001Um, can I get approval of the agenda? >> I move we approve the agenda for the August 11th, 2025 board meeting. >> Second. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> Could you Blackwood? >> Costello? >> Yes. >> Franklin? >> Yes. >> Gordon Ross? >> Yes. >> Jones? >> Yes. Kimble. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 6. Okay. We'll move on to the report of the superintendent of schools. Dr. Swift. >> Thank you, President Gordon Ross and members of the board, all of those who are joining us both in person and remotely this evening. Well, here we are. Welcome uh to back to school season. Our countdown clock is ticking down and there it is today. Uh one just over one day. Uh we welcome our students in transition. That would be our kindergarten, our sixth grade, and our
002ninth graders tomorrow. We love rolling out the red carpet for those students in transition first. And then on Wednesday, August 13th, uh we look forward to welcoming everyone. I just want to thank everyone who has worked so hard to have our classrooms and schools prepared. They are warm and inviting places to learn. And we are ready for August 13th. I appreciate that our team this year is really centered in on this theme of dignity and members I've shared a copy of the book uh that is the research by Cobin Crownapple really around the concept of dignity as we strive to ensure belonging through a culture of dignity. Uh we are we all know that before uh we welcome back our students, we have a week and a half or so of welcoming back our staff.
003So we won't go into all of the details of that. It's been a roller coaster with activities and events every day. Uh but we began with new certified staff induction August 1 through five. really appreciated. Monday, August 4th, all of our certified staff gathered at LHS for a welcome breakfast followed by a half day of professional learning members. It was about 96 new professional staff in that breakfast. And when we asked them to stand up by geography, about a third of them uh came to us from outside the state of Kansas. So they hail from all corners of the country and I loved uh seeing so many states represented and we especially give a shout out to our Spanish teacher at I believe she's at West. Help me out. Yes, at West. And she's coming
004to us on an on an exchange year from Spain. So stop by and say hello. uh give her a good warm welcome to Lawrence. Um we really appreciate that. Uh you can see here it looks like 87 is the number they're sharing. There they were in the Lawrence uh cafeteria. Uh we enjoyed especially last Thursday opening our year with every team at their own school location. Our teachers have shared with us overwhelmingly their preference to begin the year this way. So we were delighted to be able to do that. All school teams welcome their staff. And just a few highlights. I I hesitate to share highlights because absolutely members, every single school team had just a fabulous plan for the morning. Uh but Free State High School, I just loved uh their uh I'm not
005showing it here, but I'll get you a picture of it. I loved their approach. Uh Dr. Jeremiah was over with them and reported that each new employee was introduced to the staff through their own uh childhood school photo. and uh a student, a Free State senior, Colby Stutler, conducted light-hearted interviews, putting the new staff on uh on the spot, so to speak, to answer uh humorous questions, a creative activity to just break the ice on uh on the staff. I uh am going to need help from the team back there as to what location, but one school had uh really just that first football game and had each of their new staff run out of the tunnel of balloons uh into joining the staff. Where was that, guys? They're still thinking. >> Southwest. Was it
006Southwest or Sunflower? Maybe was that one. Um and so each building really had a different approach but all of it really focused on this idea of dignity that we want to appro approach our work with students this year uh through this culture of dignity. I'm really delighted uh that our parent square implementation you know members I appreciate uh that you all brought forward this thinking um and then you were kind to support the the purchase um and we all feel even more so the burden and the responsibility to see through the training and the implementation because on so many things it's easy to get it purchased, get it in and kind of leave it alone. And we are really following this one through. I want to give a shout out to James Pulk and the
007data team. As you can see, uh they have hosted many trainings. In fact, since all staff have returned last Thursday, um all levels and staff have been trained. Um, and between August 7th and August 8th, more than 900 communications were sent regarding the tool. So, just like our work with cell phones, it won't be one and done. We'll continue month by month to bring you updates on our progress with this great new tool. I appreciated uh the special education team who uh rallied on Friday to bring all of their certificated staff together uh for special education procedural updates and then also I understand just a quality training on specially designed instruction provided by Greenbush. So I appreciate Lorie Stiththam's leadership alongside her team. Uh they also participated in a full day today with uh professional
008development alongside our educational support professionals. Uh shout out uh to President Gordon Ross and to past president Jones for uh being over there this morning to greet uh all of our ESP members, facilities and operations. I just am sharing a few photos in the slide deck. Um, you can review a full update. Uh, shout out to Dr. Inglebrick and all of the facilities and operations team uh, efforts over this summer. We would not be ready to open the doors were it not for the work of this team. They've overcome quite a few hurdles with asphalt and other uh as always a few surprise uh delays and interruptions and they've persevered. Uh that top left picture is a new installation out at Prairie Park. It is beautiful and inviting and warm. Uh I appreciate everywhere we
