Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education Meeting | August 25, 2025

0012025 board meeting. >> Second. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> Could you Blackwood? >> Yes. >> Costello? >> Yes. >> Franklin? >> Yes. >> Gordon Ross? >> Yes. >> Jones? >> Yes. >> Kimell? >> Yes. >> Motion passes 70. All right. So, tonight we're going to start with one of our reports. We're going to start with item 5.1, student spotlight esports experience. And we're going to turn the time over to LVS principal Zack Harwood and Dr. Larry Ingleick. Or maybe just Zach. >> Just Zach. Okay. >> All right. Yes. Thank you for inviting us. Uh the LVS esports team had a really successful year last year and so uh we have a couple of students who are going to share a little bit about what they some of the experiences they had. Uh the first one

002is Eli who was an eighth grader with us. Uh and then also Travis who is a recent graduate uh who was part of our uh very very successful Fortnite or not sorry uh Rocket League team. So I think uh if are they all up and ready to go? >> They are as of right now. they can unmute their mics and turn on their cameras if they should. >> Yeah. Uh we also have uh Miss Jennifer Pugsley who is our esports coach uh who wanted to just come and give some support. So I guess maybe to start uh Eli Travis, do you want to take a minute or two and just talk a little bit about what uh esports meant to you last year or uh what you're excited about for this coming year? Maybe Travis

003go first. All right. So, I'm a former student captain for LVS esports team. I've been here pretty much since the beginning of the program. So, about fall 2021 was when our program first started. And I'm just going to keep it blunt here. Esports kind of got me through high school. It kept me passing classes. I think a lot of kids really look forward to something like this every semester or you know and basically there's a lot of things to do with esports there's a lot of skills you can learn from it like I myself learn a lot of skills about leadership team management streaming video editing a lot of different various things. Eastports was a big part of high school for me and I think a lot of other kids would feel the same way.

004Aside from that, as a program, we've had a lot of success. Like I know this last year we went to the Sunflower State Championship for esports and we end up winning the Rocket League championship. And I think that was something that was very special to all of us. And our our program is a consistent playoff contender every single year. And I know I said this already, but it's something the students look forward to. Our players look forward to playing every year. It keeps them motivated, keeps them hungry, and the students will benefit from something like this. >> Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you. So, Eli, how about you tell us a little bit about uh your experience with esports? Eli, can you hear me? My name is Eli May. Wait. Hello. My name is Eli

005May and I'm in 8th grade at LBS. Last year was my first my first esports year. It was amazing because I got to the playoffs twice. Something I have never been able to do in in another sport. I like esports because I get to play games with real people. It it gave me confidence that I was the first person to make the playoffs in LBS is history. In our old school, they didn't have ch and they didn't even have chess or a lot of staff students that that understood my brain. But with LBS, this is bugs me and many others try. Yeah, chess gives me a chance to really work with my brain. I'm not really athletic or have great hand eye coordination, but esports really lets me be a part of a team. Hopefully,

006we get more people on the chess team and esports as a whole. Nice. >> Thank you. So, I guess I would turn it over to the >> Thank you. >> questions. I was I was gonna say, are there any questions uh for our young athletes? >> Hi. Uh this is Carol. I was just wondering um Eli and um Travis, what are your plans for college? because I do see though where KU the University of Kansas has an excellent esports program or to that something of that nature. Do you have any plans for college to do continue this on in your career perhaps? I know I do personally. Uh first I currently plan on going to a community college of sorts just because tuition is cheaper. I can get a couple years a lot cheaper than

007I would >> at a regular university. But KU has a really excellent esports program. They give out really good scholarships. And I know I know there is a player on our Rocket League team who has a really good scholarship at K State. Like he gets a really really good one and he's playing varsity for our team now. So there's definitely opportunities to be had with esports in college. >> Thank you. >> Excellent. Thank you. >> So I this is new for me and I'm wondering if you can share with me how uh big is your team. >> Well, >> I can jump in. I can jump in as the coach for that. Middle school is something we offered last year new and we had uh one Rocket League team with uh five different players which

008we can have that many and we had one play person playing chess. It was brand new. Um we had uh we had Mario Kart, Rocket League and Fortnite. And so now there will be a difference this year because it's going to play versus which means in play versus there's more opportunities to play more games. uh because we've been using generation esports and our goal is to send teams to play for Kesha and in uh the state league and uh in play versus for the regular season. So our opportunity to continue to grow. So we'll start our recruitment next week and start enrolling kids and we'll see how many kids come out. But we've had multiple players where we had 25 30 in the program, we've had 15 in the program. Okay. And so it's just

009an opportunity to grow, especially since there's more opportunities for more games for kids to be involved. >> I appreciate that. Thank you so much. >> Um I don't necessarily have a question, but I'm just I think this is such a great program. I first kind of became aware of this when I was up visiting um the Troy school district, which is like a teeny tiny school district, but they had it and the kids were super engaged in it. And I know that um this is my own kids spend all of their free time doing this, so might as well use it for something positive. um especially, you know, one of the things that they had said was that there's um millions of dollars in scholarships that go unused because people don't realize that it's out

010there and that the schools don't have the program. So, I think it's fantastic that we have it and I'm looking forward and hoping that we can expand it even further. >> All right. All right. Well, then uh I mean we thank you so much for inviting us to come talk about what we've been doing a little bit. Uh I mean these are two individuals that we're incredibly proud of along with the rest of our program and so we thank you for giving us the opportunity to share a little bit a little bit about what we've been doing. >> Thanks. >> Thank you guys. >> All right. So, we're going to move we're going to go back up to the top and move on to item 1.3, executive session. Um, would someone like to make that

011motion, please? >> I move the board of education recessed executive session for the purpose of discussing personal matters of non-elected personnel in order to protect the privacy interests of the individuals to be discussed with Dr. Larry Engelbrook, deputy superintendent, Samry Devon, administrator, human resources, and Cindy Frick, executive director finance, invited to be president. present uh and with the board to return to open session in this room at 6:30 with no action to follow. Should >> I second point of order? Um I think that the um uh Mr. President, I think the motion in board docs had been updated and revised. Um >> Okay. >> So there's a different motion in board docs. Would the maker of the motion >> have access right now? >> Okay. Would you I can um hand you this so you

012can read the Would you be willing to amend your motion? >> I move the board of education recessed executive session to protect the in public interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract to discuss negotiations pursuant to the exception for employer employee negotiations under coma with Dr. Janice Kerswiff superintendent Dr. Dr. Larry Engelberg, deputy superintendent, and Cindy Frick, executive director of finance, invited to be president, and that the board return to open session in this room in 6:22 with no action to follow. >> 32. >> 632, sorry. >> I second. >> Gordon Ross, >> yes. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Campbell, >> yes. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> Blackwood, >> yes. >> Costello, >> yes. >> Franklin, >> yes. >> Motion passes 70. We're going to move on in our agenda to the report of

013the superintendent of schools. Thank you, President Gordon Ross, and all of the board and all of those who are joining us in person and uh remote. Uh well, today we mark day nine of this school year. Uh we are off and running. And a big shout out to our teachers, our ESP and school teams, our school and district leaders for all the hard work uh to ensure this strong opening of schools. There we go. I think I'm missing a couple, but that's all right. I was looking for the preschool. It's there somewhere. Okay. Uh this past Tuesday, August 19th, we welcomed preschool students across four school locations. It was great to be out uh at Kennedy Early Childhood Center. Uh some of our team were at New York Monastery, at Sunflower, and at Woodlon Elementary

014Schools. Um it is a great time as all of our students, our teams, and our families continue to settle into the routines of the school year. I've been able to be out at many of our schools. We have a few more to go, and my goal uh is to finish the back to school tour uh before Labor Day. So, we're narrowing in on that and looking forward uh to seeing the rest of our teams out and about. Everywhere I go, I'm so impressed with the warmth, the welcome, the good positive feel in the classroom and that sense of belonging. Our staff members are calling every child by name. uh they know our students and that is what matters most. We've already heard our report tonight on esports from directly from our LVS students. A big

015shout out to uh principal Zack Harwood who arranged for that. Um the update that the board is aware of and I'm not sure if folks in the community are aware, but Kesha uh has just sanctioned Kansas high schools to offer esports beginning in 2025. This will happen through PlayVS, a national competition platform ensuring fair play, privacy, and eligibility standards. This is a great opportunity for all students and especially uh for those who would like to participate beyond traditional athletics and activities. Um we will look forward members to a conversation this evening. There are two more critical meetings. Dr. Engel Brick will be coming to share a little later in the meeting, but there are two more uh integral state meetings that will give us enough information to bring this back to you all in the

016near future. Uh we are so proud of our students who are already active in esports. Um though to to this time up to this time their competitions have been club competitions. They've not been quasia sanctioned. So this is a big step potentially. Our next steps may include registering teams, identifying sponsors, coaches, training staff, and launching league play. Of course, there are many steps to be taken. Uh but those uh could be some next steps if the board is um is willing. uh the smart pass update. We had a few questions from the community. So, I went back to research this topic. I it turns out that some of our schools have been using this for a little more than a year now and uh Billy Mills uh has just come online, but it is simply

