Carter Gaskins / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board President Erica Hill has called a special meeting of the board to discuss cost-cutting proposals, which could include school closures.
August Rudisell / Lawrence Times file photo
The board of directors of the Lawrence Preservation Alliance wishes to express concern about the school district’s proposed plans to close community schools, each of which has a rich history and resides in a historic building.
Brandon Daley/Contributed Photo
On Wednesday, a group of community members walked from Liberty Memorial Central Middle School to Woodlawn Elementary School to better understand possible implications of proposed school closure scenarios.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
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.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
The Lawrence school district did indeed submit letters of interest for COVID-19 relief funds through the county, spokesperson Julie Boyle confirmed Tuesday morning.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
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.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
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.
Lawrence Times graphic; contributed photos
As of Friday, where do Lawrence school board members stand on school closure proposals?
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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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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.