009go that we're seeing uh new playgrounds, solar installations, all of the above. and they will uh support students learning throughout this school year. Um we are going a little bit later in the meeting to be having a budget update, but I wanted to touch in because folks have been following the developments and I wanted to just touch base this evening to reassure folks that we have Missfrick reports. We have received our title two, three and four funding and those amounts are similar to last year. So that's a good uh relief for us. Uh the budget hearings will be set this evening if the board is so inclined for September 8th. Do want to take just a moment on student safety. As you all know very well, student safety remains our top priority in the Lawrence
010public schools even before our critical mission of teaching and learning. And tonight I wanted to touch in on one particular area that we're being asked about and that we know and sense that our parents and community have concerns and that is around our work with immigrant and refugee students in the Lawrence public schools. It is important to know that the law and our practice in Lawrence public schools has not changed. Uh, and I'll quote the KSD, the Kansas State Department of Education guidance that clarifies, we remind school personnel that their ultimate responsibility is the education and protection of all students. All students have a constitutionally protected right to receive an education. So that is not only our core value, that is the law and it is our practice. And we wanted to share that this
011evening. We remain deeply committed to supporting all students and their families regardless of national origin, religion, or immigration status. We stand in strong support of our students and families. And I just want to point out that that means uh that we do not ask uh for particular uh pieces of documentation with regard to children. We just simply enroll children when they live in our school district. And I want to ensure everyone that we will continue to abide by all state and federal laws in protecting student information and ensuring student safety. In the Lawrence public schools, we value diversity as our strength and we respect and value each of our students and their families. We are all honored to work and live in a diverse international school environment and we appreciate this as a gift that
012enriches our community. Uh lots of reminders tonight. You know these things, but just a reminder, some folks might be joining Lawrence Public Schools as new students, new parents to the district. So, we just want to make sure that everyone is reminded and aware that we have a cell phone free instructional environment in the Lawrence public schools. When we think about the why, we think of it really only in one way and that is our priority and our focus on instruction on the on the magical part of teaching and learning and student achievement that carries on in our classrooms. We don't want anything to distract from that mission. And most particularly, we're aware of the the abundant research that shows that the distraction of a cell phone really does inhibit the achievement of students and it's
013distracting for everyone in the environment. Uh we are publishing uh through our high schools members. Uh Dr. Jeremiah and I had the great opportunity to be with our high school principles on Thursday or Friday, whatever day that was recently. And they um are using the absolute same document and it really does focus on a simple phrase bell to bell no cell. So that's the easy way to remember it. I appreciate uh that Miss Luckett has uh everyone equipped with a new set of reminder posters. It's just a good time of year to be reminded and I appreciate members all of your support uh for that endeavor that does support our students and their learning and achievement. Uh we were so privileged on Saturday to join with hundreds, literally hundreds of individuals, groups and agencies from
014across the Lawrence community um last Saturday for the second annual kids expo. This is choreographed by our own Lawrence Schools uh foundation. I appreciate uh member Costello who serves uh as our liaison to that board. uh everything from bike helmets, backpacks, school supplies, haircuts, and just contact with many community organizations to everyone joined together with one purpose, and that is to offer support for our students and families to feel wellprepared, to feel good about starting school. So, a special shout out to Miss Dina Johnston and the foundation team, their board, and the hundreds of volunteers. And thank you members. Many of you uh were here uh slinging shoes or uh fulfilling many other tasks involved. I thank you for the opportunity to share this superintendent's report and thank you for the honor of serving the
015Lawrence public schools. >> Thank you, Dr. Swift. Now move on to the report of president of the school board. Um was able to participate in several events over the last couple weeks. Um I was able to give a a welcome at new teacher orientation at LHS on Monday, August 4th. It was a great time to welcome all the new and some returning staff to Lawrence public schools. And while I was happy to be there and able to welcome everyone, I do need to take a moment and acknowledge that during my remarks I did misgender our LEA president, Emerson Havzales, whose pronouns are they them. It was an inadvertent mistake and I have subsequently apologized to them for my error, but also wanted to do so here for anyone who may have heard me do that.
