Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education Meeting | July 28, 2025

001Can I get approval of the agenda, please? >> So moved. I don't have it up. Let me get it up. >> Second. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> Could Blackwood? >> Yes. >> Hello. >> Franklin, >> yes. >> Gordon Ross, >> yes. Jones. >> Yes. >> Kimell, >> yes. >> Motion passes 6-0. >> Okay. Going to turn the time over to Dr. Swift for some special recognition. >> Thank you, uh, President and uh, members of the board, all from the community who are joining us in person and remote. Uh what a great day in Lawrence public schools as we have the opportunity tonight to recognize two outstanding citizen um awards. And we'll start right away with the outstanding service to public education award. And we have Denise Johnson coming on down uh with some other folks

002to help us with that award. You know, every Thanksgiving uh when many of us are uh thinking about uh Thanksgiving dinner, uh there is one group who shows up and makes a contribution that serves our children, our schools, and our community. um interim uh principal of Prairie Park, Miss Denise Johnson, is going to help us in uh sharing our gratitude and our award uh for these folks this evening. >> Good evening. Thank you, Dr. Swift. What a nice introduction. Um I I am so incredibly grateful to share all of this with all of you. I know I've probably seen many of you um at this Thanksgiving Day run. We host it at Woodlon Elementary each year. And standing in front of you are the members and the board of Run Lawrence. So Run Lawrence is

003a nonprofit organization that really helps to sponsor um not only children and fitness but the community of Lawrence. And I am just thrilled to be here in front of you. I have a few facts but I want to introduce um everyone to you. So, um, standing right here is Molly Wood. And this is Becky Mccclure and D. Boick and Jean Wii. And all four of these individuals, as well as a wealth of other volunteers, um, help with the Thanksgiving Day run. Um, last year we had over,200 runners. This is the we finished the 20th year, so we will be starting year 21. And as I was chatting with Molly and Becky when we first started this, we had >> a hundred >> hundred >> we had a hundred runners. So, um, it warms my heart

004because when you look at the res registrations, you see like 25 buyers, right? And and they're all family and everybody comes in and they're from Colorado and California and all over. So, it truly is a family event, which is wonderful to see. And I just wanted to share so the proceeds um that come from this event. And what you're seeing is um is just the slides over the last few years of just some of the runners. It's very fun that uh to see the costumes um that come out. Um last year at one of the little spots, again, this is all in North Florence. Um we have a um a local farmer and he came out with his turkeys and I got to stand at that location and so we had shots with the turkeys

005right there on Thanksgiving and they were live, right? Not not on somebody's plate, right? So very fun. Um so just last year alone um we had over 1300 K5 students that participated in elementary marathon clubs and each one of these students ran at least one marathon 26.2 two miles and some ran two, three, and we had a few students that ran five marathons over the course of a school year. Those happen either before school or after school and they are ran by volunteers um in um our in our different schools. each one. If you would add all of that up and do the math, that's over 45,000 miles just last year alone that our little elementary kids took on. So, it's just a wonderful way to embrace um fitness and health. And I I'm going

006to brag on D a little bit. So last year we had uh we went to Sunset Hill and we brought all of our kids together at sunset at the end of the year and and de shared out just how important it is for a lifetime of health and shared that with our little ones. This group alone over the last 20 years has donated over $100,000 to our elementary schools. Typically each year each school receives about $500 that pays for their t-shirts and little fun trinkets and so forth along the way. So I would just I'm I'm honored to be in front of these four individuals that not only help our schools but help our community. I've got flowers. Sorry, you're gonna have to share, Jean. But that one came out of the bag. Okay. All

007right. Right. Thank you. >> Thank you very much. >> Okay, we're on a roll this evening. We have another inspiring presentation. Um, this award winner needs no introduction. Uh she is a community icon. Her name Doris Ricks is synonymous with service to others with care for students and community. Uh she does so much in the community. We can't probably say it all. Uh but we tried to list it in your um in the paragraph in your board docs. Uh, Miss Kristen Ryan is joining us this evening uh to help us celebrate Doris Rick's outstanding service to public education award. [Applause] >> All right. I have the honor of bragging on Doris Ricks. Volunteer, committed to excellence, high impact, wisdom, professional, advocate for public education, servant heart, honest, and always takes my call. I'm so excited,

