Lakota Local Schools (Butler County), Ohio, elections (2025)
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Six candidates are running in the nonpartisan general election for three at-large seats on the five-member Lakota Local Schools Board of Education in Butler County, Ohio, on Nov. 4, 2025. The three candidates who receive the most votes will serve four-year terms on the board.
According to Journal News’ Michael D. Clark, “The stakes in this year’s Lakota board race are historically high, with a majority of open seats on the governing body that oversees Ohio’s ninth largest district and is also the largest suburban school system in Southwest Ohio.”[1] As of October 2025, Lakota Local Schools operates 22 schools. During the 2023-2024 school year, 17,887 students attended a school in the district.
Incumbent Kelley Casper is running for re-election, while incumbent Isaac Adi is not running for re-election.[2] Christina French, who was appointed to the board in April 2024 following the removal of Darbi Boddy, is not running for a full term.[3][2] Click here to read more about Boddy's removal.
The following candidates are running for their first terms on the board: Alex Argo, Elyse Jenkins, Melissa Meyer, Tommy Montoya, and Benjamin Nguyen.
Casper was first elected to the board in 2017 and serves as the board’s vice president.[4][5] Argo and Jenkins are both business owners. Meyer is a substitute school clinic nurse. Montoya works in human resources. Nguyen is a full-time student at Miami University.[6]
Although the board is officially nonpartisan, the current ideological leanings of the board is split. The Butler County Democratic Party endorsed three of the five members of the board in previous elections.[7] Media outlets described Adi as a conservative.[8][9] French's ideological leaning is unknown.
The Butler County Democratic Party endorsed Casper, Argo, and Jenkins.[10] Nguyen said he is a Republican.[1] Montoya said he is “an independent-minded candidate.”[11] Meyer’s affiliation is unknown.
This election is taking place against the backdrop of voters also deciding on Issue 10. According to Dayton Daily News’ Josh Sweigart, the two-part school tax bond issue is “a new 4.99-mill bond issue that would collect $506.4 million and a 0.95-mill permanent improvement levy that would raise $4.98 million to fund [the district’s] Master Facilities Plan. Both are 37-year tax issues and would cost $175 and $33 per $100,000 of home value, respectively. The net increase to taxpayers — an existing bond is scheduled to roll off in 2029 — would be roughly $93 a year per $100,000.”[12]
Spectrum News 1’s Travis Hicks wrote that the district’s “Master Facilities Plan includes a reduction in the number of school buildings and would include the construction of four new elementary schools.”[13] Casper, Argo, Jenkins, and Montoya said they support the measure.[11] Meyer and Nguyen said they do not support the measure.[11]
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan) and Tommy Montoya (Nonpartisan) completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. To read those survey responses, click here.
Elections
Click on the tabs below to show more information about those topics.
Candidates and results
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
General election for Lakota Local School District (Butler County), At-large (3 seats)
The following candidates are running in the general election for Lakota Local School District (Butler County), At-large on November 4, 2025.
Candidate | ||
 | Alex Argo (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Kelley Casper (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)  | |
| Melissa Meyer (Nonpartisan) | ||
 | Tommy Montoya (Nonpartisan) | |
 | Benjamin Nguyen (Nonpartisan) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Ohio elections, 2025
May 6, 2025
November 4, 2025
Candidate comparison
Candidate profiles
This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Argo received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Miami University. His professional experience includes co-founding a mobile app company.
Show sources
Incumbent: No
Political Office:
- Lakota Local School Board of Education, At-Large (Assumed office: 2018)
Biography: Casper received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Cincinnati. Her professional experience includes working as a teen mental health first aid instructor.
Show sources
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Submitted Biography: "I’m Elyse Jenkins, a proud Lakota parent, community leader, and advocate for educational excellence. My family has called Lakota home for over 22 years, and I’ve raised my son here while mentoring youth and supporting families throughout our district. My children are now grown and thriving—a reflection of the strong foundation our schools and community helped build. Professionally, I’ve served as Director of Curriculum & Coaching and formerly as Director of Marketing for Ohio’s second largest school district, applying best practices that improved outcomes for students and staff. A graduate of School Board School and Lead Ohio, I’m prepared to lead from day one. I bring a balanced, bridge-building approach focused on student success, fiscal responsibility, and transparency—because our community deserves strong, steady leadership that listens, leads, and takes action for Lakota’s future."