017a digital hall pass. So, we all remember the traditional paper hall passes that you carry down the hallway. This is really a digital version of the same kind of thing. Uh, but it replaces the traditional handwritten passes. And the benefit it provides is that we know where our students are in the building, particularly during those times when they've been given permission to temporarily leave the classroom. So in an emergency uh we would follow our safety pro protocols and this would allow us to quickly account for the location of every student in the building during a critical situation. Our teams report that it also helps to sustain high expectations for students. a student that I happened to see out the other day uh on a digital hall pass. It actually keeps track of the time that

018it takes the student to go on their uh hall pass and come back. Um so really do appreciate um I've included and I'll share it out with parents and staff and community a link to a video if folks would like to learn more about this tool. Uh we are uh uh assigning and following up uh on the AI advisory group. Uh past president uh Kelly Jones uh talked about this a little more than a year ago and gave the charge at that time. We're really excited that during September, our team will be sending out to the world, posting for the public an application process. And we invite students and LPS team members and parents and community members who would have interest in participating to please fill out an application and send that in. I have

019appointed uh James Pulk and Jake Potter to lead this effort and we look forward to next steps in the process and our board members. Just as a reminder, President GR Gordon Ross and member an Castello will also be serving. I'll include a link to more details about the process. Um, uh, we will include that in the, um, in the update, uh, that we send out this week. Um, you may have already heard, I know our facilities committee has been working on this, but just as a heads up, if you see something that looks a little different when you're up in the Langston Hughes neighborhood over the weeks of September, uh, yes, it's true. We will have goats uh on property there and they will help us with the need we have to remove overgrown vegetation

020on the Langston Hughes school property. So currently right now the district is installing a little fence and then on Thursday of this week the uh goats will arrive at Langston Hughes. They are expected to stay approximately one month and that little fence on the property will move and the goats will move and the vegetation will um disappear. So, isn't that exciting? Uh we know that our students will be delighted to observe the progress of the goats and I'm really excited if the science teacher or other teachers work it in uh to a teachable moment because um that's how September will go at Langston Hughes. We wanted to touch base on Parent Square. Uh we're really happy and thank you to the board for supporting this effort. It was a response to a need that we

021heard throughout our community from staff and from parents and even from students is to really focus school and align school communications. Um if parents are willing to if they want to uh we encourage them to download the app so that then all of your communications are in one place. If you don't do that, it's okay. The communication will still come via email as it has traditionally come. Uh, as a district, we continue to provide training uh for our staff and I am going to go to repeat training because I want to get better at using the tool. It's really pretty exciting, especially the ability to communicate in real time two-way with parents without having to use your personal cell phone. It's just really, really nice to help with that piece. Uh, our back to school

022newsletter, we always share the data. Was really proud that we had 18,737 views last week. Um, un Within that data, viewers read the message from 21 different countries. Yes, 21 countries and then had an average reading duration of five minutes. So that makes for over 90,000 minutes spent reading uh the story of Lawrence Public Schools. So we really appreciate uh that folks are engaging with us. Uh if you haven't seen it yet, I really appreciate Police Chief Rich Lockhart who joined me uh last Friday in preparing our back- tochool safety video. It is about 5 minutes long, but I really appreciate if parents are able to to take that teachable moment in your home with your child that those of that advice of report don't post. And the chief really asks that we all use

023the number 911. You don't even have to use the non-emergency number, but if a concern arises, use the 911 number and call in with any concerns as they arise. The chief says it beautifully in this video, but uh students or anyone who posts uh threats, that is a very serious offense. So, we just want everybody to remember how important it is if you have a concern, just call it in. Don't uh post it or don't repost. Um coming up uh on Friday, just a reminder, we appreciate Free State High School football and Free State High School Spirit Squad. They uh partner with the Lawrence Schools Foundation and they will host the fall sports jamboree and hygiene drive at Free State football stadium. So we just encourage everyone when you head out on Friday uh take

024along extra shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, deodorant, all of the above. and your donations will help to meet the immediate and basic needs of our students and families. We want to ensure that their physical, social, and emotional needs do not stand in the way of their success at school. So, I just a reminder, our budget hearings are coming up on September 8th at our next board meeting. I thank you for the opportunity to share this report and for the honor of serving the Lawrence public schools. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Swift. We'll now move on to the report of the president of the board. Um I just have a few things to share tonight. Uh since our last board meeting, I was able to participate in our first ESP negotiation meeting of the year on the

02514th. On Friday the 15th, I briefly stopped by the LVS Elementary back to school event at Broken Arrow just to say hello. By all all accounts, it looked to be a great success. On the 20th, we had a facilities planning meeting that Shannon will will talk about here briefly. Um, tonight we have on our agenda uh to discuss esports. Esports was recently approved by Quesa and we are excited to start the process of exploring it as an offering for Lawrence Public Schools. Quesa is in the process of holding informal meetings with school districts now to discuss what esports is, what what would be required, and to answer any questions. And lastly, I want to share a few thoughts related to the beginning of the school year. I want to start with gratitude. Thank you to

026our staff, our students, and our families for a strong start across Lawrence Public Schools. I've seen and heard many great things happening in classrooms and buildings throughout the district. I also want to thank those who have shared ideas, questions, and concerns over these first two weeks. The opening weeks are a period of adjustment for everyone. Your feedback helps our administrators and educators evaluate what's working, identify where we can fine-tune and make adjustments where appropriate. As a board, we appreciate you taking the time to send us the feedback, and we appreciate our administrators who ultimately address these issues. I'm proud to share that we began the year with our teaching and learning positions fully covered. a notable ma milestone we haven't consistently reached in recent years. This is a testament to our human resources team and

027and to the work happening around recruitment, retention, and welcoming back staff. While we are not yet fully staffed in every area we fully being fully covered is a meaningful progress. We know that sustaining this progress depends on continuing to strengthen staff compensation. We've we'll keep examining our internal processes and options. We'll also continue to advocate for full state funding of for special education, understanding that change at the state level can take time. Finally, enrollment is the single biggest driver of our funding. Tonight, I want to extend an open invitation to our partners at the city of Lawrence and Douglas County. Let's meet and explore policies and pract and practical steps that help attract and retain families in Lawrence. And we hope in USD497 when our community grows and thrives, our schools do, too. Thank you

028to everyone who is contributing to a positive start. We appreciate your partnership and your patience as we settle into the rhythm of a new school year. >> So, with that, we're going to move on to board committee reports. Um, >> and we do have a retirement. >> We do have a retirement. So, we'll do that. >> Yeah, let's do it now. Um, on behalf of the board, uh, I'd like to congratulate Barbara Jean Hunter and thank her for eight years of service and dedication to this community and its schools. >> Thank you, Bob. So for um at the beginning of board um committee reports, I'm going to take uh privilege as board president and for my report for ESP negotiations, I'm going to turn the time over to uh LEA um and some ESP staff

029and invite Amelia Wyoff and Andrea Albbright to come up and share and talk about [Applause] Yeah, >> let me make sure it's on, but it should be good. >> Don't have to get too close to it. It's got a lot of gains. >> Thanks. >> Okay. So, u I was asked to to clarify that ESP stands for educational support professional. >> Yes. and I'm here with all these other folks representing the ESPs as that are now part of the LEA. We wanted to have several people here to talk to you tonight, but there were open houses happening and one of the people has several jobs and so she couldn't get here tonight. But much like you mentioned about in the interest of recruitment and retention and the importance of compensation, I wanted to ask one

030of our one of our co-workers, our there she is, Amy, to come up and just speak for a moment or two a little bit about what um we're concerned about as far as compensation and and doing the best we can for the kids. is Amy Wall. >> Okay. All right. Thank you so much for allowing me to speak. So, uh I have worked um uh here at the district uh started working close to 20 years ago as a parah. Um uh off and on. Um there were times I had to to find some other work. I'll get back to that. But, um, it's been wonderful. It I I can't stay away from it either because it's what we do and it's who we are. So, uh, I work at Central now, which is a a

031new journey in middle school. and uh just really exciting to be on the floor right there next to the children learning about this generation, learning how they learn, uh learning how we help them, how we support them in in so many different ways. So, I'm uh been just delighted. I love my job as an ESP um as a parah um and I know that we all do and that that's why we're here because we are a a special group of people, excuse me, a a special part of our community. We are uh we are just one part that that that has to make up um this big system and and such a valuable part. So, uh we know we recognize that uh that we have this wonderful and unique role. Um and we we see

032the other positions and the importance of what they do as well. Um but we just don't have enough to make it. Um is just the bottom line. It's it's really not any more complicated than that. Uh we just simply do not have enough uh our wages are not high enough to sustain us. Uh things like I mean I don't know how much to get into the details of it, but grocery shopping is a different experience, a totally different experience than just a couple years ago. Um and we're short. We have just fallen short and we don't have what it takes to make it. And we are we are the part of the community that you want for the that you want to uh support and compensate and be a part of this mission because we

