Lawrence teachers could receive raises and several staff members stipend increases this fall, based on the tentative contract up for the school board’s approval Monday.
Lawrence Education Association, the district’s teachers union, came to an agreement with the district during a negotiations meeting on June 25. The tentative contract for 2024-25 increases the base annual salary by $1,400 for teachers.
That would increase pay for a first-year teacher with a bachelor’s degree to $43,983. A proposed schedule includes the range of teacher salaries for 2024-25.
If the tentative contract is approved Monday, the district’s pool of funding for certified staff salaries would increase by approximately 4.1%, totaling approximately $1.9 million, according to the school board meeting agenda item. Qualifying teachers would see either or both vertical and horizontal movement, which refer to pay increases based on years of experience and levels of certification, respectively.
Last year’s approved contract gave teachers who did not receive raises in past years two “catch up” steps on the salary matrix. Raises were dependent on individual teachers’ placements on the salary schedule as well as the year they were hired.
This year’s tentative contract agreement includes an opportunity in the spring for qualifying teachers to see horizontal movement, which would be in addition to the fall opportunity.
LEA has been negotiating this coming year’s contract with the district since September. Board President Kelly Jones said during the June 25 meeting that she’s confident the board will approve the tentative contract.
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In addition to teacher raises, speech language pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists would receive $7,000 stipends. And the tentative contract would increase stipends for the high school cheer directors by about $1,100 — to $6,112 from $5,005. It’d also add two $3,015 stipends for DECA, Distributive Education Clubs of America.
Elementary schools and Lawrence Virtual School would each get three $275 stipends to help fund extracurricular clubs.
Safety language, in addition to language in other areas, has been updated. A point of discussion during negotiations meetings addressed situations when teachers witnessed student fights, experienced aggression from students, or had to respond to another emergency situation. Teachers expressed the need for more guidance and protections included in their contracts.
To learn more about what’s included in the tentative contract, view the agenda item on BoardDocs.
Draft student handbook with cell phone ban
The board on Monday will consider approving a consolidated, districtwide handbook that bans cell phone use at school.
“Students found using their phone during school hours without permission will be required to check their phone in and out of the office each day,” according to the cell phone use policy in the handbook draft.
During public comment at the board’s June 24 meeting, district teachers and staff said cell phone use in classrooms is a crisis. More than 80 Lawrence educators had signed a petition for the district to implement a stricter cell phone policy.
Students are permitted to use cell phones during lunchtime under the district’s current policy. The draft handbook does not clarify if lunchtime usage is allowed. The policy says phones “must be turned off before entering the building and remain in their backpacks until dismissal.”
Educators have also said inconsistencies across individual schools and classrooms require teachers to use their discretion, often putting them in difficult spots.
Changes included in the proposed handbook include merging all elementary, middle and high school handbooks into one central document, and the behavior matrix located toward the end will apply to all students.
The handbook is on the board’s consent agenda — a list of items routinely approved in one motion unless a board member or the superintendent requests to pull an item for further discussion.
In other business
• RSP & Associates contract: The board’s vote on a tentative contract with RSP & Associates for enrollment and district boundary analysis, which was delayed from the previous meeting, does not appear on Monday’s meeting agenda.
As part of their July 8 meeting, board members were asked to approve spending up to $100,000 — but likely around $65,000 — for the consulting company to complete a boundary and enrollment analysis this coming school year.
After a discussion in which some advocated for RSP’s work and others voiced concerns about its facilitators, the board decided to postpone the vote to the following meeting, but the tentative contract was not included in Monday’s agenda as of Sunday afternoon.
• Executive session: Monday’s meeting will conclude with a 30-minute executive session, or closed-door meeting, where the board will discuss personnel matters. Possible action may follow.
The school board meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Monday, July 22 at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.
Meetings are open to the public, livestreamed on the district’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@USD497, and broadcast on Midco channel 26. Full meeting agendas are available on BoardDocs, via go.boarddocs.com.
To give public comment during the board meeting, sign up before the meeting starts either in person or by emailing PublicComment@usd497.org. Commenters may request to participate by Webex video/phone conferencing.
Update:
• Lawrence school district administrators say cell phone ban in draft handbook was a mistake; board approves teacher raises, July 22, 2024
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Maya Hodison (she/her), equity reporter, can be reached at mhodison@lawrencekstimes.com. Read more of her work for the Times here. Check out her staff bio here.
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