In April 2021, the Lawrence school board voted to close Kennedy Elementary School to grades K-5 and use it as an early childhood development center.
In January 2022, Lawrence school district staff proposed scenarios that would involve closures and/or consolidations of multiple elementary schools and middle schools. On Feb. 14, 2022, the school board decided to take closures off the table for the coming school year, but said difficult budget conversations would continue.
In February 2023, the superintendent recommended closing three elementary schools and repurposing a middle school. The Lawrence school board voted on Feb. 27, 2023 not to consider Woodlawn Elementary for closure, and to take a year to explore repurposing Liberty Memorial Central Middle School. On March 27, the board voted 4-3 to close Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementary schools after the 2022-23 school year.
LATEST COVERAGE
Lawrence school district analyzes former Broken Arrow and Pinckney students’ attendance, behavior
Attendance and behavior issues among students who transferred from the now-closed Pinckney and Broken Arrow elementary schools last year have improved, a district administrator told the school board Wednesday.
Lawrence school district analyzes former Broken Arrow and Pinckney students’ attendance, behavior
Attendance and behavior issues among students who transferred from the now-closed Pinckney and Broken Arrow elementary schools last year have improved, a district administrator told the school board Wednesday.
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Lawrence Times file photos
Lawrence Public Schools considering closing several schools in proposed scenarios
Multiple school closings were proposed to the Lawrence school district’s Boundary Advisory Committee Wednesday in an attempt to lessen an impending budget crisis.
Lawrence school board vets ideas to fill multimillion-dollar budget gap
Many questions and few answers came out of the Lawrence school board’s review of potential cost-savings ideas Monday during a special meeting to discuss the district’s budget deficit.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to hold special meeting to discuss budget-cut proposals
Inside 300 pages of cost-trimming ideas for the Lawrence school board’s consideration are proposals to combine low-enrollment classes at high schools, restructure middle schools and more.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Proposals to help balance Lawrence school district budget include school closures, reductions of positions
The public got its first glimpse of the details behind more than two dozen budget-trimming ideas for the Lawrence school district Wednesday afternoon.
Tricia Masenthin/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district explains Montessori idea for New York Elementary; budget committee to hold meeting today
There is no current proposal or recommendation to close New York Elementary School, according to Lawrence Public Schools spokesperson Julie Boyle.
Mac Moore / KSHSAA Covered
Lawrence school board hears details about budget impact, support for gymnastics; approves legislative priorities and more
Budget cuts were the central focus of district staff as well as the public commenters who called for reductions of administrators’ six-digit salaries at Monday’s Lawrence school board meeting.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider replacement of band uniforms, legislative priorities and more
The Lawrence school board on Monday will review its legislative priorities for 2022, consider replacing band uniforms for one of the high schools and more.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times file photo
Looking ahead: Plans still in flux for Kennedy Early Childhood Center
The Lawrence school district continues efforts to finalize plans eight months after the school board’s vote to close Kennedy Elementary School to grades K-5.
Tricia Masenthin / The Lawrence Times
Eight months later: The aftermath of closing Kennedy Elementary School
Eight months after the Lawrence school board voted to close Kennedy Elementary’s K-5 classrooms, students and staff are grappling with changes and uneven class sizes.
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times file photo
Lawrence school board to weigh pandemic relief funds proposal, leasing rate for Kennedy Early Childhood Center
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider a proposal for use of COVID-19 relief funds, an agreement to lease space at Kennedy Early Childhood Center to community partners and more.
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Other resources
• Contact Lawrence school board members
• Facebook group: Save Lawrence Neighborhood Schools
• Facebook page: Lawrence Education Justice Collective
• Website: Save Our Schools
• Lawrence Public Schools Boundary Advisory Committee page (BAC)
• Lawrence Public Schools Budget and Program Evaluation Committee page (BPEC)
• Facebook group: Save Woodlawn Elementary!
• Website: Save Our School – Woodlawn Elementary
