Board approves over $4 million for Centennial renovations and athletic field lighting

District to open 'Choice Campus' for alternative learning at Centennial

District plans staff reductions to fund competitive wages without raising taxes

Contract negotiations focus on raising base teacher salary to $50,000

Pending state legislation threatens at-risk school funding

Board decries state budget actions on special education and vouchers

Statewide cellphone ban looms over Lawrence schools

Lawrence schools to open Family Engagement Welcome Center

Early childhood program expansion meets high demand

KU dual-credit program expands to Lawrence Virtual School

Board approves over $4 million for Centennial renovations and athletic field lighting

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The board of education unanimously approved more than $4 million in capital outlay funds for facility upgrades, primarily targeting the Centennial building, where the district plans to site a new alternative-learning "Choice Campus". The consent agenda included a $3.5 million renovation contract with Centric Projects LLC, a $625,828 roof replacement from Meridian Roofing Solutions and $28,170 for engineering services from Norton and Schmidt Consulting Engineers LLC at the Centennial building. Additionally, the board approved a $649,000 contract with Musco Sports Lighting LLC to replace obsolete field lights at the Free State and Lawrence High School football and softball fields.

District to open 'Choice Campus' for alternative learning at Centennial

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Lawrence Public Schools will officially open a "Choice Campus" at the Centennial building for the 2026-27 school year to support students needing non-traditional, flexible schedules. Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift said the program will aid in credit advancement and recovery, noting that approximately 70 seniors in the district's class of 2026 are currently not on track to graduate. The campus will offer morning, afternoon and evening sessions, alongside mental health support, internships and graduation coaching services.

District plans staff reductions to fund competitive wages without raising taxes

LAWRENCE, Kan. — In an effort to raise employee compensation, the district will continue streamlining its workforce this spring by leveraging staff attrition. Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift told the board and the community that the reorganization will not directly impact classroom sizes or result in a tax increase, adding that capital outlay funds cannot be used for salaries. The cost-saving measures are being discussed in tandem with local employee unions to free up the resources needed to achieve competitive salaries for Lawrence educators.

Contract negotiations focus on raising base teacher salary to $50,000

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Ongoing labor negotiations between the district and the Lawrence Education Association are heavily focused on raising the starting salary for educators to at least $50,000. Board members reported that both sides are collaborating to find budgetary savings to redirect toward staff compensation in order to remain competitive with neighboring districts. In a related effort to attract talent, the district recently hosted 60 applicants for a recruitment event that featured a bus tour of the city and same-day interviews.

Pending state legislation threatens at-risk school funding

LAWRENCE, Kan. — A legislative proposal under discussion by state lawmakers could result in a 10 percent to 20 percent cut in state funding for at-risk students next year, according to a legislative update provided to the board. The proposal would decouple at-risk funding from federal free lunch program applications, instead requiring school districts to collect and verify household income surveys and federal 1040 tax forms from low-income families. District officials warned this unfunded administrative burden would drastically undercount eligible students and slash critical funding.

Board decries state budget actions on special education and vouchers

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Board members expressed deep frustration over the Kansas Legislature's handling of the state education budget, noting the district continues to face a $14 million local shortfall in special education funding. The board discussed a Senate proposal that reportedly included a $6 million statewide increase for special education, which was said to be funded by eliminating a $16 million mental health intervention program. Meanwhile, lawmakers are reportedly advancing a bill to increase funding for a private school tax credit voucher program by up to $20 million.

Statewide cellphone ban looms over Lawrence schools

LAWRENCE, Kan. — A strict, statewide ban on cellphones in schools is advancing through the Kansas Legislature, a move that would override the district's local technology policies. The proposed legislation mandates that student phones remain inaccessible from arrival to dismissal, with no exceptions for instructional use or differentiation between grade levels. If the final version clears the Legislature, the measure would go to the governor for consideration.

Lawrence schools to open Family Engagement Welcome Center

LAWRENCE, Kan. — To simplify enrollment and family services, the district will open a new Family Engagement Welcome Center at the Educational Support Center for the 2026-27 school year. The center will serve as the "front door" for the district, providing families with a centralized location to access wraparound supports, community resources and early childhood through high school enrollment services. Officials are also considering satellite locations to ensure equitable access for families living on the other side of the city.

Early childhood program expansion meets high demand

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The district is expanding its early childhood learning programs to Deerfield and Prairie Park elementary schools next year, but demand is already vastly outpacing capacity. Officials reported receiving 230 applications for only 120 available spots during the first month of the early enrollment window. The program is free for students meeting specific at-risk indicators, while families who do not qualify pay a $690 monthly tuition rate.

KU dual-credit program expands to Lawrence Virtual School

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The University of Kansas Jayhawk Blueprint program, which allows high schoolers to earn up to 22 hours of college credit taught by district instructors, will expand to the Lawrence Virtual School starting in the spring of 2027. The curriculum is being custom-designed by KU specifically for virtual students. To support equitable access, the Lawrence Schools Foundation will continue providing tuition assistance for students qualifying for free and reduced lunch, while non-qualifying students will pay approximately $300 per course.

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