Board ratifies historic contract, raising teacher base pay to $51,000

Support staff secure $20 starting wage in new contract

Administration salary pool receives 2.91 percent increase

Lawrence schools transitioning to self-funded health insurance

District proposes hikes to school lunch and breakfast prices

Transition to Durham School Services progresses ahead of fall

Board eyes joining Johnson County special education funding coalition

State Board of Education weighs device bans and literacy screeners

Board members question county's proposed $150,000 truancy program

Board ratifies historic contract, raising teacher base pay to $51,000

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The Lawrence Board of Education unanimously approved a tentative agreement with the Lawrence Education Association, raising the base salary for certified teachers to $51,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. The agreement represents an 8.32 percent increase to the certified salary pool—totaling approximately $4.6 million before employer costs—and ensures a minimum $3,000 raise for all full-time certified staff. The contract also introduces a new special education committee and strengthens safety language, authorizing proactive staff intervention when safety is at risk and guaranteeing district reimbursement for damaged personal medical devices.

Support staff secure $20 starting wage in new contract

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Personnel Association of Lawrence-Communications Workers of America (PAL-CWA) members in Lawrence Public Schools will see their starting hourly wage jump to $20 after the school board unanimously ratified a new negotiated contract. The agreement provides an 11.87 percent increase to the PAL-CWA salary pool, costing the district approximately $2.6 million including employer costs. Alongside the pay increase, the contract establishes a joint professional development committee to evaluate advancement opportunities and extends identical safety and workers compensation protections to those negotiated for certified teachers.

Administration salary pool receives 2.91 percent increase

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The school board unanimously approved a 2.91 percent increase to the administration salary pool. The increase, which includes a one-year credit for experience, will cost the district approximately $219,000 with employer costs included. Superintendent Jeanice Kerr Swift praised the collaborative negotiations process across all employee groups, noting that the board and staff worked closely over hundreds of hours to prioritize employee compensation despite the challenges of limited public resources.

Lawrence schools transitioning to self-funded health insurance

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Facing a projected 32 percent increase in health insurance premiums, Lawrence Public Schools will transition from a fully insured medical plan to a self-funded model with stop-loss coverage for the upcoming school year. The change, approved as part of the district's negotiated employee agreements, allows the district to maintain its current provider network through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas. Under the new model, the district will introduce a new employer-paid core preferred provider organization plan at zero cost for full-time employees, with buy-up options available at the employee's expense.

District proposes hikes to school lunch and breakfast prices

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Citing rising food, milk and labor costs, district officials proposed a 15-cent increase for school lunches and a 10-cent increase for breakfasts for the 2026-2027 academic year. District financial officials reported that the district currently loses about 94.5 cents on every full-price meal sold and warned that without adjustments, the food service fund will deplete its reserves and require subsidies from the district's general fund within two years. The board will vote on the proposed price hikes at its June 8 meeting.

Transition to Durham School Services progresses ahead of fall

LAWRENCE, Kan. — The district's transition to a new transportation provider, Durham School Services, remains on schedule for the upcoming school year. The company recently completed a hiring push that yielded over 90 applications, and it will continue interviewing through the summer to build a full reserve list of drivers—a long-stated goal for the district. Durham has also begun preparing its operational footprint at the district's facilities and operations campus, which includes securing a dedicated parking area for buses and establishing fuel purchase protocols designed to save the district money.

Board eyes joining Johnson County special education funding coalition

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Board members expressed strong interest in potentially joining the Kansas Public School Funding Coalition, an initiative launched by Blue Valley Schools, De Soto School District, Olathe Public Schools and Shawnee Mission School District to advocate for full special education funding. The state of Kansas currently fails to fund special education at the statutorily required 92 percent of excess costs, forcing districts like Lawrence to divert millions of dollars from general education funds to cover the shortfalls. Board members urged district leadership to monitor the coalition and explore strategic collaborations to increase pressure on state legislators.

State Board of Education weighs device bans and literacy screeners

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Lawrence schools may soon face new statewide mandates regarding screen time and literacy assessments, according to an update from board members. The Kansas State Board of Education has convened a subcommittee to explore restrictions on devices like tablets and computers in classrooms, with some state board members pushing for a total ban on devices in public schools. Additionally, recent state legislation will require all Kansas districts to adopt a uniform, state-selected literacy screener at the elementary level by the 2027 school year.

Board members question county's proposed $150,000 truancy program

LAWRENCE, Kan. — During committee reports, board members discussed EveryDay Counts, a new $150,000 truancy program currently under consideration by the Douglas County Commission, noting concerns about potential overlap with existing community initiatives. The proposed truancy initiative would be administered by the Douglas County Criminal Justice Services' Youth Services division to address chronic absenteeism in elementary and middle schools. Board members noted that the Center for Supportive Communities has already been addressing truancy in the community through mentorship models, urging close monitoring of the county's vote to ensure alignment between community organizations and the county program.

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