City employees outlined goals related to diversity in local events at Tuesday’s Lawrence City Commission meeting, with a focus on increasing outreach to diverse communities.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
Supporters of keeping neighborhood schools open rallied outside of Lawrence school district offices Tuesday evening ahead of a special school board meeting.
Following backlash to legislation that would have nullified local government anti-discrimination protections, lawmakers voted to strike the offending section from an anti-discrimination bill.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
The Lawrence school board will meet Tuesday to discuss a list of proposed budget cuts, including potentially closing three schools that have not yet been publicly named and increasing staffing ratios at middle and high schools.
Lawrence voters in November 2024 will vote on one question that actually decides a lot more questions: Should we directly elect a mayor? Should the Lawrence City Commission expand to 6 members? Should they be elected by districts?
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
The Lawrence school district’s budget committee’s recommendation for the 2023-24 year remained unspecified at the end of the group’s final meeting Wednesday, but the committee did learn how elementary and middle schools scored on an assessment of district facilities.
Rep. Patrick Penn introduced a section of a bill that would strike down local government measures against discrimination and forbid cities from adopting restraints on discrimination beyond state or federal law.
High school graduation rates in the Lawrence school district increased last year, adding onto its gradual improvement over the years, a new accreditation report states.
Lawrence city commissioners on Tuesday approved an ordinance change that creates a protected class based on source of income, as well as status as a survivor of domestic violence, sexual assault, human trafficking or stalking. The change also disallows discrimination based on prospective tenants’ immigration status.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence city commissioners are set to vote Tuesday on proposed changes to city ordinances that advocates say could help people secure housing. They’ll also decide whether to include tenant protections based on immigration status.
