it is likely that the Board will decide to do the 7-12 building first. The main reason for this is financial.  By the time we are ready to do the second building there will most likely be an inflationary impact with regard to the cost of construction and interest rates. It would be to our advantage, financially, to deal with the inflationary factors on a $35-million-dollar project (the PreK-6 building) verses a $54-million-dollar project (the 7-12 building). Second, more of our current students will be able to experience being in a new building by doing the 7-12 building first.  Third, we will be able to replace our oldest building sooner. Then, the State/OFCC share of the cost of the entire project is enough to fund the PreK-6 building.

The projected time line regarding the 7-12 building includes up to 12 months for planning/design and 2 - 2.5 years to construct. These timelines are only tentative based on previous, similar school construction projects.

It is exciting to see our new facilities project get to this point and to be in a position to begin the planning/design process on one of our buildings as soon as this summer. We are so very thankful to our school district residents for their support of the new facilities project. 

Our residents’ approval of the November 2018 Bond Issue will impact the lives of Lexington students for generations to come. What a tremendous legacy to leave future generations of Lexington children!

On behalf of Lex students now and for generations to come, we offer our most sincere THANK YOU!

We will continue to provide updates as the approval and planning processes move forward.

Mike Ziegelhofer

Long Term Food Service Substitute

Lexington Food Service Department is in need of a 4.0 hour per day long term substitute worker due to one of our staff having surgery. If interested please contact Food Service Director, Tricia Volz at 419-884-2192 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

As a result of our "snow day" number 10 on 2/20/19, our final make up day and new last day of school will be THURSDAY, MAY 30, 2019.

Dear Parents, Guardians and Family members of our students,

Below is our early morning procedure/timeline for checking road conditions and making decisions regarding delayed starts or cancellation of school.

Our regular daily routine is day custodian and maintenance personnel begin work at 6:00am. Our bus drivers begin arriving around 6:00am also. The first buses leave the Transportation Department at approximately 6:15am.

When we have inclement weather overnight, in the early morning or being forecast for early morning, Robin Boggs, our Transportation Supervisor, Jeremy Secrist and I will drive various roads within our district to assess the road conditions. Often the roads which cause us the most concerns are the back/side roads and areas that historically are not plowed/treated early in the morning.

Our first decision regarding cancellation or delay needs to be made by 6:00am, at the latest. Robin, Jeremy and I will be in communication regarding the road conditions from 5:15am until the decision is made. We want to make the decision to delay or cancel as early as is possible (between 5:30-5:45 is our goal).

If we decide on a two-hour delay, we will need to determine if we will continue with the delay or to cancel by 8:00am, at the latest. Robin, Jeremy and I will be driving our areas of the district again, prior to discussing the conditions at 7:15am, until we decide what we need to do (between 7:30-7:45 is our goal).

Our decisions are made based on the road conditions in our district. Severe wind chill temperatures will also be a factor in making a decision to delay or cancel school. Wind chill temperatures hovering in the -20 range are cause for safety concerns. The safety of everyone coming to our buildings (students riding our buses, students / staff driving to school, parents bringing children to school and students who walk to school) is our priority.

Just a reminder that the quickest way for parents and staff to receive information regarding a delay or cancellation is to register for our Alert system, for which there is a link on our main webpage. Or, register for the WMFD Alert system by following the links on the WMFD website. We also use our alert system to communicate other important information and reminders throughout the school year.

Please contact Supt. Mike Ziegelhofer at 419-884-2132 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you have any questions.

Eastern Elementary was awarded the recognition as a 2018 Overall A School! CONGRATULATIONS TO THE STUDENTS AND STAFF AT EASTERN!

Congratulations! I’m honored to notify you Ohio’s State Board of Education has granted your school its Overall A Award.

As an Overall A Award winner, your school’s report card shows your school is demonstrating high academic performance and building bright futures for students of every background and ability level. Congratulations on this impressive achievement!

Ohio’s strategic plan for education, Each Child, Our Future, is the state’s plan to ensure each student is challenged, prepared and empowered for his or her future by way of an excellent prekindergarten through grade 12 education. Our mission is to prepare students for a future that has yet to be written. Many consider this to be a daunting endeavor. Your education team, however, has clearly embraced this challenge. 

I want you to know how much we appreciate your leadership and the dedication your team has to providing a high-quality experience for all students. Please share our gratitude with all of those who contributed to this accomplishment.

In the coming weeks, you’ll receive an official ‘Overall A’ banner to display in your school.

Thank you for all you do for the students and families you serve.

Sincerely,

Tess Elshoff
President

2019-2020 Kindergarten Registration

Lexington Local Schools will hold kindergarten registration at Central and Western Elementary schools on Thursday, February 21st from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 pm to 7:00 p.m. at Central and Western Elementary schools.  Registration will also be held on Thursday, February 28th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Your child must be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2019 to be eligible for kindergarten.  The following documentation is required for kindergarten registration:

     1.  Child's original birth certificate

     2.  Child's social security card

     3.  Child's immunization record

     4.  Custody papers (single, adoptive, foster family or name change)

     5.  Proof of residence (current rental/purchase/lease agreement or

         utility bill)

     6.  Your driver's license

 Parents will sign up for a kindergarten screening date & time during registration.

(Credit: Mark Caudill, Mansfield News Journal)
LEXINGTON - Lexington Local Schools is a patriotic unit.

Three of the district's schools — Western and Eastern elementary schools and the high school — recently were selected for Purple Star recognition. Central Elementary School was chosen in the spring.