016On Friday, I spent the day in Topeka at KASB at a class related to building a better board leadership team. I found it insightful and in in informative and hopefully helpful uh during this next year during my term as president. Um just a reminder that the KASB convention is in in Witchah from November 14th through the 16th. Please let Nikki know if you would like to attend. On Saturday, I was able to help in the morning of the kids expo for a brief period of time. The weather didn't seem to dampen the many families who lined up early to be the first ones through the door. I was able to see pictures and hear updates later in the day of the overall success of the event. So, thank you for all who participated in helping
017make it happen and for everyone who came and participated. This morning, Kelly and I got to welcome our um ESP staff as they set out on a full day of PD. That was again enjoyable and I was excited to be there and to do that. like to offer congratulations to Bob Shroom, Christine Poland, Bard Little John, and Mike Courtney for making it out of the primary for the Lawrence City Commission on the primary election on the 5th. And then there's one item on consent for facilities. We have playground repairs at Hillrest, specifically the Ryan Gay Playground for $24,39855 coming out of Capitol LA. And that concludes my president's report. Were there any any committees that met? We'll just go straight to board commentary. Okay. Start with you, Bob. Um uh for me I attended the
018uh the kids expo and uh the thing I usually love about those type of things is in Lawrence is a very uniquely Lawrence thing that I love the participation from the community uh looking at the vendors and seeing the hundreds of kids and families who are attended. Other than that that's it. Okay. And >> um I also participated at the kids expo and want to thank Dina, Jamie, Michelle, and all of my fellow board members who put a lot of effort and work into this. It was a fantastic event. Um I helped I don't even know how many kids try on shoes. And it's one of my favorite things getting to see the excitement on the kids' faces as they get the new shoes and you know, some of them want to wear them out
019and they're just so happy. and uh it's one of my favorite things that we get to do. So, thank you, >> Kelly. >> I just wanted to share a couple of things that I've heard from community members. So, I had the opportunity to meet with a um new staff member to the district and they were very impressed uh with the way that they've been welcomed into the district and the way that the HR department has uh provided you know space for them to become part of our district and then in particular uh they had a very good experience with their principal. Um, I haven't asked for permission to share, so I'm not going to I am privately going to send the principal a note because I'm grateful for the work that they did. Uh, I
020also had a note from a Free State parent who shared with me that the communication from that particular high school has been excellent and they feel really ready for their um, student to get in the door. So, I can understand that as a parent. So, it's always nice when you hear about good communication. Um, on my way up here, I passed the welcoming event at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School where I believe they were handing out hot dogs. I could be wrong, but there was a crew of um, looked like sixth graders, but maybe the whole of um, Liberty Memorial was there, but it looked like a welcome event specifically for sixth graders and their parents. And uh, there was a lot of um, energy and it seemed quite positive. So, I wanted to extend
021my congratulations to them. From the outside looking in, it looks really exciting. Then I had a kindergarten parent stop me at um the grocery store and they're sending their kid to Quail Run and they are um nervous kindergarten parents. Um that was the word they used and they said that their nerves have been lowered by the way that they are getting to come into the building and um be with other kindergarten parents. So I wanted to extend that to Quill Run. So just in general um wanted to say welcome to everyone that is coming into the district and extend my gratitude to all the staff uh and educators that have been working so hard to create a welcoming environment. Um I know that it's been a lot of orienting for the HR department and for
022staff. Um so I wish you an excellent year. >> Thanks. Um it was really really fun to kick off the back to school season with the kids expo on Saturday morning. Um I spent a good part of my morning talking with students and families and hearing about their um excitements and um things they're looking forward to about starting the school year. And it was just a fantastic event. So kudos to everyone involved it that I think we have done something special with that event and I'm excited to see it continue in the future. Um, thank you GR for mentioning the KASB convention. Um I just wanted to give a special like hey if you can come early on Friday we are doing a pre-conference session Friday afternoon that will feature Professor Derek Black um who
023is an education law specialist and it should be a really great session on the role of public education and public schools in um supporting and maintaining democracy and being um a resource for everyone in our communities. So, um, and I I'm I'm helping facilitate that one. So, um, I'm I'm excited about that. Uh, but it will be really really great, um, professional development. I think this is, um, you one of the opportunities that we have as board members to hone our craft and learn from experts and from each other, um, and really, um, you know, help us do the best job that we can do as board members for our district. So, uh, highly encourage you to attend if you are able. Um, couple of upcoming things that, uh, are going on in this, uh,
024this week. So, tomorrow and Wednesday, the Kansas State Board of Education is meeting. I think I talked a little bit about their agenda at our last meeting, but one of the big things they are going to do is to finalize the cut scores for the Kansas assessment um, that was given this spring. They meet their meeting is from 10:00 to 5:30 on Tuesday and from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Wednesday. Also meeting this week, the education funding task force from 12 to 4 on Wednesday and from 9 to 4 on Thursday. Um the agenda is available now and they are solely focused on talking about special education funding and special education funding formula models um during that time. So that that's uh really important given the um continuing and growing shortfall in special education
025funding in our state. Um in terms of committee updates, we didn't have any committee meetings. I just wanted to correct I misspoke last last meeting. Um I think I said that we weren't having a policy meeting in um August. I meant that we weren't we weren't meeting in July. We are meeting in August on August 19th. So my apologies for that. Um I just had the dates written down incorrectly in my notes, but we are meeting this month on the 19th. We will meet again in September. We did not meet in July. Um also our next facilities committee meeting has been moved to Wednesday, August 20th because um of the back to school um activities for this week. Thank you. >> Yolanda, do you have anything? >> Yes. Um, >> I uh I hate that
026I missed the uh the expo this year. It tends to fall at the weekend of my grandson's birthdays. So, um but I enjoyed um looking at pictures, videos. I received several phone calls from several excited children that attended that I sent there that sent me pictures of shoes, backpacks, you know, school supplies, everything that they received. So, I really thank the district for putting this on. Um those um acknowledgements and thank yous from the community is something that we should definitely be trying to put out there to let everybody know that we as a district definitely care about our children and stuff. So, thank you Dr. Swift for always putting that out there as well doing your uh superintendent report that uh we definitely care about our children. But um that's about all I had.
