LATEST
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
Free State High School director of orchestras honored as educator of distinction
Judy Erpelding, director of orchestras at Free State High School, has been selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction.
Lawrence school board accepts proposal to keep most library positions
After a failed motion, much discussion and multiple recesses, the Lawrence school board on Monday voted on a package of budget cuts that includes a much smaller cut to librarians than what administrators had recommended.
Free State High School associate principal promoted to principal position
Amy McAnarney, associate principal of Free State High School, will soon take over the principal position, the Lawrence school district announced Monday evening.
Lawrence community members, PAL-CWA workers rally ahead of school board meeting
Community and union members united to rally ahead of the Lawrence school board meeting Monday.
Free State junior awarded 2022 Princeton Prize in Race Relations
Soledad Edison, 17, has been inspiring conversations of equity in the classroom since middle school. Now a junior at Free State, he has a passion for connecting with diverse people and finding solutions to issues facing marginalized students.
Lawrence school board to make final budget cut decisions; no new recommendations from staff
The Lawrence school board will meet Monday with plans to make final decisions on budget cuts to balance a multimillion-dollar shortfall. There are no new options on a list of administrators’ recommended cuts.
Douglas County educators advance to Kansas Teacher of the Year honors
Educators across the state, including four from Douglas County, will vie this weekend to advance to the final round in the Kansas Teacher of the Year awards.
Lawrence school district’s director of elementary schools to move into HR role
Kristen Ryan, Lawrence Public Schools director of elementary schools, has been selected as executive director of human resources, pending school board approval.
Save Our Schools 497 plans rally ahead of Lawrence school board meeting, calls for cuts to administration
The Save Our Schools 497 group is calling for the Lawrence school board to make deeper cuts to district administration and save librarians’ jobs.
Lawrence school district librarians shocked after learning of plans to cut most of their jobs
Lawrence school district librarians and library media assistants were “blindsided” Wednesday after being informed that two-thirds of their jobs were being cut, even before the school board has made any final budget cut decisions.
Anthony Lewis, superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools, is a finalist to lead Montgomery district
The superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools is one of five finalists vying for a position leading Montgomery, Alabama Public Schools, where his career began.
Lawrence school board members question proposed cuts to administration, other staffing
Cuts to administration that both did and did not make it into recommendations for the Lawrence school board to consider drew questions from board members Tuesday evening during their budget work session.
Lawrence school board takes some activity cuts off the table for now
Gymnastics and clubs are safe, at least for now, Lawrence school board members decided Tuesday evening during a budget work session.
Lawrence school board budget work session set for Tuesday
The Lawrence school board is set to review district administrators’ latest cost-cutting suggestions during a special budget work session Tuesday.
Lawrence student robotics club brings STEAM heat to regional competition
Team STEAM, the Lawrence area schools robotics club, qualified seventh out of 28 teams and then was eliminated in the quarterfinals Saturday at the Heartland Regional competition, but they still brought home awards.