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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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Free State High School orchestra selected to perform in esteemed festival
Free State High School orchestra members have been selected to perform in an annual festival with youth orchestras from across Kansas and Missouri.
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District committee considers schools that Broken Arrow, Pinckney students could attend if those schools close
The Lawrence school district’s Boundary Advisory Committee on Wednesday began discussions of possible boundary changes following the school board’s vote to advance hearings over the possible closures of Pinckney and Broken Arrow elementary schools.
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Hoax report of active shooter called in at Free State High School, Lawrence police say
The Lawrence Police Department received a call regarding an active shooter at Free State High School Wednesday morning, but it was a hoax call, according to a news release from the department.
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Union reps, community members voice concerns about staff cuts and school closures ahead of Lawrence school board vote
Lawrence community members showed up in big numbers to the school board meeting Monday evening, most opposing a budget recommendation to close neighborhood schools. The board heard almost two hours of public comment.
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Lawrence school district students, staff and community members rally before school board meeting
Community members joined Lawrence school district staff and students in a rally outside district offices before the school board meeting Monday to voice their concerns regarding a budget cut proposal that included possible closures of multiple schools.
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Lawrence school board votes to hold hearings on closing 2 schools and to cut staff
Lawrence school board members, more than six hours into their meeting Monday, voted to hold public hearings to consider closing Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementary schools, but not Woodlawn.
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FAQs, background info and timelines as Lawrence school board mulls closing buildings
The Lawrence Public Schools superintendent on Friday released his recommendation to close three elementary schools and repurpose a middle school. We’re looking to answer your questions about timelines, transportation, the budget and more.
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Lawrence superintendent’s recommendation: Close 3 elementary schools, repurpose middle school
Lawrence Public Schools Superintendent Anthony Lewis is recommending that three elementary schools be closed and a middle school be repurposed into a magnet school.
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Members of Lawrence school district’s budget planning committee share frustrations with process, reflections
By the end of a five-month process of analyzing potential budget cuts for next year, some members of the Lawrence school district’s budget planning committee felt facilitators and district leaders lacked transparency and dismissed their ideas. Others felt the committee achieved its purpose.
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Lawrence school district’s boundary committee weighs impact of closing Hillcrest Elementary
The Lawrence school district’s Boundary Advisory Committee on Wednesday discussed the possible closure of Hillcrest Elementary and its English as a Second Language program, as well as possible implications of the school board’s looming decision on budget cuts.
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Lawrence school board members ask for clarity on proposed budget cuts, process used to reach them
As the Lawrence school board prepares to soon approve final budget cuts for next year, board members asked district administrators for more concrete details about plans for school closures and more.
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Save Our Schools 497 group rallies ahead of Lawrence school board special meeting
Supporters of keeping neighborhood schools open rallied outside of Lawrence school district offices Tuesday evening ahead of a special school board meeting.
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Lawrence school board to consider budget cuts and school closures at special meeting
The Lawrence school board will meet Tuesday to discuss a list of proposed budget cuts, including potentially closing three schools that have not yet been publicly named and increasing staffing ratios at middle and high schools.
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As Lawrence school closure talks loom, report identifies lowest-scoring district buildings
The Lawrence school district’s budget committee’s recommendation for the 2023-24 year remained unspecified at the end of the group’s final meeting Wednesday, but the committee did learn how elementary and middle schools scored on an assessment of district facilities.
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Lawrence school district graduation rates have increased, accreditation report shows
High school graduation rates in the Lawrence school district increased last year, adding onto its gradual improvement over the years, a new accreditation report states.