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Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Meyer received a multiskilled medical technician certificate from Butler Tech. Her professional experience includes working as a substitute school clinic nurse and a teacher's aid.
Show sources
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Montoya received a bachelor's degree in leisure services management and a master's degree in public administration from Brigham Young University. His career experience includes working in human resources.
Show sources
Incumbent: No
Political Office: None
Biography: Nguyen received a high school diploma from Lakota West High School. At the time of the election, he was a full-time student studying finance at Miami University.
Show sources
Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses
Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Survey responses from candidates in this race
Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
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Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Lakota needs leaders who engage with parents, teachers, and students, listen with empathy, and act with integrity. I’m running to ensure every voice in our district is heard and every student has the tools to succeed—academically, socially, and emotionally.
Prepared to LeadPrepared to Lead from Day One.
With experience in education, leadership, and business, I understand how to navigate complex systems, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions. I’m ready to govern responsibly and collaboratively—balancing innovation with accountability. from Day One.
With experience in education, leadership, and business, I understand how to navigate complex systems, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions. I’m ready to govern responsibly and collaboratively—balancing innovation with accountability.
Focused on Lakota’s Future.
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Tommy Montoya (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
I would champion:
A Community Accountability & Transparency Framework — ensuring families can easily access how decisions are made, where funds go, and how student success is measured.
Expanded Career & Innovation Pathways — partnering with local businesses, colleges, and technical programs to connect learning to life beyond graduation.
Student & Staff Wellness Policy — formalizing mental health support, staff retention strategies, and a culture of care that reduces burnout and increases belonging.
Family Engagement Standards — setting clear expectations for parent partnership, two-way communication, and ongoing dialogue between families and schools.
As someone with over 30 years of leadership experience and many years as a Lakota parent and community advocate, policy must work in practice. My goal is to bridge vision and accountability—so that every policy leads to meaningful results for our students, teachers, and community
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Tommy Montoya (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Increased Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities and real-world learning partnerships so students graduate future-ready—whether they choose college, career, or the military.
Enhanced Financial Literacy and Life Skills education beginning in middle school to prepare students for independence and responsible decision-making.
Expanded STEM and Technology Integration, especially in elementary grades, to build problem-solving and innovation early on. Expanding our CCP program is a nice focus too so students and families can progress early on and save later.
A Stronger Focus on Mental Wellness and Emotional Intelligence embedded within the curriculum—not as an add-on, but as a daily skill that supports learning and relationships.
Lakota already has a strong foundation. My goal is to strengthen it through continuous improvement—aligning what we teach with what students need to succeed in tomorrow’s world, while keeping equity, creativity, and excellence at the heart of every classroom.
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
Elyse Jenkins (Nonpartisan)
You can ask candidates in this race to fill out the survey by clicking their names below:
Voting information
What is the voter registration deadline?
- In-person: October 6, 2025
- By mail: Postmarked by October 6, 2025
- Online: October 6, 2025
What is the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?
- By mail: Received by October 28, 2025
What is the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?
- In-person: November 4, 2025
- By mail: Postmarked by November 3, 2025
Is early voting available to all voters? Yes What are the early voting start and end dates? October 7, 2025 - November 2, 2025 Are all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, is a photo or non-photo ID required? Photo When are polls open on Election Day? 6:30 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Noteworthy endorsements
This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please email us.
| Noteworthy endorsements | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endorser |  Alex Argo | Kelley Casper | Elyse Jenkins | Tommy Montoya
|
| Organizations | ||||
| 314 Action Fund source | ✔ | |||
| Butler County, Ohio, Democratic Party source 1 source 2 source 3 | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | |
| Lakota Education Association source | ✔ | |||
| Matriots PAC source 1 source 2 | ✔ | ✔ | ||
Campaign finance
Candidates in this election submitted campaign finance reports to the Ohio Secretary of State. Click here to access those reports.
