Post updated at 6:59 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22:
The Lawrence school board on Monday will discuss the ratification process of the 2022-23 contract with teachers and certified staff in the district.
The Lawrence Education Association (LEA), the district’s certified staff union, and the board on Aug. 9 came to a tentative contract agreement that includes an $825 salary increase for all certified staff and funding for horizontal movement only — meaning staff members who move up the pay scale after receiving additional years of higher education.
Over the last few weeks, all district teachers were encouraged to vote via an online form on whether or not to ratify the LEA’s 2022-23 contract agreement with the district, said Megan Epperson, LEA treasurer and co-negotiations lead.
LEA on Monday will share the results of the vote. Epperson and Matt Ellis also compiled data on nearby and comparable districts and their staff salaries for the board to review.
Additionally, the board will hear a report on a proposed salary matrix. No presentation materials or details were provided in the meeting agenda as of Sunday afternoon.
In other business:
• Board applications: The board on Monday will also vote on applicants to move forward with the process of filling a board member vacancy. Former board member Andrew Nussbaum resigned on July 18 because his family decided to move to Seattle. That prompted a call for community members to apply for the empty seat.
Out of the 13 applicants for the vacant position, board members will select four applicants to advance to the interview stage. At a special board meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 30, the board will interview the candidates and choose one to serve on the board until January 2024.
Meet the applicants at this link. Voters will next weigh in during the November 2023 general election, when five total board seats will be on the ballot.
• Montessori fees: The board will look to approve the district’s recommendation of charging $4,860 to “full pay” 3- and 4-year-old Montessori students, meaning those whose families do not qualify for preschool-aged at-risk funding from the state. Parents or guardians of full pay students can choose to make monthly payments of $540 for nine months.
That item is one of several on the board’s consent agenda, meaning it will most likely be approved without discussion on Monday.
• Work session on Title funds: The board will meet early to discuss allocation of Title funds, or federal money given to schools based on student populations. District administrators will share with the board a drafted overview of the district’s Title programs and current practices as well as possible alternative options. Board member Kelly Jones had asked during the district’s recent budget process for the board to review how the district uses Title funds.
The work session will begin at 5:15 p.m. and the regular meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 22 at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. Meetings are open to the public, livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel and broadcast on Midco channel 26. Full meeting agendas are available at this link.
To give public comment virtually during the board meeting, email PublicComment@usd497.org by 6 p.m. on the day of the meeting to sign up to participate by Webex video/phone conferencing.
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison (at) lawrencekstimes (dot) com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
