The Lawrence school board will open its Monday meeting with executive sessions, followed by a sparse agenda that includes a few capital improvement projects and a settlement agreement.
The expenditures are on the consent agenda, a list of items that are generally considered routine and approved with one motion unless a board member or the superintendent asks to discuss something.
Here are the project bids staff members are recommending for board approval:
• A remodel of the Free State High School press box at the outdoor athletic field, up to $429,550
• Middle school theater updates, up to $522,100
• Playground equipment for preschool classrooms coming next year to Deerfield and Prairie Park elementary schools, up to $114,363
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Capital projects are paid from funds that the district can’t use to pay salaries.
Board members will also vote on whether to allow the district administration to “enter into a settlement regarding a mediation claim, with the $50,000. deductible to be paid from contingency funds,” according to the agenda.
The agenda doesn’t include information about the case involved in the settlement but says that “Hearing officer has determined a claim in a mediation case for costs incurred, and costs of attorney’s fees.”
The board meeting will start at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23 at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.
It will open with one 30-minute executive session, or closed-door meeting, for the board to discuss privileged attorney-client matters, followed by a 20-minute executive session to discuss employee contract negotiations. No action is expected to follow either executive session, according to the agenda.
There was no new business, report or general public comment period on the agenda as of Saturday afternoon.
This is set to be the fifth meeting in a row with no general public comment period. The board has not heard in-person public comment since Nov. 17.
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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Nathan Kramer / Lawrence TimesLawrence school board to meet with few agenda items, including some capital projects
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