June 9, 2025 Statement From Superintendent Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr. Dr. Akil E. Ross Sr., Lexington Richland School District Five School Superintendent, reported a cyber attack and disruption in the daily routing at D5 headquarters. In a statement to the school board on Monday, June 8, he explained theContinue Reading
By Akil E. Ross, Sr., Ed.D.Superintendent How do you know when times have changed? I knew times were changing after attending the School District Five teacher and staff hiring event on Saturday, January 11th. The event was attended by many highly qualified educators and role models, which built my excitementContinue Reading
By Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr.Superintendent An essential task of any leader is to ensure that the organization’s processes produce its promise. The leader continuously improves strategic plans to achieve the organization’s vision and mission. In School District Five of Lexington & Richland Counties, we believe that every student shouldContinue Reading
The story of the Maasai warrior’s greeting may provide the solution to the problems ailing our public schools. The Masai tribe lives in Kenya and Northern Tanzania and have a unique greeting among its lion hunting warriors. These brave warriors greet each other by asking “Kasserian Ingera” which means “andContinue Reading
By Dr. Akil E. Ross, Sr.Superintendent I have often been asked can controversial issues be discussed in schools? Before answering this question, It is important to provide clarity about the implementation of school board policies that address Academic Freedom and Teaching about Controversial/Sensitive Issues. School District Five of Lexington andContinue Reading
Every day, each of us is faced with making a multitude of decisions. Some decisions are easy to make, while others are difficult. I find that all the decisions I have ever made fall into two categories: situational or sustainable. Situational decisions temporarily address the problems of today yet haveContinue Reading
School District Five welcomed 17,385 students to our classrooms for another exciting schoolyear, and our hallways and playgrounds are filled with the laughter and youthful chatter that hasbeen interrupted since the pandemic altered schools in March 2020. The return of the familiarhas been a welcome comfort for our teachers, staff,Continue Reading
By Dr. Akil Ross After the recent tragedy in Uvalde, Texas, our nation mourns the loss of 19 children and 2 teachers in what is becoming a more frequent reality than an infrequent occurrence. School leaders across the country grapple with the question of how to assure students, parents, teachers,Continue Reading
By Dr. Akil Ross The African proverb, It takes a village to raise a child, is often used to reiterate how vital the community is to the successful raising of a child. I have heard this proverb hundreds of times but I never thought about who makes up the village.Continue Reading