5 takeaways from Lawrence USD 497 school board meeting
July 14, 2025 - New Board Leadership; Funding Freeze; New District Leaders; State Funding Changes; New Immigration Rule
1. Gordon-Ross, Byers to Lead School Board
LAWRENCE – The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education has new leadership following its annual organizational meeting. GR Gordon-Ross was elected board president, with Bob Byers selected as vice president. The vote for Gordon-Ross was unanimous after Byers declined the presidential nomination. A public commenter noted that Gordon-Ross had been voted out in the 2021 election before being appointed in 2022 to fill a vacancy. The vice-presidential race saw two candidates: Bob Byers and Yolanda Franklin. Byers won the seat with a 4-2 vote after colleagues praised his years of public-health service and commitment to families. Franklin was lauded for her deep community ties and dedication to students.
2. Federal Funding Freeze Hits Lawrence Schools with $468,000 Loss
LAWRENCE – Lawrence Public Schools is facing a nearly half-million-dollar shortfall after the federal government froze congressionally approved education funding. Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift reported that the district will lose $468,151, including $309,310 from Title II (teacher recruitment and retention), $63,185 from Title III (English-learner instruction) and $95,656 from Title IV (student success and well-being programs). Superintendent Swift warned that the loss—coupled with the state’s elimination of teacher-development funds—creates a significant staffing challenge just weeks before school begins. Outgoing board president Kelly Jones called the decision “unjust and immoral,” adding, “Our children do not have time to wait … their development is not on pause.”
3. District Introduces New Leaders for Academics and Equity
LAWRENCE – Lawrence Public Schools officially welcomed two key administrators. Dr. Cole Amaya is the new assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, arriving from Kansas City, Kansas, where he served as a principal and instructional coach. The board also recognized Tina Mitchell, a 25-year district veteran, as director of equity and student and family engagement. Both will oversee curriculum, culturally responsive systems and family partnerships to boost achievement.
4. State Task Force Eyes Changes to “At-Risk” and Special-Ed Funding
LAWRENCE – Board member Shannon Kimball reported that the Kansas Education Funding Task Force spent its recent meeting dissecting at-risk weightings in the state formula, noting that small tweaks can have “outsized impacts” on districts. The task force will devote its August meeting to special-education funding. Meanwhile, the Kansas State Board of Education plans to ask legislators to cover at least 80 % of special-ed excess costs—an estimated $92 million increase.
5. New Federal Rule May Tie Immigration Status to School Services
LAWRENCE – A forthcoming federal interpretive rule could require schools to verify immigration status for certain federally funded programs, including Head Start, dual-enrollment and adult-education initiatives. Though not yet law, the rule signals stricter enforcement. District leaders are monitoring whether student-meal programs or teacher-training grants—already frozen—will be affected.
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