033are um we have the vision. We have the vision for the kids. We um we we have the passion. Uh we have the heart. We have the dedication. Um, there's there are people here that I've really just met and I'm so glad to have because they're from all over the district. They've been here longer than I have and I'm so impressed by that. I will put a side note that I noticed that some of us that have been able to say it's because we've had because of our particular situations were able to do this work while perhaps somebody supports us because this job is not the one that supports us. It's not it's not enough. And we know that we know that we matter and we know that um that you know we matter. Uh

034we just we need to make our budgets work as well. We have a budget as well. Um and they're they're uh we're not making it. I I look forward to my second paycheck so that I can The first one was just two days. Um, you know, been working since the beginning of August, but just the way things work and being ESPs and it being a nine-month position in my case, the I'll be able to get those school clothes for my my own children that attend. Um, haven't been able to do that yet. There's many things that I cannot do. But um when I really do come into a situation, I haven't come into a situation, another personal note, but I think it's valid. Um my car broke down. I knew I had to buy another

035car. I quit my job or perhaps I didn't start um back at one of the elementary schools I'd worked at at the time because I had to work a different job for several months. saved up all that money, got the car, um, and then I was able to get back into it because I just, we all just want to be a part of a vital community and we want to be a part of the progress and the and the dreams and the plan that we all have for education and and how to do things um, right in this I I like these changes. Um, it's a new world. Essports, goats, that's just uh looking back at a better way. There are better ways. And uh we have to do things better here. We can't build

036and grow and dream and have a vision while the ones that are right there by the children um every day 7:40 in the morning uh or earlier um are not able to make it. So you c we can't be standing on something that's not right uh and still moving forward. So we we we just want to speak to you today about that progress uh and just about moving this forward in a real way, not a getting by way. Um this will get them by another year, whatnot, but what it looks like when you actually pour back into your community. um take care of your community, especially those community members that are here specifically because we just want to be at school in the morning with the kids and um so uh it's great to be

037a part of this and I it it just it it has to get better. It truly has to get better for us because we truly are not making it. um and the numbers would explain that as well. So, but just to know our heart and our purpose and that this is how we build things. Um just by moving forward on that which is right and I'm just trying to take those steps to make make it better fulfilling promises that were made to us uh several years ago. We need to move towards that. we had commitments and we want to continue to work and and uh negotiate um to make to make that happen to have the living wage that we deserve because we love the children. So, thank you so much on behalf of LEA

038all of us. I appreciate this time. Thank you. >> Thank you. All right. So, with that, we will continue with board committee reports. So, I'll start down here with Bob. Uh, I'll just ask each member if you have a committee report. If you don't have a committee report, uh, we'll I'll circle back for board commentary. Um, so Bob, we'll start with you. >> Yeah. The only committee that I've had would be our last negotiations meeting and uh that is in progress and I think we're moving along. >> Okay. >> I don't have anything this >> Okay. And >> um yep. So, um just to touch briefly, there's no um policy on tonight's um agenda to be approved or for first or second read, but we did meet um and walk through the latest KSB recommendations

039for changes and then prioritize them for future work. Um and then the schools foundation um attended that meeting. Um they're working they have a committee working on LEAP. So adjusting the forms to make them a little bit easier to fill out but also looking how to better engage with our businesses and enhance the membership um for our partners. Um and then the we got a little bit of an update on the expo um which was on the 9th of August which was fantastic. Um last year they had 41 businesses um partnered there. This year there were 65. Um the line was constant all day. Over 900 pairs of shoes um were given away. Um went through a thousand hot dogs. Um so got a lot of donations from great community partners that we're very thankful

040for. Um the KU spirit squad came along with Big Jay and Baby Jay. Um so it was just a fantastic event. Um and kudos to to Dena and Jamie and Michelle for the hard work that they've done. And this is only the second year and it just it gets better and better. Um and then lastly, um we got a report from the breakfast committee who is hard at work planning the breakfast. It is on September 26th at the Burge Union. Tickets are on sale and sponsorships are still available for any uh community partners that are looking to get involved. And that's all. >> Thank you. Uh uh an very um uh very well covered the policy committee meeting we had. So I'm going to just talk about our facilities committee meeting GR and I attended

041on August 20th. Uh we had anformational presentation uh from city staff and consultants on the NEL2 NRA request. Um that is a project over in East Lawrence um near the uh Ninell Lofts. It would be another phase of that. Um that is going to likely come before the board. Um I think they're aiming for sometime in September depending on if they can get all of their uh information prepared to present to us to review and uh make a decision about participation. um facilities uh updates. Uh we had strong facilities usage even through the summer. In July, there were 654 events held in our in our school buildings, which is significant um even for the summer months. Work orders continue um we continue to monitor that um and really appreciate the information that our FNO staff

042provides every month to just give us a window into how hard our facilities and operations staff are working. um updates on staffing in that area. Um we heard updates on a number of the um projects that have been gone going on over the summer, including asphalt and concrete work at Sunflower Elementary and Kennedy. Uh construction of the preschool classroom spaces within Woodlon and Sunflower. Um a fire suppression line repair that had to be completed emergently at LMCMS. Building exterior repairs at Billy Mills, New York, and Kennedy. new casework installed at Schwaggler and new playground equipment that was installed at Sunflower and Deerfield over the summer. Uh we also discussed uh the process that's ongoing for acquisition of a replacement chiller for LHS and we previewed the esports league information that um we're going to hear

043more about here in a little bit um in our board reports. So that's all I have. Thank you, >> Kelly. >> I have a question pertaining to negotiations. Do you want me to hold it till Do you want me to do it now? >> Yeah, you can do it now. Um so I was wondering as uh to the negotiations committee just um listening to the um conversation when will is it is it part of the discussion at the negotiations committee around whether we're moving from traditionalbased bargaining to interestbased bargaining because that would take some of this conversation where you you know where we're here and listening and then we would be able to have more um dialogue you know be able to ask more questions. I'm wondering about that conversation if that be part of

044>> that has not come up. >> Okay. Um so I would I'm guess I'm requesting that we determine what the um negotiations approach will be for the because we're trying to wrap up the um we're a little behind because of the uh the uh ESPs being recognized under the LEA. >> Yep. And so I would like to know um when or if we could have discussion about whether we're going to move to interest based marketing or not with it with a with all of you. >> Okay. Um you just want to start with board commentary and we'll just come back down. >> Sure. Um try to be pretty brief tonight. Uh just a couple things to share. The state board of education did meet on August 12th and 13th and as um hoped for, they

045did finalize uh setting the new cut scores for the Kansas assessment program, the exam that was given uh this past spring. Uh that allows everything to move forward with them releasing the scores to parents and also um doing the crosswalking that they're talking about doing between uh the cut scores on the new exam and the cut scores on the previous version of the exam. Um, it wasn't without a little bit of controversy. It did not pass unanimously. Um, I thought it was really important that the question was asked of the commissioner, well, what would happen if the board didn't approve the cut scores? And the answer was basically that the department used a very thorough researchbased and data-informed process to set those cut scores. And if the state board had chosen to not approve them,

046they would there wouldn't be another better process to go through. It would basically just be sitting them sitting around the table deciding what they wanted the scores to be. So, um I appreciated uh that the the board ultimately decided to rely on the professional educators who participated in that data informed and researched um informed process uh to set those course. And then the education funding task force uh did meet for a half day on August 13th and a full day on August 14th. Um, I want to thank all of the um, schoolboard members that I know around the state who came and attended those meetings and as as well as people who've been watching them online. Um, I know that people have and so I think that's that's been really important. We actually had a

047room full of board members, superintendents, special ed administrators, and teachers and retired teachers. Even though it was the first week of school for almost every district in the state of Kansas, um uh there were people who attended the full day and a half of those hearings to show support for um our public schools. And I think it was really important because uh it resulted in a concession by the chair of the task force to actually engage with special education directors and professionals to gather their input on specifically what to do with the special education funding formula because it's real clear that um from the conversations that there is interest in doing something different than what we're currently doing in terms of structure. So Kansas is in the minority of states that uses a reimbursement model

048where we reimburse for staff that are hired and you don't actually know your funding until the very end of the year um that you've just completed. So So we're we guessing we think we have this much money to run our special ed program, but we don't actually find out how much money we actually have until the end of June every year. So, um, there are a lot of other states that do a var a a ver large variety of ways that are more like a student waiting model, which is what is in our foundation funding formula. Um, how you do that and how you make that transition, I mean, the devil's going to be in the details, right? Um, if we were to move as a state to that kind of model, it will really

049depend on how they want to structure it. They've talked about looking at states that have tiered models where they place um levels of exceptionalities within different tiers and then assign them different funding weights. Um so there was a lot of discussion about that and um I did want to just uh share um that there's pretty general agreement that whatever model that they move to does still need to account for um being sustainable, equitable, and predictable in the special ed space. That it reflects actual costs and um supports um improving student outcomes. that it uh account for catastrophic aid compliance costs and this um intensity of services that need to be provided that it be indexed that incorporates growth and um is indexed to inflation as our foundation formula is. Um uh there are still a

