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Lawrence school board to consider slight property tax rate increase
Lawrence school board members on Monday will vote on a maximum mill levy for this year’s budget that would increase property taxes.
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Lawrence Public Schools • Haskell Indian Nations University • University of Kansas • Academic excellence
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Lawrence school district’s boundary committee meeting canceled as possible school closures still loom
A planned meeting of the Lawrence school district’s Boundary Advisory Committee has been canceled, meaning BAC members may not have the opportunity to provide feedback on potential school closure scenarios before the school board’s crucial decisions in the coming weeks.
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Lawrence school district seeking $4.2 million in COVID relief funds
The Lawrence school district did indeed submit letters of interest for COVID-19 relief funds through the county, spokesperson Julie Boyle confirmed Tuesday morning.
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Unclear whether Lawrence school district took steps to seek additional COVID relief funds
A Lawrence school district spokesperson said she was unsure whether any staff members had completed the first step to seek COVID relief funds that Douglas County has available by the Monday afternoon deadline.
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Lawrence community replicates students’ steps through school closure, boundary revision scenarios
With demonstration walks planned this week, community members hope to show the Lawrence school board and district leaders the obstacles students face walking to school amid possible school closures and boundary changes.
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Sunset Hill librarian reflects on evolution of ‘dream job’ as budget cuts threaten its future
Fallon Farokhi strives to spark a love of learning for nearly 400 Sunset Hill students. With librarian positions facing possible cuts, it’s a tough time for her to imagine not doing her dream job in her dream district.
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Native American art gallery named for artist Heap of Birds to open with ‘Indigenous Space’ exhibit
Chalmers Hall on the KU campus is now home to a brand-new gallery dedicated to Indigenous excellence in the visual arts.
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Where do they stand? Lawrence school board members share thoughts on school closure proposals
As of Friday, where do Lawrence school board members stand on school closure proposals?
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Lawrence school district’s budget committee supports school closures, initial poll indicates
Closing a middle school and two or more elementary schools; sharing staff across high schools; and cutting some special education support positions were some of the top-ranked cost-cutting proposals that members of the Lawrence school district’s Budget and Program Evaluation Committee indicated they would support.
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A bill would let Kansas schools shift to online learning, but it may not get far
As a growing number of Kansas schools cancel classes because of COVID outbreaks or staff shortages, one lawmaker wants to let districts avoid shutdowns by using online learning.
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Lawrence school district’s boundary committee to take anonymous vote on school closure proposals
The district’s Boundary Advisory Committee is planning to take an anonymous vote on which school closure scenarios to keep on the table, despite concerns about transparency that some members raised.
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Longtime Lawrence school board member explains how district’s budget crisis has unfolded
Lawrence school board Vice President Shannon Kimball took the board commentary portion of Monday’s meeting as an opportunity to provide some insight into the history of USD 497’s funding woes.
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Lawrence school board approves nixing some high school classes
Lawrence school board members on Monday agreed to curriculum changes that include eliminating the district’s driver’s education offering. Staff said students will still have alternative options to take the class.
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Lawrence community members rally in support of schools at board meeting
Lawrence community members rallied at school district offices Monday in support of their neighborhood schools, and the board got to hear from some very young public commenters.
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Signs of support for Lawrence schools pop up around town
A tight timeline for the Lawrence school board to make decisions about whether to close schools seems to have lit a fire under many community members who are coming together to “#SaveOurSchools497.”
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Closure proposals missing from Lawrence school board agenda; board will consider nixing some classes and more
Nothing on the Lawrence school board’s Monday agenda indicated whether members will discuss proposals to close several district schools. But the board will consider deleting some high school classes, approving a calendar with a weeklong fall break and Juneteenth as a holiday in 2023, and more.