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Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Times
C-Tran students now working at Pinckney bakery; coffee shop could be next addition
C-Tran students have started working at the Pinckney school’s bakery. In the future, they may have the opportunity to hone their skills in a school coffee shop that would be open to the public.
MORE USD 497 & K-12 EDUCATION NEWS
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
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.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
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.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
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.
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.
Mackenzie Clark / Lawrence Times graphic
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.
Chloe Anderson/Lawrence Times
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.
Cuyler Dunn/Lawrence Times
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.
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.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
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.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
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.
Maya Hodison/Lawrence Times
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.
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.
Lawrence school board approves calendar for next year with 5-day weeks
The Lawrence school board on Monday approved the district’s 2023-24 school calendar that keeps students in attendance five days a week. Research on a four-day week option will be presented to the board next month.
August Rudisell/Lawrence Times
Lawrence school board to consider approving next year’s school calendar, hear accreditation report
The Lawrence school board on Monday will consider a draft school calendar for 2023-24, which includes a few changes but keeps five-day weeks — for now. A four-day student week proposal will come back to the board next month.
Chansi Long/Lawrence Times
Cordley Elementary students wrap Black Lives Matter week with march
Students, faculty and staff of Cordley Elementary School celebrated Black Lives Matter at School Week, wrapping up the events with a big rally and march on Friday.