050number of committee members who keep talking about tying funding to accountability measures, but it's really unclear what that means, especially in the special education space because outcomes are individualized under IEP. So again, uh devil's going to be in the details of how this how this moves conversation moves forward, but it was encouraging that there was an acknowledgement that perhaps we need to have more professionals who actually work in this space informing the conversation. Uh, the next meeting is scheduled, they moved the schedule again for September. It's um Wednesday, September 3rd and Thursday, September 4th. Full days, 9:00 a.m. to 4 p.m. These are the last two days of the task force for 2025 that have been authorized to meet. Um, there is some thought that the chair may ask for additional days from legislative leadership,

051but those have not been approved. So, we think this might be the last meeting in September for this calendar year. Um, and then they will pick back up again meeting after the first of the year with a with a new chair, uh, Representative Susan Estus, who is the who this past session was the chair of the House, Kansas House Education Committee. So, um, I just want to keep encouraging folks to stay engaged on this, pay attention, um, and I can provide, uh, recommendations for places to follow for information and updates, um, as this work continues forward. Thank you. Uh it's curious that they agreed on accounting for the actual costs um as they've never done that. >> It was a discussion point that there seemed to be like yeah of course it should but you're

052right it it it's not it doesn't align with what we've been experiencing. So um again not sure where that conversation will go. >> Okay. Well, um I have a request for um uh Dr. Swift and and GR that occurred to me while you were giving your presentation. I would be interested in touring the new um early childhood education rooms when it's appropriate and I'm imagining that my board colleagues would want to join me. So, I would request that when they're settled and ready for a crew of us um that we be able to go see those classrooms. anything? >> Um, just one thing. We I did meet with um Bob and um Kelly. Uh we met with uh the NARF group on on Thursday, I think it was. So, it was um very interesting to

053meet with a totally different group of the community. I'm used to meeting with moms and dads and kids and stuff like that. So, to be able to sit down and meet with grandparents and get their perspective on how the community is doing, how the school is doing was totally totally different. and it was refreshing and enlightening and I would love to get an opportunity to sit down and and meet with them again and see what else we can really learn from that that group of individuals. >> I'll just say I wanted to add to that. Um the one of my one of the things that I think the community might be interested in knowing is they asked really caring, meaningful questions about uh immigrant students and their safety in our district. and you could tell

054that they weren't just asking questions about their own family based on their what we know about them in terms of their roles and where they shared they worked and um that was a pretty powerful takeaway from me. So, >> um, not much really. Just want to thank, um, all of the educators and educa, um, ESPs for all the hard work that they did getting ready for the school year. Um, I'm sure that like many other parents, I was very happy for my kids to go back to school, but also a little sad because I do enjoy having them around. Um, and it's created new things to have issues with that are different from the summer. Um but really um especially excited um to see you know or hear from some of my uh kids teachers

055through powers school or emails and um really already digging in and taking an interest in really learning about the students um so they can meet them on their level and I just I think that's so great and so important and so I just want to thank everybody for all of their hard work and their hard work that they continue to do. So >> thank you. Uh yes on let's see let's Friday I went to the Watkins Museum to visit the traveling exhibit the called the Americans. It is a traveling exhibit and Lawrence was the first city to hold it in can or host it in Kansas. It's um developed by the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and Museum on Main Street. The exhibit explores how American Indians have been part of the nation's

056history ident nation's identity since before this country began. And um I would encourage anybody and everybody to go visit the exhibit. It's on display until October 5th. And the Smithsonian uh National Museum of the American Indian is just one of eight museums that has been listed as um uh under orders of the current federal administration to come through the exhibits and remove those that may be deemed controversial or divisive. So I would encourage everybody to go visit that museum and the exhibits, you know, maybe while you're still there. >> Thank you. Well, you know, >> right, >> GR may I share I forgot to mention this. Um uh this uh uh Brack card at your place was um provided to Dr. Swift to share with the board and it's provided uh because Lawrence is one

057of the districts that's featured in the good news stories. Um they did a story about our policy crafting process. Um, also wanted to just note for my board colleagues that right below Lawrence is my home district of Rollins County, which was featured um due to the challenges that they have met in trying to recover from a fire that destroyed um the district's only high school a couple of years ago. So, um, but there's a lot of really great stories about great things that are happening in public schools across the state. And so, that's what this is for. >> Thank you, Shannon. Okay. Um, we'll move on to the consent agenda. Consent agenda items are those that are considered routine and are adopted by one motion unless any board member or the superintendent requested an item

058be removed. The item items removed are voted on separately. Can I get a motion for the consent agenda? >> I move the board of education adopt the items listed on the consent agenda. >> I second. This is Carol. >> Kad Blackwood. >> Yes. >> Costello. >> Yes. Franklin, >> yes. >> Gordon Ross, >> yes. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Kimble, >> yes. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> Motion passes 70. >> Okay, we're now going to move on to report item 5.2, discussion on esports. Invite Dr. Ingleick, Deputy Superintendent, Director of Facility and Operations to come up and talk to us. President Gordon Ross. >> Yes. >> I just want to uh thank Dr. Ingleick for shephering uh this new endeavor for us. And he knows more uh than the rest of us do. So, I

059appreciate him walking us through some of what we've learned. And it seems like we're at a very preliminary stage. Yes, Dr. >> Yes, we are. >> Okay. >> Yes. President Gordon Ross, board members, Dr. Swift, Superintendent, thank you very much for this opportunity. I will tell you in my opinion, you heard from two e uh esport experts this evening, Eli and Travis. Now, my knowledge of esports compared to those young men is pretty minimal, and I will openly say that. I would also like to share that I think there are examples of the opportunities that esports provides to our students. When we look at districts across the nation whose activities associations have opened up esports, 47% of the students who participated in those other states in esports, it was the first time those students had

060ever participated in a school activity. the first time they truly began to make that positive connection with their school outside of the classroom. An incredible statistic whether it be a 100 students or 200 students or 300 students. That's important for us to keep in mind. As we go through this evening, I'll talk to a few key points. our state associations informational meetings. I'll give you an overview of those. The fact that esports will be open to all students at our middle schools and high schools once approved and we register as participating schools. I'll review the seasons of competition and the estimated program costs. And I will tell you again the experts on the estimated program costs. Some of you in this room know them better than I. Some of the people online and I guarantee

061you the students who will participate will tell us you've forgotten something. But as in all activities and all sports that we start, we need to begin with a firm foundation. I'd also point out that esports is an activity. It took me a few weeks to get that through my head. Oh, this is not a sport. It's a competition, but it is an activity. Esports exists in two formats in our schools or will exist. In the past, it has been a club activity. In the future, it can be both a club activity out of season and during the season, a kesh sanctioned activity for participation. Our state association voted this summer of uh 2025 to officially sanction esports as an intercolastic activity beginning with this school year. To be pretty open, we thought this was going

062to be the following school year. So, they surprised us a little bit. Our state association has partnered with play vss who is a nationally recognized esports competition platform. Importance there is multiple levels. A couple of them though is it ensures a fair playing and conditions. They guarantee the privacy of all students and all competitors is protected. They also at least in the first year will provide all fee coverage for access to the platforms that our students will need to participate. The state association has scheduled threeformational meetings to assist with the implementation and the startup of esports programs in member middle schools and high schools. The first meeting was last week and it was esports 101. We had participants from both uh Lawrence High School, Free State High School, from our central office and I believe

063from LVS, didn't we? And from LVS, participating in that and learning what the state sees as the future possibility for esports. On September 15th, we will have a meeting that talks about the actual hardware requirements. I think we should think in terms of two levels of hardware requirements. the hardware that will be necessary for the students to be able to access and participate in the competitions and then those special part parts of the equipment whether that be headphones, controllers, switches, and I understand there are a couple of different types of switches we can use there, gaming switches and determining which of those that we will need. The actual numbers of the hardware requirements will be determined by the number of participants we have and how the coaches work that out. At this point, we do

064not have enough information to begin putting that portion of the costs together. I can tell you that initial indications are the um costs associated are manageable and are within reason. also by working with the esports vs um platform they will be donating to each team the first switch that the team needs to participate. I do believe that we will have to purchase extra switches because we'll want to have more than just three students at a time on the platform practicing and uh improving their skills. And then October 23rd, game day preparation. I'm kind of interested in that one myself because I have no idea what all will be involved in that, but I think it will be very, very interesting. >> Dr. Inglebrick, can I interrupt you for a second and ask a question? >>

065Yes. >> As you're talking about some of those costs, can you clarify where the funds will come from for those costs >> for the >> I will go to Cindy Frick. >> Okay. for the we we do have funds that are available that are not designated at this point and we believe these will be very manageable. Some of the >> Where would those funds come from? >> Some of the >> Where will those funds come from? >> Some of them will come from the buildings uh activities budgets. Some will have to come out of our general fund. If possible, we will pay for others out of our capital outlay. Okay. >> Did I answer that? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Seasons of competition. And you'll see this is going rather quickly. Uh middle school and high

066school this year will actually have the same seasons of competition in that the preeason will be two weeks in length. Will begin November 17th and basically end uh December 1st when they begin their regular season of competition. I do not have dates for state competition or postseason competition. Those will be worked out. We will be able to bring those to you later uh this fall. Interestingly, students must meet the same academic and eligibility standards as other state association activities. They will have to be students in good standing to be able to participate. And I believe I have uh covered many of these. Essports will require equipment specific to the activity. And what we knew of for sure this afternoon, we'll need to be looking at handsets, headsets, controllers, and or consoles for the connectivity to