027All right. Thank you, Bob. >> Yeah, I had forgotten a a meeting. I did attend the equity council um actually last week. Uh we had a a sizable group again. Um we are planning to meet monthly now and have continued throughout the summer. Uh one of our main issues that we're looking at now is trying to figure out structure and membership. Uh we're trying to find the document or information as to when it was created and was there a structure about who should be members, who shouldn't or how membership is chosen. Um so that's a work in progress. Um and it may take a current board action to redo something if we need to. >> Um other than that, u that would be it. Okay. something for Okay, Dr. Swift. >> Thank you, President Gordon
028Ross. Uh I am remiss and I just want to add members of the board have heard this, but I want to say it out loud for the comm community aloud for the community and that is uh we are fully covered across our buildings um in and staffed for the opening of the year. I just want to give a shout out. I talked about all the waves of openings of staff and there's really one engine that has driven all of that and that's our human resource team under the direction of Miss Kristen Ryan and uh Leah Wisdom and Megan Eperson and all the team. Uh they've just done an extraordinary job keeping everybody well prepared and ready for the opening of this year. Uh we literally uh lost a teacher last week and uh who needed
029to move. I didn't even get to update the board until we had hired a replacement uh literally within 24 hours. So uh it we are sliding into home base uh fully covered and I'm very grateful for that. Thank you. >> Awesome. Thank you. All right, we'll move on to the consent agenda. Can I get a motion? >> I move the board of education adopt the items listed on the consent agenda. >> I second. >> Kad Blackwood. >> Costello? >> Yes. >> Franklin? >> Yes. >> Gordon Ross? >> Yes. >> Jones? >> Yes. >> Kimell? >> Yes. >> Buyers? >> Yes. Motion passes 6. >> All right. Thank you. We're going to move on to new business, budget update and approval for publication. Um just wanted to to read a little statement that I put together.
030Um tonight's budget action is not the adoption of our final spending plan. What we're doing is setting the maximum budget authority and maximum milly rates for the district can use for the 20 202526 school year and establishing the dates for our budget hearings. The revenue neutral rate hearing at 6 p.m. on September 8th and the budget hearing at 6:05 p.m. that same evening. For cities and counties, the revenue neutral rate is a real choice because they set their own mill levy. For Kansas school districts, our general fund and much of our local option budget levy are set by state formulas. If we adopted the revenue neutral rate, we'd be choosing to collect less than the formula allows, which would directly reduce the dollars we receive per student without reducing our costs. So, while we participate
031in the revenue neutral rate process because state law requires it, it's largely a a formality for schools. The mill rates you see tonight are the maximum we can set. They can't go down from here, but cannot go up without starting the process over again. Once the state certifies our official enrollment after September 20th, they will recalculate our legal budget authority and that's when the final budget takes shape. Publishing at the maximum level now is standard Kansas practice to protect our ability to fund programs and operations if revenues come in higher than currently projected. With that context in mind, I'll turn it over to Dr. Swift and Executive Director of Finance Cindy Frick for the presentation. >> Thank you, President Gordon Ross. uh we think about the budget and it's a complex um set of numbers
032that the board and all of us uh use. Uh when we think about the budget, we don't necessarily think about the August and September window. When we think about the budget, we think about that every day because we are constantly doing the work to streamline our organization to direct resources to the classroom and uh to opportunities and programs for students and to our goal of competitive compensation for our teachers and our educational support professionals and our school leaders. So, uh we understand that as we come uh as we close out summer, those dates on the calendar that Miss Frick has to pay close attention to um uh are are populated and we know those. But I just want to emphasize that this is the work that we're doing all year round, not just in August
033and September. Um we uh know that we think about the need for competitive compensation. We also think about the shortfall uh in our funding of special education. Um, and I appreciate the leadership of this board to continue uh to make folks aware that that is a need that would if it were if the promise uh to fund special education were fulfilled, it would dramatically change uh the budget that we work with. And that's a promise that was made and never kept. So, I appreciate uh keeping that in the front of our minds. And then also uh a third area uh that members are well aware of but it's a good reminder now is that continuing increase in health insurance premium rates. Um and that was a significant number this year is projected to be another
034uh large amount for next year. Uh so again uh Miss Frick is here to explain the numbers and we want to have that discussion. I want to reassure the board and our LPS team and our community that I and our team will continue to do the work uh because we must innovate and problem solve in order to make the very best of the numbers that were given. And so with that, uh Miss Frick is going to walk us through. And I appreciate just want to give a shout out to members who were doing their homework this weekend and and sent us good thinking and we've made adjustments uh through the day today to just really try to dial this in to the level of detail on a complex topic that helps folks uh find their
035way through school finance. Miss Frick, thank you. As we look at the budget timeline, like Dr. Swift said, I mean, this is a year- round process and identifying the needs for the upcoming year and how to address those. Um, our um set deadlines start in July. Uh, the budget document is released by KSDE typically early in July and our first deadline was to submit our maximum mill levies to the county. Um, at that time, we are still working through year end. Um and so tonight is when we can actually bring you our um final recommendations for the 2526 year. What we ask for tonight is approval to publish um a notice for hearings. There are two hearings that would take place on September 8th. One of them is a notice to exceed the revenue neutral
