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Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence superintendent to seek feedback at community meetings this winter
The Lawrence school district superintendent will soon host a series of meetings to elicit feedback from students, staff, families and the local community.
Molly Adams / Lawrence Times
Lawrence superintendent to seek feedback at community meetings this winter
The Lawrence school district superintendent will soon host a series of meetings to elicit feedback from students, staff, families and the local community.
MORE USD 497 & K-12 EDUCATION NEWS
Sydney Farokhi Clark/Contributed
Sunset Hill librarian reflects on evolution of ‘dream job’ as budget cuts threaten its future
Fallon Farokhi strives to spark a love of learning for nearly 400 Sunset Hill students. With librarian positions facing possible cuts, it’s a tough time for her to imagine not doing her dream job in her dream district.
Lawrence Times graphic; contributed photos
Where do they stand? Lawrence school board members share thoughts on school closure proposals
As of Friday, where do Lawrence school board members stand on school closure proposals?
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Lawrence school district’s budget committee supports school closures, initial poll indicates
Closing a middle school and two or more elementary schools; sharing staff across high schools; and cutting some special education support positions were some of the top-ranked cost-cutting proposals that members of the Lawrence school district’s Budget and Program Evaluation Committee indicated they would support.
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Lawrence school district’s boundary committee to take anonymous vote on school closure proposals
The district’s Boundary Advisory Committee is planning to take an anonymous vote on which school closure scenarios to keep on the table, despite concerns about transparency that some members raised.
Carter Gaskins / Lawrence Times file photo
Longtime Lawrence school board member explains how district’s budget crisis has unfolded
Lawrence school board Vice President Shannon Kimball took the board commentary portion of Monday’s meeting as an opportunity to provide some insight into the history of USD 497’s funding woes.
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Lawrence school board approves nixing some high school classes
Lawrence school board members on Monday agreed to curriculum changes that include eliminating the district’s driver’s education offering. Staff said students will still have alternative options to take the class.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence community members rally in support of schools at board meeting
Lawrence community members rallied at school district offices Monday in support of their neighborhood schools, and the board got to hear from some very young public commenters.
Dave Loewenstein/Contributed Photo
Signs of support for Lawrence schools pop up around town
A tight timeline for the Lawrence school board to make decisions about whether to close schools seems to have lit a fire under many community members who are coming together to “#SaveOurSchools497.”
August Rudisell/The Lawrence Times
Closure proposals missing from Lawrence school board agenda; board will consider nixing some classes and more
Nothing on the Lawrence school board’s Monday agenda indicated whether members will discuss proposals to close several district schools. But the board will consider deleting some high school classes, approving a calendar with a weeklong fall break and Juneteenth as a holiday in 2023, and more.
Contributed Photos
Lawrence’s high school debate teams compete at State, reflect on season
Lawrence high school debate teams recently competed at the State tournament, completing the season and another year of remote competitions.
August Rudisell / The Lawrence Times
Closing 5 Lawrence schools would save about $3.25 million; timeline for decisions is tightening
A proposal to close four Lawrence elementary schools and a middle school could save the district about $3.25 million, and the school board will have to decide by the end of the month whether to keep that option on the table.
USD 497
Lawrence school district to present awards at One Dream MLK event
Students, educators and community members will be honored Thursday during the Lawrence school district’s annual One Dream Martin Luther King Jr. tribute. The event celebrates the vision of the slain civil rights leader and those making efforts locally to bring MLK’s dreams to reality.
Lawrence Times graphic
More than 100 new cases of COVID-19 reported in Lawrence schools; Douglas County again breaks record high
The number of new COVID-19 cases reported in Lawrence Public Schools Tuesday more than doubles the district’s recent single-day high of 53.
Lawrence school district’s budget and boundary advisory committees to meet Wednesday, hear details on Hillcrest proposal
The Lawrence school district’s Boundary Advisory Committee and its Budget and Program Evaluation Committee will both meet Wednesday, and the BAC will hear details about a proposal to close Hillcrest Elementary.
Andrea Albright / The Lawrence Times
Lawrence parents, students begin campaign against school closures with sidewalk messages of support
Parents, students, and neighbors on Monday covered sidewalks with chalk messages of hope at Lawrence schools that could face closures.