About the district
Lakota Local Schools is located in Butler County, Ohio.
District map
Budget
The following statistics were published by the National Center for Education Statistics, which is a part of the U.S. Department of Education.[14]
| SOURCE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Federal: | $16,612,000 | $972 | 8% |
| Local: | $133,464,000 | $7,807 | 63% |
| State: | $63,028,000 | $3,687 | 30% |
| Total: | $213,104,000 | $12,465 |
| TYPE | AMOUNT | AMOUNT PER STUDENT | PERCENT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Expenditures: | $218,048,000 | $12,754 | |
| Total Current Expenditures: | $206,347,000 | $12,069 | |
| Instructional Expenditures: | $119,877,000 | $7,011 | 55% |
| Student and Staff Support: | $24,222,000 | $1,416 | 11% |
| Administration: | $21,013,000 | $1,229 | 10% |
| Operations, Food Service, Other: | $41,235,000 | $2,411 | 19% |
| Total Capital Outlay: | $6,617,000 | $387 | |
| Construction: | $3,558,000 | $208 | |
| Total Non El-Sec Education & Other: | $700,000 | $40 | |
| Interest on Debt: | $3,544,000 | $207 |
Students
| Year | Enrollment | Year-to-year change (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2023-2024 | 17,887 | 0.9 |
| 2022-2023 | 17,721 | 3.5 |
| 2021-2022 | 17,096 | 4.0 |
| 2020-2021 | 16,415 | -0.4 |
| 2019-2020 | 16,475 | 1.2 |
| 2018-2019 | 16,281 | 2.9 |
| 2017-2018 | 15,808 | 0.0 |
| 2016-2017 | 15,802 | -0.9 |
| 2015-2016 | 15,937 | -0.8 |
| 2014-2015 | 16,069 | -1.0 |
| 2013-2014 | 16,223 | -1.9 |
| 2012-2013 | 16,526 | -5.1 |
| 2011-2012 | 17,364 | -4.4 |
| 2010-2011 | 18,135 | -0.4 |
| 2009-2010 | 18,212 | -0.8 |
| 2008-2009 | 18,355 | 0.5 |
| 2007-2008 | 18,261 | 2.6 |
| 2006-2007 | 17,782 | 1.8 |
| 2005-2006 | 17,455 | 2.7 |
| 2004-2005 | 16,980 | 3.7 |
| 2003-2004 | 16,358 | 3.1 |
| 2002-2003 | 15,844 | 2.2 |
| 2001-2002 | 15,498 | 5.4 |
| 2000-2001 | 14,659 | 3.1 |
| 1999-2000 | 14,203 | 0.0 |
| RACE | Lakota Local Schools (%) | Ohio K-12 STUDENTS (%) |
|---|---|---|
| American Indian/Alaska Native | 0.0 | 0.1 |
| Asian or Asian/Pacific Islander | 10.4 | 2.9 |
| Black | 13.5 | 17.0 |
| Hispanic | 10.8 | 7.8 |
| Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander | 0.2 | 0.1 |
| Two or More Races | 6.3 | 6.3 |
| White | 58.7 | 65.8 |
Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.
Staff
As of the 2023-2024 school year, Lakota Local Schools had 684.29 full-time classroom teachers. The student-teacher ratio was 26.14.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF TEACHERS |
|---|---|
| Prekindergarten: | 9.00 |
| Kindergarten: | 44.47 |
| Elementary: | 313.20 |
| Secondary: | 310.79 |
| Total: | 684.29 |
Lakota Local Schools employed 3.00 district administrators and 48.50 school administrators as of the 2023-2024 school year.
| TYPE | NUMBER OF ADMINISTRATORS |
|---|---|
| District Administrators: | 3.00 |
| District Administrative Support: | 81.10 |
| School Administrators: | 48.50 |
| School Administrative Support: | 104.87 |
| TYPE | NUMBER OF OTHER STAFF |
|---|---|
| Instructional Aides: | 281.77 |
| Instruc. Coordinators & Supervisors: | 23.03 |
| Total Guidance Counselors: | 31.00 |
| Elementary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Secondary Guidance Counselors: | 0.00 |
| Librarians/Media Specialists: | 0.00 |
| Library/Media Support: | 14.31 |
| Student Support Services: | 284.88 |
| Other Support Services: | 245.26 |
Schools
Election history
To see results from past elections in Lakota Local Schools, click here.