036rate like GR mentioned um which is something we have to do by law. This is maybe the fourth year that this particular um part uh revenue neutral rate has been part of our process. Some other states have done this for years. Um the second part is the notice of hearing to publish the budget which does set our maximum um our maximum authority with KSDE. And so uh then after we receive approval to publish those, we go ahead and run it in the paper. It has to be published at least 10 days prior to the hearing dates of September 8th and then after that so on that September 8th date is when you would literally be approving the budget itself. Um and then after that it is due to the to KSD on September 20th and
037then also we submit to the county. A few significant changes for the 2526 budget. We did have an increase in the base aid per pupil. Um for the general fund that was an increase to 5,615 up from 5,378 last year. That is a 4.4% increase. Uh now I would like to point out um legislator legislation um did follow the um requirement after the Gall Ganon case to follow the um to increase the base by the three-year average of the consumer price index that was done. Um 4.4% increase sounds fabulous. Just remember that we are using a lower enrollment uh number than we had to last year. And so unfortunately that offsets the increase that we would have gotten if um enrollment had been stable or even growing. Um, and so that second bullet point is
038just a reminder that remember the law changed to last year and it was it's moving from a previous year enrollment FTE count um to currently for we can use the higher of September 20th of last year or September 20th of this year. Now, for last year's budget, we were able to use an average of the two prior years. And so, we were able to use um an FTE number that's about 200 students higher than the one we have to use for this year. So, as declining enrollment has taken place and the law is no longer in our favor with in regards to that, if you will, um we're coming more to current enrollment numbers. We had to um take a little bit of a curve um to get there. One other change is that our
039assessed valuation per pupil continues to increase, which does have an impact on some of our state funding. You know, over the years, we've talked that we um no longer receive bond and interest state aid. We don't receive capital outlay state aid. Those are completely tax levy funded. Um, at this point we're starting to get into a similar uh space with the LOB fund. Um, and so we two years ago we received almost $4 million in lob state aid. Last year that was down to 2.8 million. And for 2526 the estimate on the budget is about 729,000. And so as the state explains it, we know that our assessed valuation per pupil is would be increasing, right? Because our assessed valuation increased depending on the fund five to 6% this year, but our enrollment is decreasing.
040So that assessed valuation per pupil number is increasing for us. for lob purposes, they compare our assessed valuation per pupil compared to other districts in the state. And the higher we get, the less money we receive. And so, um, at the rate we're going, we will probably receive no state aid for LOB. That does not change the amount of budget authority we have. We can we still receive budget authority for 33% of general fund. It's just that under the under the um law that burden is shifting to the tax payers essentially. Um and so those are the times that we're in right now. Um we started to hear a little bit about that from KSD last year that we're kind of getting into this situation and certainly this year. Um that was the discussion. As
041we know we also have a significant health insurance increase and we are already working on um the health insurance situation for next fiscal year and we will be um doing a lot of research with different groups on options for that. Okay. So to look at our actual mill levies that we are looking at, um the total mill levy increase is up just slightly. It's up 6100s from last year. And so um if you go down to the total, the 52.333 is what we're asking to publish. Last year's total was 52.273. If you look at the details, I just wanted to explain a little bit. the general fund 20 mills is set by statute. So unless the law changes, we won't ever modify that number. Um the LOB mill levy you're seeing is up a little
042bit more again and that is because of that reduction in state aid and us making up for it in taxes on adult education. We do have authority to assess up to 0.5 mills um if the program were to expand or we needed that at this point. Um in the future if if expenditures stay the same, we could potentially start to decrease that in the future that 0.2 mills. Um, with the question mark on federal funds for adult ed this year, I didn't think it was pertinent, you know, probably not the best year um to start lowering that. But if if um state and federal funding maintains in that area, we would probably look at starting to lower that next year. In capital outlay, 8 mills is the maximum we can levy by statute. And so
043typically that is what we levy. Um we know we have many facility needs assessments out there, right? And and lots of projects to do and so um we continue to assess 8 mills there. The cost of living fund um is a fund that's a little bit unique to Lawrence and certain districts because not every district is allowed to assess this mill levy. It is has nothing to do with a cost of living raise. It is a an additional mill levy that districts uh certain districts are eligible to assess. You have to if if you're sorry to be able to assess it, your district has to have an average appraised value on the single family residents that is 25% more than the statewide average. So there's up to 30 districts maybe in this category and not