067the gaming platform. The annual annual licensing fee will be provided by the vendor the state is working with at least during the first year. There may be travel costs. We're not sure how that will work out if uh teams will be traveling during the season or postseason competition, but there would be possible travel costs just like we have with our other activities. and a coaching stipen would need to be determined in line with our LEA agreement. This is uh different than the coaching stipen that we've been talking about recently that was for club esports which was a um club uh sponsor rather than a coaching sponsor. I would be glad to take down any questions and if possible I will answer them and >> um so you kept mentioning Switch and I assume you're referring

068to Switches Nintendo Switches or >> I believe three Switches and I was going to stay out of the commercial names but yes >> Nintendo uh Gamebox and Nope >> just a Nintendo Switch. Nintendo. >> So, is that the only then method? It's not like PlayStation or on gaming computers or anything. >> I can get you that information and have that for you to make sure that I don't tell you the wrong ones. >> Okay, perfect. >> We don't know yet, Kelly. Um, so this is a whole new world for me and for me to be I mean the things that that really speak to me are the one hearing the kids was helpful and and um how important it was for them to be engaged. It was helpful to hear from Carol in terms of

069scholar and an about scholarships left on the table. Um and then the number of kids that you reported that this is the first time that they've been engaged in something. So from a social and emotional space, I tend to think like a lot of screen time is not so great for behavioral health, but I can see in this space where there there is um communication and and uh relationship building and then also just you're a part of um something in the same way that we would see with other activities. So, I can kind of see the benefits, but I'm trying to wrap my head around um for me when this comes back up, I would really want to understand um the financial commitment of the district given some of our pressing responsibilities, particularly those pertaining

070to wages, which we just heard, and um a couple of other areas that we've been working on. And so, I'm I'm I heard you say that the cost will be pretty manageable. So I trust that to be the case but it would be helpful for me to understand as someone new to this and I'll be doing my homework. Uh like you know for other other sports or activities we have a cycle in which we renew the equipment but is this going to be more frequently um you know are we going to need to be able to to more frequently um have this and also the equity piece. So, if you're a kid that has access to broadband or has access to equipment already, where does that put you in terms of um making sure that

071you're included as well? So, that would be another piece I would like to understand. So, really the real cost uh and it sounds like we there's enough um other states and other places we're doing this where we should be able to determine that. and then um how we account for equity. Um I get that might have to do with like where this all takes place. And again, this is just really new to me, so I'm sorry that I'm might be asking really basic questions that other people know, but uh that would be helpful to know when it comes back. >> Thank you. >> Um are these teams gender based at all? >> I do not believe so. I think it's based upon the three students that want to work together and team up together and

072participate. >> It's more skill-based. Yeah. Based. Okay. Um my my initial concern, actually my only concern really comes down to the finance portion of it. Um, you know, I see it as an opportunity to again give kids who may never have been involved in school activities to now have another way to go. And I think that that to me um is very important. I do um also would be interested in hearing more about if you are a child whose family cannot afford uh the equipment, how does that work and how do we cover cover for that is also important to me. Um but again it still comes down to I see this as a great opportunity uh for children uh and it's an educational opportunity. I did some some research today on uh on opportunities

073in college and future careers and was quite impressed with the um sizable amount that kids could uh make in doing this. So, so in looking at all that, I think uh I'm just like I say, it comes down to the finance issue and how it figures in our budget. >> I'll go ahead. Yeah. >> Uh this is Carol. I um had some trepidation about this because we were just gifted a book from some board members about the um it's called the anxiety nation that the yellow book that we've read and I read through it thoroughly and I read through the DSM and the new updates and and I comb through other schools and states that do already have esports and Hawaii to my one of my findings was that Hawaii is one of the top

074ranked states that has EA sports. So, in my mind, I'm already imagining imagining Travis and Eli playing against kids from Hawaii. So, I mean, it's um it's a a matter for me as a social worker, it's just the cost of doing nothing for those kids out there who don't get to to have these opportunities and the ones that came in tonight to speak at the board meeting. And I know that um even me as a board member, I I still get shaky. So, I'm just proud of them for, you know, this is one of their first things that they've ever done in their high school career. >> Thank you. Good. Um, coming from a family that is already into the esports thing, so listening to my grandkids, you know, yelling, screaming, Mario Kart, um, I

075understand what everybody else is saying about the social emotional, but I see what my youngest grandson the benefit of being in this because he came in high strong and issues in school and stuff and to hear the other kids from different states, teach him how to calm down and and tell him that he's doing a good job and just try this again or something like that when he gets frustrated when he can't pass a level. So, I see some of the benefits that way. Um cuz that was one thing we gifted our my grandsons with was the switches for for school for for Christmas. So I'm with Kelly as well for the kids that have already obtained the equipment. Are they able to get into this as well with already having the equipment? Also, if

076a parent has missed the firstformational meeting, can we attend the second one? >> Theformational meetings were actually for district personnel with the state association. >> We have not had one for parents yet. >> Perfect. So um you know kind of the pre preliminary look at this I was excited about the possibility of engaging a new set of students who might not already be engaged in the traditional activities that we provide. Um and the data that you cited Dr. Engle in states that have expanded this that I mean I I can't think of another uh area where I have seen a stat like 47% of kids it's their first time they've ever participated in a thing at school as as part of a a um activities association sponsored act I mean that's remarkable. So, if we

077could see that kind of engagement with our students, especially for those students who may right now not feel like they have that connection to school, um I think it's really really important to consider it because that connection is what drives student achievement ultimately. They care about being here and they care about doing well because it's the argument that people make about why why do we have sports in schools? Well, it's because for some kids that's the reason they come to school. Um, and if we can reach a much larger group of kids and give them a reason to come to school and to achieve, I I think that's really exciting. I really appreciated all the questions that Kelly asked and other board members have asked about the financing of it because that certainly is a

078a concern um or at least a question I have. Um, I I I know this might be a difficult subject to talk about, but I know we have one sport that is going to end because the Sunflower League is ending it and we're not going to participate anymore. So, I'd like to understand whether that then helps us start a new program possibly. Um, and then my final um, question would be I also I mean I have kids who game, but I don't really understand what esports what that what it actually looks like for the kids that participate. So, um do you know if the the platform has any um educational videos for parents or board members or district staff to understand what this is and how they run it for kids that or if there's

079some I I appreciate it and I'm going to check out the district that you mentioned, but if there's another district in Kansas that's already up and running that um you might recommend that we look at their stuff that's out there just to better understand what this is and what and how it runs and what it looks like. that would be helpful for me to contextualize how we would um have this exist in our district. Um I appreciate um being open to new opportunities for our students um by staff and um with the conversation at the facilities committee and then now at the board table. So um thank you for bringing this to us. Um, so I definitely um hear and understand everyone's concerns about um how will we pay for it, but to me the

080opportunity to reach this group of kids that have not been touched before um is amazing. It's something that I think is so important. Um, we do put a lot of emphasis on athletics and and team building and all the benefits that come from that. Um, and while this is obviously a different route, there are still those same benefits that can be um, gleaned from this. and just seeing um my own kids and how um it's impacted their lives in terms of their friendships that they've made with people or just even the friendships with their um fellow schoolmates. You know, they're exchanging information and they're playing online and they're talking and having conversations. Whereas, you know, when we think of gaming, when we grew up, it was kind of isolated and very much like you and

081the game itself and maybe you had another person with you, but not likely. And these kids are able to talk to, you know, multiple friends at once, all play together and strategize and and really um try to work together to accomplish things. And um I just think it's the opportunity is so amazing and it would be such a huge miss if we um didn't go after it. And I this is Carol. I just really I really like Travis's comment about his teammates when he said it it keeps them hungry >> and that is that that engagement piece that I just I love. >> Shannon, >> um Dr. Engle, given the timeline of the Quesaciaformational uh meetings, um and then the start of the season, um do you have in mind a a process at which

082by which this is going to come back to the board to um approve adding it as a as a case activity? I think our first step is to go back and develop answers to the questions you've pres presented this evening. You need to have that information first. We will then really vet out the cost factor and we're going to have to depend on some people other than um those of us a little bit older than the esports group to find out what that really is. Uh, one of the things I am not sure of but I believe to be correct on these practices and sessions will take place at the school not not from home for the traditional school-based teams. So the equipment will be there will be provided for all the students. We'll have

083to make a determination based upon the number of students participating and the amount of equipment that is provided. So, we're going to have to get some rough numbers of how many students to anticipate. And then back to those major components, we know we'll have to have a switch for every three students. We know we're going to have to have the controllers, the headsets, and they can't be controllers or headsets that are not equal with what some of our students would bring from home that may be more enhanced than what we would typically find uh off the shelf someplace. Um what I would ask when you come back with costs um if you could clearly define what bucket of money yes >> those those costs will come from. So it's a it's a it's a better

