The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education includes seven volunteer members who are elected to serve four-year terms. Usually, three or four of the board seats are up for election every two years (most recently, five board members were elected in November 2023 because of a special circumstance with one seat).
The board generally meets at 6 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of each month at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. Board meetings are also listed on the Lawrence Times events page.
Meetings are livestreamed on the USD 497 YouTube channel, and recordings of previous meetings can also be found on that page. They are also broadcast live on Midco channel 26.
Find school board meeting agendas and board policies at this link. Find Lawrence Times coverage of the school board at this link.
Contact the Lawrence school board:
Last updated: July 8, 2024
Kelly Jones, board president
785-764-1465
Kelly.Jones@usd497.org
Facebook page
First elected in 2017; reelected in 2021
GR Gordon-Ross, board vice president
gr.gordon-ross@usd497.org
Facebook page
First elected in 2017; appointed to the board in 2022; elected in 2023
Bob Byers
785-330-1401
bbyers@usd497.org
First elected in 2009, served through 2013; appointed to vacant seat from 2014-2015; appointed to vacant seat again in 2023
Carole Cadue-Blackwood
785-550-7620
ccaduebl@usd497.org
Facebook page
First elected in 2019; reelected in 2023
Anne Costello
784-330-2744
Anne.Costello@usd497.org
Facebook page
First elected in 2023
Yolanda Franklin
785-330-2733
Yolanda.Franklin@usd497.org
Facebook page
First elected in 2023
Shannon Kimball
785-840-7722
skimball@usd497.org
Facebook page
First elected in 2011; reelected in 2015 and 2019; reelected to a two-year term in 2023
Send all board members written correspondence via email at schoolboard@usd497.org, or via mail:
In care of Board Clerk at USD 497
110 McDonald Drive
Lawrence, KS 66044
To give public comment virtually during a board meeting, email PublicComment@usd497.org by 6 p.m. on the day of the meeting to sign up to participate by Webex video/phone conferencing.