044all of those utilize uh the cost of living mill levy but we have historically and so what that's what this is our balance in that fund has increased a little bit. So we were able to help offset the increase to the cost to the local option budget mill levy by decreasing the cost of living mill levy. Whenever we have the opportunity to flux those and and offset each other we will do that in order to try to manage the total mill levy which is what people really care about. Um our last uh mill levied fund is bond and interest and we are maintaining the 8.3 right about that 8.3 mills in that fund. Any questions about those? I only have a a couple more slides here and then we'll Oh yeah, >> I have a
045question. >> Okay. Um, >> sorry. >> I actually my question actually goes back to slide three. Um, I I was wondering if you could talk a little bit um to make sure I get this question right. >> She's not in the microphone. >> You talking to the mic? >> Oh, sorry. Um, you can you share a little bit more. You mentioned that the budget authority remains the same and the the burden shifts from the from the um you talked about it shifting to the taxpayer but the money is all tax dollars. Do you mean to say that it shifts to the local district? Correct. So that um the state is giving us less now and therefore local districts now have are in a circumstance where it becomes more and more challenging to with the limited
046authority that we do have in terms of reducing the mill levy. Um it's becoming more and more challenging for us to do that based on the new laws. Is that correct? >> Um uh what I'm intending to say I believe so what let me paraphrase if you don't mind. Um and so while LOB we are still we have the budget authority uh the calculation has not changed right LOB is based on essentially 33% of the general fund and so we will have the authority to spend about $30 million. The change is that because of this, they call it an equalization um calculation because we are so high compared to other districts in assessed valuation per pupil, we're losing access to the state funds and they're making us um raise the revenue via the local tax
047levy. >> Okay. If we didn't raise that, it would impact things like ongoing costs such as paying wages. Correct. >> Right. I mean, what would happen if we didn't raise the money via the mill levy? We would bring in we would eventually bring in less money than we have the authority to spend. And so we would just be shorting ourselves, so to speak. the state would still be calculating that we could spend $30 million, but if we only bring in 28 million, then obviously we can only spend 28 million or you know once we got down to a zero cash balance that would have a make a difference too. >> Um the uh state aid that we're that's being lost, what funds that aid to the state, is it also property tax dollars? where where
048is the state getting that money to give aid with? >> So, I don't can't say that I know all the sources of funding. Um, I talked to them today about something else and they said they have four pockets of money. um they wouldn't they wouldn't have any lo uh taxes because that comes directly from the county and so it would be one of their sources of state funding. So that generally speaking, um the 20 mills goes into a fund that is then statewide that is then the first pot of money that's pulled in to fund the school finance formula. And then anything beyond that 20 mills of local property tax that the state captures is funded through um the statewide sales tax or income taxes. >> Okay. So it's so it's state general fund money
049that is appropriated to fund >> the school finance formula that >> the way the funding works it's still our tax dollars have have been putting towards that >> in one form or another. Yeah. It's either income tax or sales tax or the 20 mil >> because a lot of it also is passed through and some of our the money that we get with our has also gone to help other districts and stuff like that. So, I just want also that to be clear um to people um because we're not, you know, again, it's not about raising taxes, but it's about where the money comes from and where it goes and and there's a lot of um moving from one hand to the other with the state that doesn't actually do anything other than change the
050name of where it's coming from and stuff like that. So, um, you know, we have been paying in that same amount and some of that money that we do pay does go to support schools in other areas because of the their inability to have the same level of property tax or what they need in order to fund their schools. And so, I just want that to be clear. That hasn't changed and it's not changing either. So, >> is the So, the 2.8 8 million to 729,000 is the biggest cause of that drop and increase in evaluation. >> Um it would it would be our assessed valuation per pupil. So it would be a combination of the increase of the assessed valuation but we have less students >> to you to for that calculation. Um but
051it's also relative to how other districts are doing which we don't have any control over that. Um but yeah, it's how we where we fall in line with everyone else, so to speak, >> because they basically like they make a list of all the districts and the the assessed valuation per pupil and there's a cut off and you if you're if you're above that cutoff, you don't get equalization aid. So we've fallen off on and off of that um getting equalization aid in different funds like for capital outlay or bond and interest. um over the years at different times depending on what's happening both in the local economy here with our property taxes but also what's happening um in other counties and communities with their property valuations. So when you when you had the period
052of time when you had real high property valuations related to oil production um those count those counties they're you know they moved up they moved up the list um moved us you know down and as the economy changes for example in that way it affects which districts get this um equal get the equalization aid >> but basically then it's called tax dollars one way or the other. That since our eval when our evaluation changes, then we either get the money from local taxes or we get the money from state which is still tax dollars. So, sorry, I have a question that this might be for um Dr. Swift. Um I wanted to ask about the enrollment uh decline. Um and and might uh Cindy and perhaps Shannon might be able to jump in. Um the