084foundational start to the conversation as we talk about the the total cost of the program so we know if we're talking capital outlay or we're talking general fund or we're talking activity building activity funds etc. question, >> Kelly. >> So, since they started the activities in 2025, the Does that mean that there are other districts already doing this >> as part of Kesa? >> No, it's just starting this year as a Quesa uh sanctioned activity. This is the first year. >> So, there are districts doing >> Well, the season hasn't started. >> The season hasn't started. Started. Okay. Um >> are other district clubs? Okay. probably clubs. >> Okay. They were club. Okay. Because when I heard the So when I heard the kids talking, they mentioned that they would like to be able to

085participate. And so what is the timeline for the decision-m? That's my >> Well, we see the activities are beginning around that November timeline it looked like. Uh so we have just a little bit of time, but the starting gate opened for all districts just recently. So, >> okay. >> Uh, it's fascinating. >> Okay. Yeah. Thank you. >> I think everyone thought it would be another year, but um they approved it for now. So, >> because the timeline would include because the season starts, but teams would like to practice. They'd like to figure out. >> That's what I was trying to figure out. Like if the season starts, you still >> we can do it the better. >> Okay. Okay. >> Would it be possible to at least um >> Okay. Is that fantastic? start a

086questioning as to who would be interested so you have an idea of number we can kind of get things moving. Yes, we'll do as much preliminary work between now and our next board meeting that we can >> where we do not want to be is it a position where we would have students who want to participate and we weren't prepared to welcome them into the team for participation. >> Yep. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Anybody else has anything? >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Angleberg. >> Thank you. >> We're going to move on to item 5.3, back to school highlights. >> Very good. Thank you, President Gordon Ross and members of the board, everyone who's joining us here in person and those joining remote. Uh, as we said earlier, we are on day nine of this

087school year and I know perhaps it seems like all um couple thousand of our employees and 10,000 students just pop up and open school on day one. It actually is much more complicated than that. and I appreciated the members of the board noting how hard our team has worked to be ready uh for it to look so easy uh to pop up on day one. So again, a shout out to everyone who has been involved. Uh we're just sharing uh some highlights uh because we could talk all day to try to work everything in. But I just want to thank everyone out there for a wonderful school opening. We've been focused on ensuring a warm welcome classroom and school environments that are characterized by dignity. Dignity uh for everyone. and our opening day walkthroughs, opening

088week walkthroughs. We've seen exactly that. Warm welcomes, visible adults in the buildings, inclusive routines, strong student supports. Our team already knows the names of their students. uh they are deep in the work and it was really within the first couple of hours on day one uh that I said to teams as I saw them that it looked like they'd been in school for quite a while. I don't know how that happens except through the masterful work and sweat equity and a lot of care and deep passion for the work that we do. Part of that uh that we want to give a shout out to is our human resources team. None of us would be here in our spots without the support of HR. I did uh just a little bit of math with this

089list and we'll update um update uh this presentation, but that list there represents 417 life changes uh that HR is on the other end of the phone. uh they're helping us with our fingerprints and with uh the TB tests and all of the myriad things that have to be done in every single one of those situations. Um, you know, I just went through it a year ago and I can say from personal experience that our HR team approaches every single one of these 417 events, life events, uh, with a great deal of compassion and care, professionalism and positivity. Uh in addition uh if we didn't have enough excitement, it's benefits and uh open enrollment time. Uh all of that was due right at the same time that the school year started. So you can see

090there the amazing numbers of open enrollment supports. Uh our team in addition is supported with FMLA requests, phone calls, license your questions, application support, orientation paperwork and more. I lost count of the number of orientations. I wanted to try to attend everyone and I found it was impossible. I don't know how they kept it all straight. Uh but our team is on its way. I wanted to begin with early childhood. You guys have heard us talk a lot about preschool. Make no mistake, it is an equity strategy at its heart. It gets right at the root of family in child and community in our classrooms. I appreciated this year that we were able to open two new um two new preschool classrooms at Sunflower and Woodlon. I got to see the great uh teacher and

091para educator over at Woodlon just a couple of days ago where they're building um a shout out to Dr. Ingleick and his team. They're building uh a portion of that classroom to make it nicer with a restroom uh with the tiny uh you know facilities and everything that fits them. All of that is going in over at Woodlon. Our teams are doing a great job. I just want to point out that that increase in preschool students makes us uh up by 43 students at preschool this school year. So we're at about 263 uh early childhood students and that's up from 220 last year. We know the research is strong of a lifetime of impact from quality early childhood education. I thank you board and our community for supporting that effort and our team for all

092their hard work. Um science classrooms are at the elementary. Uh our teachers have always done a great job with science instruction and yet now we've made it where uh teachers can choose to specialize in science and also our grade level teachers then have a little bit less on their plate. They have a lot to cover with students. Uh the K5 science special has launched districtwide. This ensures that every child engages in equitable standards aligned science exploration each week. Recently, when I ask an elementary classroom, as I often do, what was their favorite part of the school day this year, I loved that children yelled out science. And uh that was a really exciting moment. Uh today, anecdotally, I appreciate Miss Robersonson bringing me the story. We received an update from an elementary school where a

093group of fourth grade boys requested to have lunch with their science teacher because they love science class so much. These are anecdotal reports, but they are good, positive signs. And a shout out to our elementary science teachers who are working uh on to make that an engaging time of learning for our students. Uh just today received this report on our bakery or community connections at Pinkney. They have launched the bakery over at Pinkney. Uh this new uh facility is now up and running offering a fresh healthy breakfast or lunch option in every school every day from the bakery. So it's really up and rolling. Uh since production began on August 13th, the bakery has created more than 16,000 items including 2600 blueberry scones. Those are getting rave reviews, I've heard. And cinnamon rolls, uh 5,500

094brownies, and more than 3,300 dinner rolls and bread sticks each. Uh the bakery bakes everything from scratch onsite at Pinkney. Uh the district uh has greater control that way over both taste and in guaranteeing the nutritional value. The bakery is committed to sourcing at least 50% of its grain from local farmers and it will serve as a realworld learning laboratory for our students in the community transitions program seat over the coming months. There our students will gain important job and cooking skills in a live working environment. Folks may have forgotten because it's been about a year, but launching this bakery project was supported originally by a $100,000 resilient foods systems infrastructure grant from the Kansas Department of Agriculture. Those funds were used to purchase equipment to get the bakery up and running for the 2526

095school year. It seems like we should probably add that to our preschool and other places we have to go tour uh members. Uh it seems like a great idea. I want to give a shout out to everyone who helped with the school supply drive. I was actually out in schools on the day that so many of the supplies just landed on schools and I know it was a huge burden because the boxes were everywhere in the hallway. But I'm just delighted when we can do more uh so that our parents don't have that as a barrier and our students don't have it as a barrier to learning. And I appreciate all the leadership, Miss Robersonson and all folks from everywhere, the foundation and all uh to make that happen. Our teacher plan times at all

096three levels. Uh I think we all know but just reiterating uh teachers now have both the personal plan time which is so important to grading papers and doing all the things that need to be done but now also a professional time for professional collaboration. Uh I I didn't uh take photos of the groups that I saw, but I really appreciated somebody sent this photo in from I believe that's Prairie Park uh where they were uh having a meeting on their second planning time. I believe that teachers and ESP can change the world for good uh through positively impacting the lives of children. That's our mission. I believe they can do double their effectiveness if we just give them the gift of time and that's what the second planning does and I'm very grateful uh for

097everyone who's uh working on that. Um our data team wanted to give a shout out to our families. I know it's so hard to get all of the registration done, but we had 95% complete prior to the opening uh of school and that made the start of school for our school teams so much easier when they weren't having to track down the missing paperwork and get things organized. So, we really appreciate that work. parent square training. A shout out to our data team. James Pulk leads that effort and there's just a phenomenal team. I would like to call all of their names, but I'll I'll I'll not do it well. I'll I'll promise to do that next time. Um staff across all of our levels have received training focused on setting up notifications, office hours,

098messaging families and students, and creating posts and newsletters. You can see in your report members the actual number 10,800 messages over the first nine days of school and to date staff have shared 625 posts um with our families. So it is working. I'm also very grateful for the ion analytics training. Elementary and secondary staff recently received training on this system. It is a data analysis platform. In the past, our team, if you can imagine how hard this is, had to go one place for some data and another place for other data. It was hard to get the full picture. With ION analytics, they'll be able to get attendance, behavior, achievement, social, emotional. They'll be able to consolidate that information into one platform, making it easier and more efficient for staff to see the picture of

099how the student is doing. This allows our teams to focus on uh focus more on the child and spend less time running around trying to connect all of the dots with the data. Of course, it'll take us a little bit. It's not perfect on day one, but I just appreciate everyone's efforts. Want to give a shout out to special education. Uh they've just published a new and improved district special education handbook. Those kinds of things are not widely celebrated, but I as superintendent appreciate having the information together and clearly articulated. Also appreciate their work on emphasizing quality instruction to student needs, SDI, specially designed instruction. If you haven't seen it, please check out our opening page on the website. There's a first day photo gallery. uh it that I promise you will make you smile

100uh with all the beautiful photos of opening days. There are preschool slides that I couldn't see earlier. So very good. Um and uh back to school safety. We're sharing that video uh widely. I just appreciate all of the work on everyone's part to open this school year and wanted to be sure uh members I'll be out at Rotary and at the chamber and at a variety of locations. We'll streamline this presentation uh so that it fits into those uh lunch and meetings. But this is an exciting story to update our community on the work that we're doing. I would be remiss and I was earlier not to point out uh that Mr. Jake Potter, executive director of communications, is joining us in person and is on our team now. We already have him busy working.

