For four years before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the gap between administrators’ salaries and teachers’ salaries in Lawrence Public Schools grew bigger and bigger. That trend has started reversing, but there’s still frustration about the gap.
As enrollment continues to decline, the Lawrence school district is considering ways to cut costs, such as hiring employees rather than outside contractors and using solar energy, according to a budget update the school board will receive Monday.
The Lawrence school board on Monday approved a budget that will increase property taxes and agreed to move forward with a solar energy project that staff said will pay off in the long term.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
The Lawrence school board on Monday will vote on the district’s final 2023-24 budget, which would increase property taxes, and hear a proposal for a solar energy project.
Property taxes might increase as a result of the Lawrence school district’s increased mill levy, which the Lawrence school board gave initial approval Monday.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving the district’s proposed maximum budget for the upcoming year, which would increase property taxes.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
All teachers in the Lawrence school district will receive raises next year under a tentative agreement between the district and its teachers union. The contract will also catch up teachers who did not receive raises in past years and provide additional financial support to special education teachers.
The Lawrence school district is projecting that an increase to per-pupil funding from the state will add $4 million to next year’s budget, but other factors could offset that increase.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
The Lawrence school board on Monday will review updates on the district’s budget for next year. No details were available as of Sunday morning.
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider selling surplus property to Tenants to Homeowners, and increasing payment to the contractor the district hired to help with budget planning.
