The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving a purchase of 15 new snow blowers.
Most of the district’s current snow blowers are in poor condition, according to the item on Monday’s meeting agenda, and their frequent mechanical failures reduce make them less reliable and effective.
Buying new snow blowers is an economical solution that’d put less physical strain on staff responsible for snow removal and increase snow-clearing efficiency, according to the agenda item.
The 15 snow blowers from Heinen Outdoor Power Equipment would cost $26,760 and be pulled from the district’s capital outlay fund.
Board members will vote on the purchase as part of their consent agenda, a list of items routinely approved in one motion unless a member or the superintendent pulls an item for further discussion. See more on the meeting agenda item on BoardDocs.
So far during the 2024-25 year, the district has had five inclement weather days — all in January, and four of them were related to snow.
Two reports
Additionally, the board will hear two reports. The first is an update on the new cell phone policy that went into effect in January. The school board on Dec. 9 voted to approve the policy that bans cell phones during instructional hours with some exceptions and an aimed adaptive approach.
The second report pertains to a “proposed adapted equity reporting cycle,” according to the agenda.
No information or presentation materials were included on either agenda item on BoardDocs as of Saturday afternoon.
In other business:
• State-level public education updates: As part of opening items, the board will hear about recent public education legislation and Kansas State Board of Education updates.
Board member Shannon Kimball, who’s a Kansas Association of School Boards government relations specialist, has given briefings at previous meetings.
• Executive session: The board will hold a 15-minute executive session, or closed-door meeting, to discuss personnel matters pursuant to non-elected personnel at the conclusion of the meeting. No action is set to follow.
The board meeting is set to begin at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 10 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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August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
