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Lawrence school district administrators say cell phone ban in draft handbook was a mistake; board approves teacher raises
A districtwide cell phone ban was included in a draft of an updated student handbook, but Lawrence school district administrators said Monday it was a mistake, and high school students would still be permitted to use their phones outside of classes.
MORE USD 497 & K-12 EDUCATION NEWS
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After 4 instruments and 14 years, Lawrence High School student’s musical passion settles on the clarinet
Lawrence High School senior Felix Guo refused to excel at only one instrument. Instead, he chose four.
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Lawrence school board opposed to 4-day week in the near future
Switching to a four-day student/five-day staff school week could save the Lawrence school district money and provide more plan time for teachers, according to some staff members, but it raises equity concerns for families and students. School board members said Monday they don’t believe the district in the near future will be ready to consider the switch.
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Lawrence school board approves new elementary boundaries
New boundaries approved by the Lawrence school board on a 5-2 vote Monday will reassign students from the two elementary schools that are closing and some students from two schools that aren’t, based on where they reside.
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Lawrence school board to consider new elementary boundaries, hear report on 4-day weeks
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider approving new elementary boundaries for next year and hear a report on four-day weeks for students.
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Lawrence school district committee settles on final recommended boundaries
The district’s committee for school boundary planning on Wednesday settled on a final recommendation to the school board that keeps Deerfield students from being transferred to Woodlawn, requires some Hillcrest students to change schools and more.
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Principals named for Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, Prairie Park Elementary
The Lawrence school district on Friday announced Jennifer Schmitt as the new principal of Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, and Jason Townsend will become permanent principal of Prairie Park Elementary School, where he has served in the interim role this year.
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Broken Arrow Elementary’s interim principal named to new role; will assist families transitioning out of closing schools
Broken Arrow Elementary School’s interim principal, Amanda Green, has been selected for a position in which she will help families transitioning out of the two schools that the district is closing after the end of this year.
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Billy Mills visits students at his namesake middle school in Lawrence
Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, in Lawrence for the Kansas Relays, stopped by Billy Mills Middle School to meet with the Intertribal Club and speak at an end-of-day assembly on Thursday.
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Students put skills on display at Lawrence High School’s Innovation Expo
Students in the district’s various career and technical education pathways got to put their work on display at the first annual Innovation Expo Wednesday at Lawrence High School.
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Lawrence school district officials voice support for transgender students, staff after Legislature approves anti-trans laws
Lawrence school board members on Monday spoke in support of transgender, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming students and staff in the district, following the Kansas Legislature’s approval of several bills diminishing transgender people’s rights.
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Lawrence school district survey results show high disengagement among teachers
A recent district survey revealed that more than three out of five Lawrence teachers generally feel disengaged with their jobs.
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Lawrence school board suggests changes to proposed new elementary boundaries
Following their vote to close two elementary schools, Lawrence school board members on Monday asked the district’s boundary committee to keep families from having to travel across highways to their new schools, consider allowing families to choose their new schools and more.
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Lawrence school board to consider new boundaries following their vote to close two schools
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider new boundaries that assign all Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementary students to new schools as well as shift nearly 100 students out of three other schools.
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Lawrence middle schools hold Model UN conference amid program’s uncertain future
Lawrence middle schoolers held a citywide Model United Nations conference Friday as questions about the program’s future continue, following the school board’s approval of schedule and curriculum changes.
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Lawrence school board approves restructuring middle school schedules, changes to curriculum
The Lawrence school board on Monday approved middle school schedule changes, including creating a seven-period school day for students and other changes that will affect programs such as physical education, Future City and zero-hour choir.