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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Superintendent: Lawrence schools plan welcome center, seek to boost staff pay and more updates
A district welcome center, an expansion of a program to help high schoolers earn KU credits, and “streamlining” to ensure the district’s pay for staff members is competitive are all in the works, according to the Lawrence Public Schools superintendent.
MORE USD 497 & K-12 EDUCATION NEWS
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district reaches 8 inclement weather days; still unclear whether makeup time will be needed
Lawrence Public Schools will be closed for a second day in a row this week, making for eight total days canceled so far this year. It’s still not clear whether makeup time will be needed.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Public Schools to close, plus other closures for Wednesday, Feb. 19
There will be no school again for Lawrence Public Schools on Wednesday. That, plus more closures:
Lawrence school board president foreshadows potential public comment pause
Lawrence school board President Kelly Jones floated the idea of pausing public comment after a confrontational exchange between the board and a frequent Lawrence public commenter on Monday.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence police investigating alleged sexual assault of elementary school students
Two Prairie Park Elementary School students were allegedly sexually assaulted by an employee of the school, Lawrence police say.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider approving snow blower purchase, hear update on cell phone policy
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving a purchase of snow blowers and hear an update on the new cell phone policy.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence students shine on stage during annual Ovation! show
Dozens of Lawrence school district students took to the Lied Center stage Sunday for the annual Ovation! talent show.
Lawrence High School artists earn 39 awards and recognitions at regional competition
Several Lawrence High School student artists earned awards at a regional competition, including seven whose works were selected in the top 1% of all submissions.
Nathan Kramer / Contributed photo
Ovation! to highlight Lawrence school district students’ talents
Lawrence students will perform on aerial silks, sing barbershop tunes, Irish step dance and more at the Ovation! talent show on Sunday.
Jason Dailey/Courtesy photo
Lawrence Youth of the Year winner to be selected out of five candidates
Five candidates will give speeches Thursday in front of family, friends and community members before one is selected as the 2025 Lawrence Youth of the Year.
Lawrence school district feedback shows need to curb bullying but praises teachers
Participants who gave the Lawrence school district some feedback in the fall said teachers and staff are the backbone, but they see areas for improvement in student discipline and more.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to hear update on boundary work, consider approving solar project
A district committee on Monday will update the school board on its interest in exploring a feeder system in the future instead of making any boundary changes for next year. The board will also consider a bid to install solar panels for Sunflower Elementary.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district will safeguard student info in wake of immigration concerns, superintendent says
Lawrence Public Schools will keep students’ information private and support their constitutional right to education regardless of their immigration status, the superintendent told families Friday.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence school district committee wants to look at changing all schools’ boundaries – not just high schools’
Lawrence high school boundary lines will not change next year after a district committee decided Wednesday it wants to do a longer-term analysis of elementary, middle and high school boundaries altogether.
Free State wins state debate title
Free State High School claimed the 6A four-speaker state title over the weekend, besting some of the top debaters in the state for the Firebirds’ first debate state championship since 2019.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Communication, honest transparency top traits focus groups desired in next Lawrence superintendent
Focus group members said they’d most like the new permanent Lawrence Public Schools superintendent to be effective in communication and honest with transparency, according to a search firm.