The Purple Star designation is for military-friendly schools that show a major commitment to serving students and families connected to the nation's armed forces. Awardees receive a special Purple Star recognition to display in their buildings.

"It's a recognition that we're very proud of," Superintendent Mike Ziegelhofer said. "We recognize the sacrifices that our staff and parents who are in the military make."

The Purple Star advisory board, formed by the Ohio departments of Education, Higher Education, Veterans Services and Adjutant General, helps decide eligibility.

"A supportive school environment can have a significant impact on our military-connected students, and we're happy to see such a great interest in this designation by Ohio's schools," said Paolo DeMaria, state superintendent of public instruction. "These Purple Star schools provide our children and families with the resources they need to be successful.

"We're thankful for their service and honored to continue the important work of improving services for Ohio's military families."

To qualify for the recognition, a school must have a staff point of contact for military students and families who serves as the primary liaison between them and the school.

The liaison completes professional development on special considerations for military students and families under federal law.

That person identifies and informs teachers of the military-connected students in their classrooms and the special considerations military families and students should receive.

Each school in the Lexington district has its own liaison. Kelli Dyer is the contact person at Western.

Dyer, the physical education teacher, has been a member of the 179th Airlift Wing of the Ohio Air National Guard for 17 years, attaining the rank of E-7 master sergeant.

"We had one student last year whose dad was deployed," Dyer said. "We want to make sure we're touching base with family and student, helping them in any way that we can."

She added classroom teachers are good about sending care packages and cards to those who are deployed.

"It's a great way to express our support for our military personnel," Western principal Genelle Eggerton said. "It's the least we can do."

A school also must maintain a dedicated page on its website featuring resources for military families.

Lexington's schools go beyond that. For the last two years, the high school has honored vets by having them walk through the school on Veterans Day.

"I think that really helped our designation for this award," high school principal Kevin Young said. "It has grown in the two years we've done it."

He estimated the high school has seven to 10 students whose parents are on active duty.

"At the beginning of the year, we do an inventory, kind of like a survey," Young said. "What we like to do is follow up with the students and their counselors and see if there are any needs they have."

Ziegelhofer said loved ones left behind when a family member is deployed make almost as much of a sacrifice as the military personnel.

"Every military family takes their turn making their sacrifices," the superintendent said. "People don't always think about that."

Congratulations to Eastern Elementary, Western Elementary and Lexington High School who joined previously awarded Central Elementary as being selected as a 2018 Purple Star School. We were recently informed that the Ohio Department of Education has recognized them for “outstanding commitment to serving military students and families!”

Click on the link below for more details regarding the Purple Star Award. For the list of the most recent Award recipients open the link below and click on the link to the 4th round honorees.

http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Other-Resources/Ohio-Network-for-Military-Families-and-Veterans/Supporting-Ohio-s-Military-Families/Purple-Star-Award

Click here for the letter from Paolo DeMaria, Superintendent of Public Instruction

Best advice is if you approach, from either direction, a school bus stopped on or along the road, for any reason, with or without its lights flashing STOP.

We must all do our part of keep our precious children safe on their way to and from school each day. No one should be in such a hurry to jeopardize children's safety.

Congratulations Central Elementary students, teachers, staff, principal and parents for being recognized as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School for 2018 by U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos. Also, congratulations to Mansfield City's Spanish Immersion School and Mt. Vernon's Twin Oak Elementary School for their recognition.

Click Here for the letter from Aba Kumi, Director of the National Blue Ribbon Schools Program

A new face will be walking the halls and patrolling the parking lots and playgrounds of the five Lexington school buildings in the fall. Officer Mike Davis of the Lexington Police Department was hired to be the School Resource Officer for the district beginning in August.  Officer Davis is a graduate of Lexington High School, a twelve year veteran of the Lexington Police Department, and also serves as a field training officer for new recruits. He has been married for 17 years and he and his wife have a five year old daughter. Officer Davis is very eager to begin his new role with the department as the SRO for Lexington Local Schools. 

In regards to his new role, Officer Davis stated that he sees “the implementation of a school resource officer as a huge opportunity to further serve the community, as well as the faculty and students of our schools. We have the opportunity to bring the community, police, and educators together with the common goals of maintaining a high standard of education, promoting a safe environment free of violence and bullying, and open the doors of the police department to the people we serve.”

Superintendent Mike Ziegelhofer shares Officer Davis’ sentiments and stated, "Lexington Local Schools welcomes Officer Davis to the district and is excited to partner with him as part of its on-going efforts to improve the safety and security of its schools, and to ensure that students can work, learn, and grow in an atmosphere that promotes positivity, safety, and student success and wellness."

Click Here for the Lexington Schools Newsletter

2019-2020 Kindergarten Registration

Lexington Local Schools will hold kindergarten registration at Central and Western Elementary schools on Thursday, February 21st from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and 4:30 pm to 7:00 p.m. at Central and Western Elementary schools.  Registration will also be held on Thursday, February 28th from 4:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Your child must be 5 years old on or before August 1, 2019 to be eligible for kindergarten.  The following documentation is required for kindergarten registration:

     1.  Child's original birth certificate

     2.  Child's social security card

     3.  Child's immunization record

     4.  Custody papers (single, adoptive, foster family or name change)

     5.  Proof of residence (current rental/purchase/lease agreement or

         utility bill)

     6.  Your driver's license

 Parents will sign up for a kindergarten screening date & time during registration.