5 takeaways from Lawrence USD 497 school board meeting
August 11, 2025
Shift in State Funding Formula Increases Local Property Tax Burden
Cell Phone-Free Instructional Day Re-emphasized for New School Year
District “Ready to Go” with Full Staffing for New School Year
New ParentSquare Communication Tool Rolled Out
District Reaffirms Commitment to Educating All Students Regardless of Immigration Status
1. Shift in State Funding Formula Increases Local Property Tax Burden
McPHERSON - A significant change in state funding calculations will require local property taxpayers to shoulder a larger portion of the school district’s budget. The district’s state aid for its Local Option Budget (LOB) is projected to drop from $2.8 million last year to about $729,000 this year. Finance Director Cynde Frick explained this is not due to a loss in spending authority but to a shift in the funding source: as Lawrence’s assessed valuation per student rises—owing to both increasing property values and declining enrollment—the state’s equalization formula provides less aid, shifting more obligation to the local mill levy.
2. Cell Phone-Free Instructional Day Re-emphasized for New School Year
As students return to classrooms, the district is reinforcing its cell phone-free instructional day, with grade-level guidelines to foster a distraction-free learning environment. Citing “abundant research,” Dr. Swift stated the primary goal is to protect instructional time and maximize student achievement by removing the known distraction of personal cell phones. High school principals are aligned on the policy, and new posters will be displayed in schools to remind students of the expectations.
3. District “Ready to Go” with Full Staffing for New School Year
The Lawrence Public Schools district is fully staffed and prepared to welcome students back for the 2025-2026 school year, Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift announced. The new year kicks off with a theme centered on creating a “culture of dignity” to ensure a sense of belonging for all students. Students in transition—kindergarteners, sixth graders, and ninth graders—will be welcomed on Tuesday, August 12, with all other students returning on Wednesday, August 13. The district’s Human Resources department was praised for its “extraordinary job” in ensuring all positions were filled, including quickly hiring a replacement for a teacher who moved just last week.
4. New ParentSquare Communication Tool Rolled Out
Lawrence Public Schools has launched a new communication platform, ParentSquare, to streamline engagement between schools and families. The district has invested heavily in training, ensuring all staff members are proficient with the new tool before the school year begins. The implementation has been active, with more than 900 communications sent through the platform between August 7–8 alone. The board and administration see this as a long-term commitment and plan to provide the community with monthly progress updates on the tool’s adoption and effectiveness.
5. District Reaffirms Commitment to Educating All Students Regardless of Immigration Status
In response to community questions, Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Swift reiterated the district’s legal and moral obligation to educate all children, regardless of their immigration status. Citing guidance from the Kansas State Department of Education and longstanding federal protections, Dr. Swift emphasized that all students have a constitutionally protected right to an education, and the district enrolls any child living within its boundaries without inquiring about immigration documentation. This remains in full compliance with state and federal laws protecting student privacy and safety.
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