053the uh drop in enrollment in Lawrence public schools is also occurring in other districts as well across the the state. Um is that >> yes >> pretty much standard across most districts? Is it more rare for the districts to be growing >> this point? Yes. >> Okay. And so our next step um like I said would be to um upon approval tonight we would publish those notice of hearings. Um they would take place at the very beginning of the September 8th meeting. So I wanted to talk about them just a little bit. There's two hearings now. The first is the um hearing to um talk about exceeding the revenue neutral rate. Um an example of that just so that everyone we make sure that everyone understands um if we assess the same mills that we
054did last year but the assessed valuation for someone's property has increased they would be paying higher taxes and that's the gist of the whole revenue neutral notice. Um, in talking to the county today, you know, we provided the information on some maximum numbers a few weeks ago. People should be seeing those in the mail right away. Um, but that's what those forms are trying to convey to people. I know there's a lot of numbers, so I'm not sure how clear it is to folks. Um but that's the message that would we will be having a hearing on on September 8th and the board would basically be acknowledging that yes um even though we're very close to the same mills we know that we are raising more taxes than we did last year. The second hearing
055is just to approve those budget maximums. Um, and that is our authority that we will submit to KSDE for expenditures in any of our given budget funds. Um, and I always kind of give the example, it is not necessarily what we intend to spend, but it is um, hopefully capturing any increases or um, you know, potentially some worst case scenarios. Um if we if we do need to exceed any of those budget authorities that we set um on September 8th, we would need to do an amendment in the spring, which we can do with KSD. It's just an extra step. And so they ask us to try to budget um for all of the authority that we would need the first time around. So that is all that I had. Any questions? Shaya, >> uh
056if board members would like, I have some additional information that I can share on your question. >> That would be excellent. >> Okay. Um so, uh there's a resource that I can send to Nikki that she can an article that she can share with everybody. Um the US census um between 2010 and 2024, the population under the age of 18 in Kansas has declined by 5.2%. The biggest decline in that population was under the age of five, which means that that declining um school age and uh student trend is likely to continue. Um enrollment trends um you know, we we've heard a lot made about the impact of COVID on enrollment in public schools, but um public school enrollment was increasing through 2019. It declined during the pandemic but has um is only slightly below
0572011 numbers at this point. So it's it's kind of leveled off and is held steady. Private school enrollment remains almost 9% lower than it was in 2011. Um homeschooling numbers also um were were declining pre- pandemic um from their estimate of 6.2% in 2011. um but they are now back right at 2011 numbers. So when you look at the big picture of where students are across our state um public, private, homeschool, um there hasn't since 2011 there hasn't been a big jump up in p in private and homeschool. Uh but there is a decline in the number of school age children overall in the state. And so there are a few districts that are experiencing enrollment growth, but for the most part, most districts are I would say um from what I if I'm recalling
058the numbers correctly, more districts than not are experiencing enrollment declines. >> And it it's also true that about 90% of students attend public schools. Yes, in Kansas n 90% of in fact I think it was uh 92% the last state board of education report that they talked about that 92% of um of school age children in Kansas attend public schools >> and to the further the further point about the birth rate impact we are seeing a decline in both private um homeschool and public schools >> they're not at least they're they're not growing >> they're not growing >> yeah they were declining before the pandemic there was some shifting enrollments during the pandemic and now we're kind of seeing all of those um shifts level out. Yeah. >> Um I will share this resource with
059um uh Miss Nikki so she can share with everyone on the board. >> Yolanda, I wanted to check it check in with you. You have any questions or comments? >> No sir, I don't have any. >> Okay. Anybody else at the table have any further questions or comments? >> Can I get a motion? >> I move the board of education approved the maximum mill levies and budget authorities to be published in the notice of hearing 202526 budget and the notice for exceeding the revenue neutral rate for the 202526 school year. Hearings are set for Monday, September 8th, 2025 at 6 PM and for the hearing to exceed the revenue neutral rate and 605 for the budget hearing. >> I second. >> Costello, >> yes. >> Franklin, >> yes. >> Gordon Ross, >> yes. >> Jones,
060yes. >> Kimble, >> yes. >> Buyers, >> yes. Motion passes 6. >> All right. Thank you. All right. We will move on to public comments. I get someone to read the public comment statement for me, please. The patrons who wish to participate in public comment must wait a minute. Where did I what did I do? Urge. The USD 497 board of education welcomes public comment and thanks you for taking time to talk to us about our policies and procedures. We set aside this time during our regular meeting to hear from the public. Patrons who wish to participate in public comment must email public comment at usd497.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
061you as necessary. This is your time to share your opinion. However, public comment is not the appropriate form for making complaints about specific staff or students. If you comment, if your comment related to complaints concerns students or staff, such complaints must be addressed to district staff as provided under board policy KN and GAE. Uh general complaints and personal complaints. The board president or presiding officer of 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. She'll be gerain to the business of the board. Furthermore, comments must
062comply with standards laid out in board policies GAE and 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 use 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 and 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 comments on topics not included on the meeting agenda at the beginning of the or end of each meeting. Comments
