The Lawrence school district plans to seek out a firm to lead the search for a permanent superintendent and create a committee to support the search.
As part of Monday’s school board meeting, the board will consider giving the green light to the human resources department to initiate the tentative process, according to the agenda.
It’s not clear yet what hiring a search firm would cost the district. In September 2017, during the last search for a permanent superintendent, the board approved a contract with Ray & Associates not to exceed $30,000, according to meeting minutes.
An ad hoc search committee would include Kristen Ryan, executive director of human resources, and one additional HR staff member assigned by Ryan; board President Kelly Jones, board Vice President GR Gordon-Ross and board member Bob Byers; and up to three district classified and certified union representatives, according to the agenda.
“The committee’s objective would be to direct the search firm’s work to ensure a participatory decision-making process where Lawrence Public Schools communities actively engage in the superintendent selection,” according to the agenda.
During a special meeting on July 2, board members met to discuss their tentative timeline for selecting a permanent superintendent.
They completed the first step when they voted to hire Interim Superintendent Jeanice Swift on Aug. 12. Swift is replacing former Superintendent Anthony Lewis and is contracted to serve in her position through the 2024-25 school year. Her first day was Aug. 30.
Search firms being considered will go through an interview process. According to the tentative timeline, the board hopes to select one by the end of October. If the district uses a search firm and an ad hoc search committee, they’ll work together between November and March to find a permanent superintendent who will begin next year, during 2025-26.
In other business
• Performing arts facilities report: During a meeting on Sept. 26, 2023, the board approved ACI Boland to conduct a study of the middle and high school performing arts facilities. A report on the structure, building code compliance, lighting, acoustics and other factors of the facilities will be presented to the board Monday.
View the report documents and presentation on the meeting agenda item.
• Legislative priorities: The board will also hold a discussion on legislative priorities for 2024-25.
Annually, the board reviews and revises the district’s legislative priorities, or issues most important to advocate for at the state level. Fully funding special education, prioritizing public over private school funding, repealing statutes like Senate Bill 180, and providing universal free meals to students are among several priorities listed in the draft up for discussion.
View the draft of the board’s legislative priorities attached to the meeting agenda item.
• Executive sessions: The meeting will include two executive sessions, or closed-door meetings the board holds.
The first is a 10-minute meeting with Swift, Ryan and Larry Englebrick that may result in action, and the second is a 15-minute meeting with those same administrators, and it is not set to result in action. Both are related to personnel matters of non-elected personnel, according to the agenda.
The board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23 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.
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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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