Freedom and Independence Elementary Schools will soon change when the school day starts and ends each day, and families across the district will see changes in their bus routes.

The changes are due to a bus driver shortage that the district and many others around the region and nation have been experiencing. The change will begin Monday, Nov. 27.

Freedom and Independence will now start the school day at 8:30 a.m., fifteen minutes later than they do now. Students will be released from school at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday early release for both schools will be at 2:45 p.m.

There will also be a schedule change for some of Freedom’s preschool classes. The morning session will be from 8:30 to 11:15 a.m. and the afternoon session will be from 12:45 to 3:30 p.m. The full-day preschool class will remain 9 a.m. to 1:55 p.m. Independence preschool will remain 9 a.m. to 1:55 p.m.

In addition, all bus routes in the district will see changes either in bus stop locations, times, or both. Families will receive a letter in the mail detailing the changes the week of Nov. 13. If families do not get a letter by Nov. 17, they should call the Transportation Department at 419-996-3454.

Families should expect some delays in the first few days of the new routes, just as they sometimes experience at the beginning of a new school year.

The Lima City Schools Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame is now accepting nominations for the next class to be inducted in the fall of 2024.

The Hall of Fame inducts outstanding alumni every three years. The most recent group was inducted in 2021.

Nominations will be accepted until March 22, 2024. The Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, at Lima Senior. Inductees will also be recognized during halftime of Lima Senior’s Oct. 11 football game.

The Hall of Fame honors alumni who have received local, state or national recognition for achievements in their occupational fields, made significant contributions to society, or performed meritorious service to our country.

Hall of Fame eligibility requirements include:

• The nominee attended the Lima City Schools.
• The nominee graduated 15 or more years ago.
• The nominee has at the local, state, national or international level demonstrated distinguished occupational or professional achievement or performed significant volunteer, charitable, civic, public, humanitarian or military service.
• The nominee is of excellent character.

The Hall of Fame will also induct an honorary member for his or her service to the Lima City Schools. This person does not have to be a graduate of the school district.

The Hall of Fame serves as a living example for current students and the community of the caliber of accomplished graduates who have come from the Lima City Schools.

Nomination forms are available on the district’s web site, www.limacityschools.org. The Hall of Fame information is under the “Community” page. For additional information, contact Beth Jokinen at 419-996-3411 or bjokinen@spartan.limacityschools.org.

The Lima City Schools Aspire (GED) program has been awarded the First Annual Chancellor’s Award for Innovative Programming recognizing new initiatives to help adults become more employable.

Along with helping adults better their educational skills and obtain their High School Equivalent Diploma (GED), the Aspire program has added five Integrating Education with Technology (IET) mini-courses with an industry-recognized certification to help students gain employment.

Serv SafeManager and Microsoft Office Suite Certifications are both offered to people housed at the WORTH Center.

Customer Service (with a sewing component) will start in a fewweeks. The class is a combination of offering outstanding customer service and looking at the textile industry. With the proximity of the Wilson Football Factory and Airstream, this is a great introductionto those industries. There are still spotsavailable.

Introductionto the Trades looks at the various skills that are vital to the manufacturingindustry. This class is scheduled to take place in the spring.

Computer Programming/E-sports is geared toward students with special needs like learning disorders, ADHD and sensory issues.

To sign up for any of these programs or to learn more about other Aspire (GED) programming, call 419-223-0252.

Additional information about its services can be found at www.limaliteracy.net. The Aspire GED program is housed at 563 W Spring St.

Lima Senior High School’s DECA program recently inducted new members and installed this year’s officers at its annual breakfast.

The event included Lima Senior Marketing and Audio Engineering DECA students.

The school has a strong DECA tradition, with students doing a number of projects and competing at the national/international level each year.

The new officers are below.

Senior Officers

President: Chase Hipsher

Vice President: Ariana Custer

Secretary: Ellie Warnement

Treasurer: Dalton Chiles

CEO Spartan Spirit Shack: Gabby Avalos

CEO Spartan Higher Grounds: Kaitlyn Thompson

Policy Advocate Officer: Victoria Holbrook-Phillips

Public Relations Officers: Nicholas Fosnaugh and Aliyana Coppler

Vice President of Finance: Kansas Mayes

Vice President of Marketing: Zaveon Garner

Junior Officers (there are two chapters)

President: Davyon Williamson and Christian Ackerman

Vice President: Skylar Slaise and Jaclyn Kohlhofer

Secretary: Marisol Gonzalez and Alexis Lopez

Treasurer: Makayla Redd and Jaeda Gaddy