The Lawrence school board on Tuesday will hear an update on the district’s Native American Student Services.
NASS serves the district’s American Indian and Alaska Native students. David Farve, who was hired in February as the new NASS coordinator, will present to the board.
Currently, American Indian and Alaska Native students make up approximately 5% of the district’s total enrollment, according to Tuesday’s meeting agenda. More than 873 students who represent 73 tribal nations are attending Lawrence Public Schools.
NASS is funded through federal grants. Students must be enrolled members of federally recognized tribal nations to benefit from services, and there are currently 376 who are eligible, according to the agenda; however, programming and mentorship welcome all Native students.
In the past, NASS has hosted basket weaving workshops, dancing, visits with U.S. Olympian Billy Mills, community service opportunities, trips to colleges, and more.
“The goal of NASS is to enhance and support the student’s overall growth and development through cultural and academic programs for students and families,” according to the meeting agenda.
According to presentation slides, Farve on Tuesday will discuss student needs; federal statutes and how they impact NASS; and student engagement, such as intertribal clubs and tutoring. Board members will have time for questions.
The presentation, which is attached to the meeting agenda item on BoardDocs, is for informational purposes only. The board is not set to take any action.
In other business:
• Appointment to state convention: The board on Tuesday will also vote for one representative and one alternative representative for the annual Kansas Association of School Boards business meeting. The delegate has traditionally been the board president or a member who plans to attend the KASB Annual Convention, according to the meeting agenda item.
This year’s convention is set for November in Wichita. Major issues being discussed at the state level this year include financing public education over private, fully funding special education, teacher recruitment and retention and more.
• Legislative priorities: Board members will consider approving their 2025 legislative priorities.
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 were among several priorities listed in an earlier version of the draft. A draft was not yet attached to Tuesday’s agenda item as of Saturday afternoon.
The item is part of 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.
Instead of the normal meeting day, the board will convene at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15 at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive, as Indigenous Peoples Day is recognized Monday.
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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