063related to agenda items are welcomed after the board has had the opportunity to discuss the topic. Limit your comments to three minutes. Persons who are unable to comply with this with the above procedures may email their comments viewpoints to the board at schoolboard usd497.org. >> Thank you. Couple people online tonight. We'll start with Michael. Michael, are you there? >> How many times am I going to unmute you? Can you hear me? >> Yes. Okay, I unmute and you guys mute me again. What's that all about? Just going to start the time. Okay, hell with it. It doesn't matter. Got a lag from the uh host now. Where's the host at? I can't see the board anymore. We just shut down the video there. How come it's lagging? >> I don't know. >> Can you guys
064not run your web correctly? >> That's your warning, Michael. Oh, Gordon, is that you giving me a warning? So, you want to get mixed up in this, too? Your tyrannical isn't going to work, buddy. >> There we go. Thanks for coming, Michael. All right. >> So, you're going to shut me off, huh? >> So, next we're going to hear from Carrie. Yesterday there was a post on X about this school district that was pretty alarming. It even got the attention of Harit Dylan who is the assistant attorney general to Pam Bondi. She used one word when she retweeted the post and that word is problematic. This ex post that has been seen by over half a million people was about your LGBTQ advisory guide. The post stated, quote, "Canvas school district at USD497 advises that
065kids can use the locker room and be on sports teams that correspond with their gender identity instead of their sex. This is a district violation of Kansas law and Trump's EOS." End quote. I want to know why you guys aren't following the law when it comes to men and women's spaces and activities. I would also like to know if you still are disciplining up to termination your faculty, staff, and even substitutes for not using preferred pronouns as students. A reoccurring theme with this district is you don't follow the law. Maybe the law should stop being problematic. Then you wouldn't have so many issues. So, moving along. Lucky by Alice Seabolde is a disturbing book that is in your school district for adolescence to read. Is it is available for those precious children you are so-called
066protecting from hearing foul and obscene language at these board meetings. To everyone listening, know that what I am about to read is what this board of education and superintendent believe is is appropriate for the students of this district to be exposed to. But they have deemed adults saying a cuss word during public comment as a crime. He laid down on top of me and started humping. He worked away on me, reaching down to work with his penis. I stared right into his eyes. I was too afraid not to. He called me He told me I was dry. "I'm sorry," I said. "I'm a virgin." He began to knead his fist against the opening of my vagina, inserted his fingers into it three or four at a time. Something tore. I began to bleed there. It
067was wet now. It made him excited. He was intrigued as he worked his whole fist into my vagina and pumped it. I went into my brain. He grabbed my breasts. He twisted the nipples with his fingers, laughed at them with his tongue. Give me a he said. I want a He held his dick in his hand. Put it in your mouth. I kneel before him. He grabbed my head. Put it in your mouth and suck, he said. I took it in my hand. He shoved my head forward and I put it in. It touched my tongue that tastes like dirty rubber or burnt hair. I sucked in hard. Not like that, he said and brought my head away. Don't you know how to suck a dick? No, I told you. I said I'd never done
068this before. he said, his penis still limp. He held it with two fingers and peed on me. The book lucky says six times. It says seven times for coming. >> It says three times. Yet you provide All right, we'll go with Justin. >> Can you hear me? >> Yep. >> All right, so it sounds like your guys' COVID policies are the reason your enrollment numbers are down and declining. I tried telling you morons this would happen during CO, but you and this entire community just dismissed me as a crazy person. Ain't that right, Aggy? a raggedy and costello. And speaking of morons, Gordon, you misgendered someone. Man, that's a big one. Does that make you a trans phobe? I think that you, as a privileged white male who doesn't understand gender because of your cisgender,
069white, heteronormative male lived experience that you should resign right here tonight for misgendering that person. And I think your fellow progressive feminist board members should also demand you resign as well. According to your school district's uh own policy, staff can be uh terminated for misgendering. By the way, is is that policy legal? It doesn't seem like it. So, I want to talk to you guys about a petition I started uh that I want you guys to consider signing because the petition could help educate people on their First Amendment rights when speaking here at your meetings because you guys have repeatedly removed me and two others as we saw here just tonight. Uh strictly due to the words we speak during your general public comment. The name of my petition is the fully uncensored communications at
070meetings petition and the acronym is fu cam m and is pronounced fuckom. >> That's your warning, Justin. >> Well, Gordon, that's exactly what I want to talk about here this evening. So, every time I have said the name of my petition while speaking here during the meetings, I get warned and removed as we just saw right there. So, I went ahead and renamed my petition and the new name for my petition is please hear us communicating our messages and it has the number two right after it indicating this is the second edition or a renaming of the petition. So, that new acronym is P H U M2 and that is pronounced fuckom 2. >> All right. Thank you. >> Well, hold on. That >> Dr. Swift, do you have any announcements? >> I believe uh
071we've attended to all of our topics and thank everyone for being here. >> Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> So move to >> adjourn. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> I [Laughter] Okay, motion passes. Have a good night, everybody.