The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving classroom ratios and enrollment capacities for the 2025-26 year.
The new Kansas open enrollment law went into effect this year, giving public school students statewide the ability to transfer to any district in the state as long as space allows.
Lawrence Public Schools gained five students through open enrollment during the fall 2024 semester, not including regular transfers, but lost at least 20 more to three districts close to the city.
Under the law, school districts are required to post to their websites the number of open seats available in each grade at each building by May 1.
The board in April 2024 had set approximately 100 open seats for out-of-district transfers during the subsequent 2024-25 year. The board during that meeting also approved a slightly lower student-to-teacher ratio than the previous year: 24 to 1 for elementary school classrooms; 21 or 22 to 1 for middle school classrooms; and 24 to 1 for high school classrooms.
Superintendent Jeanice Swift will give her recommendation to board members to consider approving Monday. No presentation materials were attached to the meeting agenda item as of Saturday morning.
Public comment
General public comment did not appear on the meeting agenda as of Saturday morning.
That period, when members of the public can speak to the board about topics that aren’t on the agenda, was previously slotted near the beginning of meetings. The board moved it to the end of meetings starting Feb. 24 because board President Kelly Jones deemed it had become disruptive to business.
District spokesperson Julie Boyle confirmed general public comment will not be part of Monday’s meeting. She did not give a reason why.
“While the April 28, 2025, Lawrence Board of Education meeting agenda does not include public comment, public comment will be part of the board’s May 12, 2025, meeting agenda,” Boyle said via email. “The board welcomes the public to share feedback, concerns, and/or celebrations, or to request a conversation or meeting with a board member, at schoolboard@usd497.org.”
There is no legal requirement that the board hold a general public comment period during any of its meetings.
In other business:
• Enhancements Part II: The board will receive a preview of “enhancements” for the 2025-26 year. The agenda item says the report is the second part to a previous report but does not include further details.
During the board meeting on March 24, Swift shared the district’s plans to advance several programs, including by adding preschool classes to neighborhood schools. Early education is currently offered at Kennedy Early Childhood Center and New York Elementary School, but beginning in 2025-26, one preschool class each will be open at Sunflower and Woodlawn elementary schools.
• Consent agenda: The board’s consent agenda — a list of items routinely approved in one motion unless a board member or the superintendent pulls an item for discussion — includes renewal of staff fringe benefits, additional classroom renovations at Community Connections at Pinckney, new utility vehicle purchases for middle and high schools, three board policy modifications and more.
The board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, April 28 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 May 12 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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