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Lawrence school board adds Indigenous Peoples Day as paid holiday, hears NASS report
Lawrence school board members approved calendars for 2026-2028 that include Indigenous Peoples Day as a paid holiday the same evening that they received a report on Native American Student Services.
MORE USD 497 & K-12 EDUCATION NEWS
Natasha Torkzaban/Lawrence Times
More snow days could lead to makeup time in Lawrence schools; staff monitoring heat in buildings
School cancellations could add up and require the district to make up time. Also, the district says staff members are working to make sure buildings will be warm enough when students come back to school.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Lawrence Public Schools closed again, plus more closures for Tuesday, Jan. 7
Lawrence Public Schools will be closed for the weather again Tuesday amid extreme cold that followed a blizzard.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Mom transfers son out of district after Lawrence High’s handling of threat
A local mother has transferred her kids in and out of Lawrence Public Schools within one semester because of incidents jeopardizing their safety and well-being — most recently, the district’s handling of a threat against her son.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence High band director honored with award from music educator colleagues
Mike Jones, Lawrence High School band director, has earned the 2024 Outstanding Band Director Award from the Northeast Kansas Music Educators Association.
Lawrence Public Schools sees losses with open enrollment transfers
Lawrence Public Schools gained five students through open enrollment but lost at least 20 more to the three districts closest to the city.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
Musicians from Lawrence middle schools, KU join for Brassmas holiday show
Low brass musicians from across Lawrence filled the Lied Center stage Friday to perform holiday classics.
No weapon found after police investigate report of student with gun at Southwest Middle School
The Lawrence school district says there was no credible threat to Southwest Middle School after a student allegedly said they had a gun on campus Wednesday.
Andrew Beaven
Southwest Middle School band teacher honored with Dedication to Education award
Deborah Woodall Routledge, band director at Southwest Middle School, was honored Wednesday with the annual Dedication to Education award from the Lawrence Schools Foundation.
Student musicians from Lawrence middle schools and KU to perform in combined holiday concert
Band students from Lawrence middle schools and KU will join onstage Friday for a holiday concert, “Brassmas.”
Lawrence school board votes to ban cell phones during school with exceptions
Students in Lawrence Public Schools will be mostly prohibited access to their cell phones during school hours based on a new policy the school board approved Monday, though the policy includes a number of exceptions.
Lawrence school board to consider approving policy limiting cell phone use
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving the final draft of a new policy that would implement a generally cell phone-free instructional day effective in January.
Lawrence High School student artists earn national recognition
Two Lawrence High School students have earned national YoungArts awards, acknowledging them as promising creatives of their generation.
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
Free State High School student given award for saving teacher’s life
Lucas Fearn, a senior at Free State High School, was recognized Wednesday with a high honor from the American Red Cross: the organization’s Lifesaving Award.
We’re launching a Lawrence Public Schools community network. Here’s how to join us
The Lawrence Times is launching a community network to help us better cover all things newsworthy within Lawrence Public Schools.
August Rudisell / Lawrence Times file photo
Some Lawrence schools having heat issues; district says ‘dress in layers’
The Lawrence school district is telling students and staff to bundle up as several school buildings or classrooms are having heat problems, up against outdoor temperatures as low as the teens and only as high as the 30s.