101He's in the back uh slaving there uh to get uh the media release out after this meeting tonight. So, welcome uh to uh Executive Director Potter. Very good. We're happy to take questions. Our team is in the house and they can help me if I miss any parts. >> Kelly, do you have questions? You >> go first. >> I don't have a question, but I do have a congratulations and a big thank you. I'm a part of a few uh Laurens Mommy networks groups on Facebook and um they asked me uh before I came in to definitely thank anybody that was on the planning committee with the school supply list. They really thank you guys for all the dedication and hard work you did making their cost for school supplies a lot less this year

102than it was last year. So when they looked they kind of I got so many messages they thought they had downloaded the wrong school supply list cuz it wasn't as long and so I told them no it's been a team that is working very hard to make sure that that was one less thing that the families had to worry about this year. So they wanted to tell wanted me to tell you guys thank you thank you thank you for helping them with school supplies this year. >> All right, Kelly I thought that was amazing. I loved it. I loved that we got that down. Um, I have a question about the special education handbook. Um, the is that is that handbook for staff or is that for families? >> I appreciate that question. I'm going

103to defer to our expert, Miss Lorie Stithithm. >> Staff. Okay, >> it is for staff. >> Um, and is that a that is available on the district? We can quite yet. Can can the board look at it is my question. We absolutely will make that happen. >> That would be great. Thank you. Um All right. And in particular, I'm interested in the um I'm interested in the whole handbook. Uh I don't know. Um yeah, I really am interested in the handbook. And then also I'd like to hear um see the social work components of it professionally. I'd like to see how that plays out. Uh and then I have um a question about enrollment. So it one the um slide highlighting the 95% trying to see where that was at. That's impressive. Um I don't

104know if that anyway I what I wanted to talk a bit about was the enrollment process itself. Um, one of the things that we've recently learned, and Shannon's been working for uh, several years on um, ensuring that uh, vouchers don't become real in Kansas, but with the recent passage at the federal level of some legislation that might make that easier, unfortunately, and and you can speak to it in more detail than I um, but one of the things that I've done um, to educate myself is read a little bit about why parents might make a selection outside of public education. And one of the key findings was pertaining to choice um as a you know being able to direct in some regard like which building a person is in. And so I wondered about the

105transfer process and I don't expect an answer to that right now because I'm I am springing it on you but I did wonder about the ways in which the district can increase family um choice uh to enhance or prepare for um what might be vouchers coming our way in the next couple of years. So um I know you've talked about that in the past but it is something that I have interest in and the enrollment um slide made me think about that. Yes, appreciate it. >> Thank you. And we look forward to bringing uh the transfer data forward this fall and then also the steps that we're taking so that our families um the state gives any family in the state choice. So we certainly owe that to our own >> our own attendees. Yes.

106>> Anybody else? >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Swift. Thank you. >> Someone read the public comment statement for me, please. >> I'd be happy to do that, Mr. President. The USD497 Board of Education welcomes public comments and thanks you for taking time to talk to us about our policies and procedures. We set aside this time during our regular public meetings to hear from the public. Patrons who wish to participate in public comment must email email public commentd497.org by noon on the day of the board meeting to participate in person. Information provided will make it possible for district staff or the board to follow up with you as necessary. This is your time to share your opinions. However, public comment is not the appropriate forum for making complaints about specific staff or students. If your comments

107relate to complaints concerning staff students, such complaints must be addressed to district staff as provided under board policies KN and GAEE general complaints and personnel complaints. The board president or presiding officer of the meeting may direct that a public comment request be redirected to staff to comply with board policy, including and or to protect the privacy of individual staff or students. If you need assistance in sharing a complaint or concern with district staff, please let the board clerk or other district staff know. Topics discussed in public comment shall be gerine to the business of the board. Furthermore, comments must comply with standards laid out in board policy GAE and board policy JGCA, anti-bullying and hazing of staff and students. Comments or acts that are threatening to staff, the board, or others in attendance, including the

108use of language or behavior that is disruptive of the board meeting, will not be permitted during public comment. In addition, because students may be in attendance or watching online, members of the public will refrain from using foul or obscene language. The district assumes no responsibility or liability for the information shared during public comment. The views expressed are solely those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Lawrence public schools. The board president or presiding officer will invite comment on topics not included on the meeting agenda at the beginning or the end of each meeting. Comments relating to agenda items are welcomed after the board has had the opportunity to discuss the topic. Limit your comments to three minutes. Patrons who are unable to comply with the above procedures may email their

109comments or viewpoints to the board at schoolboard us at schoolboardusd497.org. >> Thank you Shannon. We'll start with Michael. Michael, are you there? Hello. It would be nice if I was able to be heard. We can hear you. You wouldn't believe the kind of stuff we have to go through to get audible on your WebEx. It's nice to see you guys acknowledging the fact that money is an issue. It's too bad that you and the the teachers you've hired will end up costing us so much more. But I digress. Uh, your superintendent sent me an email after I had registered for public comment. I hadn't really uh seen the superintendent butt into those standard emails before, but she sent me an email and part of what she said was also, I'm advising you tonight, we will

110have students joining the meeting in the WebEx room who will be speaking about their student experience in the district. I am requesting that you please refrain from creating a harassing environment there for them by writing inappropriate messages in the chat. So, uh, you know, I got to thinking about that email after she sent it to me and and you know, the questions that came to mind were inappropriate, harassing. So I asked her, "You mean like books in the district that describe fisting a teenage female's vagina while she's on her menstrual cycle?" And I told her, "I could remain well within that threshold set by you and the district." But you know, my real question to her is, which students are you trying to protect? Is it the elementary students that this district gave to Mark

111Ridley to abuse? Or is it the middle school and junior high kids that Patrick Nton was placed with again by this school district? Maybe it was Nick Burgon, you know, the first of these three that you knew about. The one you let quietly go away so he could, you know, end up in charge of children in another school. It's obvious that Baker University had little knowledge of this when they hired him given the speed in which he left. >> This is the problem with you people. >> That's your warning, Michael. >> You want to have the false narratives carry the day. >> Thank you. >> As long as I'm alive in this town, that will not happen. >> We're going to move on to Justin. Can you hear me? >> Yes. >> All right. My

112name is Dr. Justin Spece. You guys have an unconstitutional speaking policy here during your meetings that says no foul language can be used while speaking during public comment. And we saw that in action just right there when you removed Michael. But last meeting, you allowed a book from your school district libraries to be read that graphically and inappropriately described an obscene sex act that is disgustingly called fisting. I can't think of anything more foul and obscene than what was read last meeting from that book that again is available to your students in your school district libraries. You repeatedly remove me and Michael and Carrie for saying cuss words here during public comment because you say students might be listening and in attendance. So you therefore claim you need to protect their ears from foul language.

113But if that really is the case, if that really is your reason, then why do you allow books about fisting in your school libraries? And why did you allow that book about fisting to be read here during public comment? How do you square that circle? How could you possibly justify that? But since you do allow books to be read here without removing speakers, I want to read from a book I came across. It goes, "Jay-Hawk and Donnie flew down the side street every now and then, looking back for the pursuing patrol cars that alerted the neighborhood to their to their presence. "Fuck, they see us," Jay-Hawk shouted. "Fuck those pigs, man. Keep going," Donnie said back. Just ahead, a second patrol car turned onto the side street, preventing the fugitives from fleeing any further. Now

114fully aware their run was over, Jay-Hawk and Donnie put their hands up. Jumping out of the patrol car, the officer screamed, "You're under arrest by the authority of that Kelly Jones and that Gordon Ross." >> I made that story up. So, since it's not an actual book, >> we'll go to Carrie. Hello. >> Hello. >> Okay. All right. Board members, I have a question for you tonight after I read from two Colleen Hoover books. So, please listen closely to its content. People at home know that this content is sexually explicit and contains words that this word deems obscene if anyone were to say it outside aside from reading it from a book. The first book I am reading is titled Maybe Not. I reach down to her thighs and spread her legs with my hand.

