Lawrence school board members will meet Monday to hear a back-to-school update from Superintendent Jeanice Swift as the district prepares for the 2026-27 school year.
Enrollment is underway through July 31 for all returning students. Find more information on the district’s website at this link.
The agenda is otherwise comprised of routine items on the consent agenda, including renewal of the district’s Centegix panic button system for $131,200 for the year. The district will pay $65,600 of that cost, and the remainder will be covered by grant funds.
No general public comment period is listed. This meeting will be the 15th in a row without general public comment on the agenda.
The board hasn’t heard public comment since Nov. 17. However, Bob Byers, selected as board president for the 2026-27 school year, said during the July 13 meeting that he would like to revisit possibly bringing public comment back to the agendas.
The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. Monday, July 27 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.
See the full meeting agenda at this link. See ways to contact the school board at lawrencekstimes.com/contact-usd497bd.
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Courtney Lane (she/her), staff reporter, has worked with The Lawrence Times since April 2026. She can be reached at [email protected].
Read her complete bio here. Read her work for the Times at this link, and see her photography for the Times at this link.