Noteworthy events
Darbi Boddy's removal from the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education
On March 20, 2024, the Lakota Local Schools Board of Education in Butler County, Ohio, voted to remove Darbi Boddy from the board. Of the board’s four remaining members, three—Julie Shaffer, Kelley Casper, and Douglas Horton—voted to remove Boddy, and one—Isaac Adi—abstained from the vote.[2]
Although the board is officially nonpartisan, the vote was split along ideological lines. The Butler County Democratic Party endorsed Shaffer, Casper, and Horton in previous elections.[15] Media outlets described Adi and Boddy as conservatives.[16][17]
According to 91.7 WVXU’s Zack Carreon, “Since joining in early 2022, Boddy has had disputes with just about every member of the board. But her feud with Adi escalated in 2023 when he claimed she had stalked and harassed him.”[2] In response, Adi filed and was granted a civil protection order, which required her to maintain a distance of 200 feet from him at all times.[18] The order meant that Boddy could not attend board meetings in which Adi was present.[18]
FOX19 NOW’s Jennifer Edwards Baker and Mike Schell wrote that under state law, the board was able to vote to remove Boddy “because she has missed 90 consecutive days of meetings and those absences have been marked unexcused.”[18]
Shaffer, who was the board's president at the time, said, "I'm bringing forth a resolution in an effort to create a fully functional school board. There is a lot of work to be done within the district and we need all five members to participate in meetings to better support our students and staff."[2]
In response to her removal, Boddy said, "This has always been a First Amendment issue. This corrupt process has quashed not just my voice but the voice of those who voted for me, and for that reason, I do not think it will wear well."[2]
On April 2, 2024, the board voted unanimously to appoint Christina French to the board. French's ideological leaning was unknown.[19]
2025 battleground elections
- See also: Battlegrounds
This is a battleground election. Other 2025 battleground elections include:
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Journal News, "Teenager campaigning for Lakota school board seat," August 8, 2025
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 91.7 WVXU, "Lakota BOE candidates talk district redesign, board political tensions," October 16, 2025 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; name "91.7 WVXU" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "91.7 WVXU" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "91.7 WVXU" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid<ref>tag; name "91.7 WVXU" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ 91.7 WVXU, "Lakota School Board appoints new member to replace Darbi Boddy," April 2, 2024
- ↑ Kelley Casper 2025 campaign website, "About Kelley," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ Lakota Local Schools, "Board of Education," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ Cincinnati Enquirer, "Lakota Local school board candidates' stances on DEI, vaccines, more," October 17, 2025
- ↑ Butler County Democratic Party, "Support Local Candidates Who Support Democratic Values," October 1, 2023
- ↑ Journal News, "New Lakota board member sworn in early," December 17, 2021
- ↑ 91.7 WVXU, "Darbi Boddy is removed from Lakota's school board," March 20, 2024
- ↑ Butler County Democratic Party, "2025 Election Information," accessed October 26, 2025
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Journal News, "Voters to pick possible 3-seat majority on Lakota school board," October 13, 2025
- ↑ Dayton Daily News, "Election 2025: School property, income tax issues on Nov. 4 ballot," October 8, 2025
- ↑ Spectrum News 1, "Lakota Local Schools to appear on ballot for first time since 2013," October 24, 2025
- ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Elementary/Secondary Information System," accessed October 6, 2025
- ↑ Butler County Democratic Party, "Support Local Candidates Who Support Democratic Values," October 1, 2023
- ↑ Journal News, "New Lakota board member sworn in early," December 17, 2021
- ↑ 91.7 WVXU, "Darbi Boddy is removed from Lakota's school board," March 20, 2024
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 FOX19 NOW, "Lakota School Board removes controversial member after 90 days of missed meetings," March 20, 2025
- ↑ 91.7 WVXU, "Lakota School Board appoints new member to replace Darbi Boddy," April 2, 2024
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