115I keep my eyes focused on her anyway. As I slowly push two fingers inside of her, waiting for her to moan into her pillow. She doesn't make a sound, so I pull them out and reenter her with three fingers. This time, she pulls at my hair and spreads her legs for me, wanting me to bury myself inside of her. I do. I push her panties aside and shove her into her so hard and fast she lets out a moan. I take one of her breasts in my hands and bring it to my mouth. I slowly kiss my way down her stomach. woman. I smile triumphantly and press my lips into her or to her stomach again. I start just below her belly button and trail slow kisses all the way down until I meet her

116panties. I hook my fingers into the waistband and pull them down. I lift her leg and press a soft kiss against her ankle, then her calf, then inside her knee, repeating the kisses all the way up her thigh. My tongue slides against her, separating her. My fingers find their way back inside her. I am feeling her, consuming her with my tongue, and she's taking every ounce of me she can get. Now she's pressing my face into her, begging me to go faster. Her hands leave my hair and meet me or and meet her headboard as she grips it tightly and locks her legs around my shoulders. I keep my fingers buried inside of her as she cries at my name with each tremor that rocks her body. I kiss the inside of her thighs as

117I pull my fing fingers out of her. The next book I'm going to read from is titled Two More Days. Instead of serving the populace, you're going to be serving my vagina. I could have really been bad and said Percy rather than vagina. Stuart's hand left my breast and slid down my abdomen to unbutton my dress pants. When his hands dipped into the waistband on my panties, I sucked in a breath. As he slid his fingers against my clip, he said, "M, you're soaked." Arching against his hand, I murmured, "Please, please, what? Make me come." Stuart's answer was to slit not just one, but two fingers deep inside me as he pumped them in and out. I began frantically moving my hips. I panted and moaned as I worked towards coming. When Stuart pushed um

118in a finger a third time and swirled them on my G-spot, I came undone. Holy yeah. Board members, now on to my question I have for you. Which Colleen Hoover book that I just read from is in your district? As a hint, the book maybe not, says ass 27 times, 29 times, piss 11 times, and seven times. The book two more. >> So we'll move on to inperson public comment. So we have three people in person. So we'll start with Noel Jackson. Hello, I'm Dr. Noel Jackson. Good news and bad news. >> If you'll wait just a second so he can get the timer started. >> Okay, he'll start it. >> Great. Good news and bad news. I'm not here to discuss sexual books and I found the last comments all of them disgusting. That's

119not why I'm here. I'm here to complain about the fact that you guys are not meeting our students needs in very basic ways and that I see not a single one of you doing a single thing about it. That's why I'm here specifically. I'm here today mostly to talk to you about our school bus driver shortage. the fact that it's harming our students, harming our families, has been going on for at least five years, and none of you have done a one thing to address it. Also, that's what I came here to talk about. I have a lot of complaints against this district. Dr. Swift is aware of at least a few of them. So is Dr. Angelick. I don't have time to discuss them all today, but while I was sitting here in this

120meeting, I heard comments from one of our hardworking paras over there who told us that she's not making a living wage and can't afford food or to clothe her children. She is one of those people working with students like mine. I'm a sped parent every single day. We hire one of those parents to babysit for our family and we pay her more to babysit one child in our home than you all pay her as a parent in your schools. It's embarrassing. Dr. Swift is making over $200,000. Many of people in this building, many, many, many of them are making over $100,000. Dr. Swift herself makes more than twice my salary as a professor at KU. And yet you can't pay your parents a living wage. You don't pay your bus drivers enough for people to

121take the jobs. You don't have enough bus drivers to bus your children to school. And you're not even busing most of your children to school because of the 2 and a half mile rule, which by the way is ridiculous, unfair to families, creates a traffic problem in Lawrence every day, and none of you seem to care. While I'm at it, Miss Kimble, your comments about funding for SPE I found borderline um offensive. I would like to remind you all that your obligations towards sped students are to meet all of their needs and to make that and to allow them to reach their highest potential academically and in the specials that you offer. Those are your obligations. I didn't mention money when I talked about those obligations. Those are your obligations. Your job is to find

122the money to meet those obligations. Not to find the money and then ask how many of those obligations can you meet? That is the wrong order. Your job is to say these are our students needs. These are our obligations and where will we find the money? Your students need bus drivers. You don't have them. What are you going to do about it? You haven't had enough bus drivers to drive the children to school that you are legally obligated to drive to school on the first day of the school year for the last five school years running. I don't know about before the pandemic because I moved here in 2020. For all I know, this has been a problem for decades. I only know that it's been a problem since 2021. And it's far from the

123only problem I've had in this district. My school bus, my daughter's school bus has a substitute driver. I'm not okay with this. What are you going to do to fix it? And I mean now, today. You don't have enough drivers. Pay them more and hire more drivers. Reduce your administrator salaries to do it and do it now. >> Thank you, Dr. Yaxon. We'll then move on to Sarah. Hi, my name is Sarah Silian. I have been a district employee since 2013. I have seen the district go from elementary teachers applying to pilot the blended learning classrooms to the recent charge to reduce or eliminate the use of iPads at the elementary level. It is our job as educators to teach our students that iPads are a tool at school and not a toy. Lately, I've

124heard multiple concerns about the changes in iPad use. There are questions such as how will we use? This is a supplemental evidence-based math resource provided by the Kansas State Department of Education at no cost to the district that offers personalized learning. One piece that I have seen in action is the practice of basic math facts. Think like additions, subtraction, multiplication, division, um to automaticity. I'm a title teacher and can assure you that our assessment data shows that our students need intervention in this area. Students can spend a mere three minutes a day practicing the skill on their iPad or I could take over 75 minutes a day practicing with each student in a class of 25. Another concern has been related to UDL universal design for learning. Currently, we have students using features such as

125text to speech so they can access the tier one grade level content that they may not be able to independently read. Limiting the use of technology to those with an IEP could prevent other students from also getting what they need, iPads. At school, it's a tool. Evaluations. Teachers are evaluated using the Danielson framework for teaching. There are four constructs with Rubik's rubric scores that go from targeted up to distinguished. I found at least three domains under which educators could be affected by the new policies. And in the interest of time, I'm only going to list them. Um 1.4 demonstrating knowledge of resources, 1.6 Six designing student assessments and 2.5 organizing physical space. We are as expected as educators to use digital resources. The UFly program is a new addition to our tier 1 phonics instruction

126this year like open up math. These resources are based online. In previous years, we have been directed to use the sample questions available via the kite testing site to create questions that we can use in classrooms as ex exit tickets for knowledge checks and to acclimate kids to the question format. In the past, I have witnessed kids who are unfamiliar with how to take these high stakes assessments struggle to manipulate items on the test, like if you have to drag something or match it up. Um, which then leads to students not being able to show what they know. We do our students a disservice by not giving them multiple opportunities to use technology and overcome any test anxiety related to not knowing what they are being asked to do. Um, at the state national levels,

127we have a book of res, we have resolutions for ANA. I'm going try to be really fast. Um, and these are statements that are created and voted on. So there are different things in there which I can share with you again later. Um C16 technology in the educational process. K&A believes that the technology and the ed educational process improves learning opportunities for students, quality of instruction, effectiveness of education employees. Um we also it also talks about um that having teachers and educators be involved with the decisions um of what's going to be used, how it's going to be used. Um and going to be out of time. So, as long as you can just keep including us, um I can't get it all in today, but we just want to show that kids that iPads

128can be a tool. So, >> thank you, Sarah. >> Thank you. >> Final public comment is Lori. >> Good evening. I am Lori Greenfield. My pronouns are she, her. Speaking as an individual, I've been a Lawrence resident since 1990, a mom of three LPS graduates from Prairie Park Southwest, and Lawrence High, and a proud public school educator for 30 years. Over the past several years, I have grown increasingly concerned of our district's approach to technology decisions. Too often it feels like choices are made hastily without considering unintended consequences for students and educators. When my career began, classrooms had overhead projectors and cassette tape recorders. Over the years, we moved to computer labs, then laptops, then one-on-one iPads. At best, these transitions were paired with professional development and collaboration, which gave teachers the tools to use

129tech the technology in ways that depended the learning. Co pushed all of us to rethink how we educate. Many powerful digital tools emerged to support students. With thoughtful training and innovative innovation, technology can save valuable class time, especially as class sizes grow. Unfortunately, instead of moving forward, I've watched Lawrence public schools step backwards. We replace interactive smartboards with TVs, losing technology opportunities for engagement and collaboration. We reduce student access to meaningful digital tools rather than expanding it. Meanwhile, te technology is embedded in our state college and career ready standards in library and informationational literacy and in computer science. National and state standards for education prep programs also emphasize that educators must be able to integrate technology effectively to support diverse learners and improve outcomes. Digital literacy, critical thinking, and responsive citizenship are not optional. They

130are essential for students success in the world that they are entering. As a D district, we should be preparing students for these essential skills and equipping educators with the training and resources to use technology effectively. That means building a clear technology vision shaped with educator input. And it means recognizing that technology should never be replace educators, but instead enhance the quality of teaching and expand the learning opportunities we provide students. Why do I come here before you? Because our students deserve a future ready education, not a step back in time. I urge the board to prioritize a thoughtful technology plan, one that includes educator voice. We cannot prepare our students for tomorrow with yesterday's tools. >> Thank you, Lori. Um I have one announcement. Um so just for the just general information for the public

131um over the last week or so it was brought to our attention that on October 13th um several board members and possibly Dr. Swift were going to be out of town um or unavailable. That's the first board meeting in October. So, we're looking to move that board meeting to a different day. We don't know what day yet. So, just watch that. We'll make sure we let everybody know and notice that appropriately, but just to put that out there. Um, that's all I had. Dr. Swift, do you have anything? >> I believe we're good. Thanks. >> Anybody else have anything? >> All right. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> I move we adjourn. >> Second. >> All those in favor? I. >> Any opposed? All right.