008Doris, for you to receive the dedicated community member award for Lawrence Public Schools. This honor um recognizes your volunteer participation to name, but I might be missing some, your work on the equity advisory council, the superintendent's blue ribbon advisory committee, many administrator interviews, and numerous other district committees. So, thank you. your insight, your commitment to collaboration. You constantly give all of us the best direction and feedback and so thank you for guiding us on the right path. Kevin Kelly, CEO of Peasley Tech, um where Doris is a faculty, she's teaching leadership for our area manufacturers, shared with me that Doris is a fan favorite for that program. So that's a quote. Yes. Um and beyond appreciates the work that you do out at Peasley Tech. So, thank you. Um I just want to say your

009commitment and your advoc advocacy for public education and especially USD497. She's already purchased her school supplies for her school of choice to support our schools, which is pretty impressive. Um and always being there and stepping up when we need you. So, thank you and congratulations on your award. >> You're welcome. You want to say gosh, when they called me on this, I was like, what? Really? But it's so good to be here today, all this evening. I appreciate all of USD497 and all the familiar faces on the board of education and the media. I appreciate everyone here um and so grateful for the award because I was very very surprised by it. Um so again, thank you um for all you do uh for the school district um because you know what? We need you

010just like you need us. That's right. Thank you. Thank you. >> So, those are very deserving award winners back there. Andrew will probably be grabbing a photo if you guys don't mind um of our outstanding service to public education award 2025 and our outstanding citizen award 2025. Thank you. Thank you very much. Um, moving on, we have um an executive session that we need to do. Can I get a motion for that, please? >> I move the board of education recess to executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters pursuant to the nonelected personnel exception on the coma with Dr. Janice Caris Swift, superintendent, Christian Ryan, assistant superintendent, human resources and employee relations, and Larry Inger Brick, deputy superintendent, invited to to be present and with the board to return to open session in

011this room at uh see what time >> 27 >> 6:27 uh with action to follow. Second >> could Blackwood. >> Yes. >> Costello. >> Franklin. >> Yes. >> Gordon Ross. >> Yes. >> Jones. >> Yes. >> Kimble. >> Yes. >> Buyers. >> Yes. >> Motion passes. 6. Okay. So, [Music] We have returned from our executive session back to open session and the action to follow from that executive session will take place on the consent agenda on item 2.10. So now we'll have the report from the superintendent of schools. >> Thank you uh Mr. President, members of the board, and all those who are joining us both in person and remote, it we are here at the end of July, and we all know what that means. We're right down to these final three weeks uh

012before the start of school, really just two and a half weeks. Um so, uh we're watching the countdown clock. It reads just 15 days. Uh so, that tells you everything you need to know. We are running fast to be well prepared for the start of this upcoming 202526 school year. I just want to give a shout out and a thank you. Uh every morning when I come in, every night when I leave, folks are still working literally around the clock to meet the deadlines that are required so that we have our work ready, our schools and classrooms ready for students. Um we are hiring every day key positions across the district and most importantly teachers as we gain on the task to ensure a quality educator in front of every child in just 15 days.

013Uh, one highlight is Miss Ryan uh met on Friday to exch Thursday or Friday, the end of the week last week to exchange letters with our classified negotiations team. We are now uh referring uh to these individuals as ESP, educational education support professionals. And uh I am accustomed to that terminology from my past life and I hope everyone will join us in using that new uh language. Uh next uh just a reminder uh that uh uh right on our website you can go to explore hiring. We are welcoming adding talent and commitment and a love for children. If you've got those things, uh, we want to talk to you about how you can help us serve children. Now, it is that time of the year, August 1st through 13th. Miss Ryan and her team are

014on it. Uh, and that is the time for benefits selection process. So, everybody uh around just it's time to remember that you can go online and update your benefits if you need help. Uh the team will have several labs open so that folks don't even have to worry about their own laptop. They can just stop in here and get the update done. Uh we are using parent square for our notifications engine on that work. I was really excited and found it rewarding last week to welcome uh Lisa Walker who is an expert in Title 9 uh in the state of Kansas and also happens to be the assistant superintendent of federal programs including Title 9 at KCKPS. Uh she joined us last week and delivered uh a really a beautiful Title 9 training to our

015administrators. Now members, we will hold a makeup session uh somewhere along in September for all the folks who weren't able to make this training. I'll make sure uh you know those dates in case you're interested in joining. In addition uh to the training we received it updated systems, protocols and forms to conduct initial screenings and submitting incident reports. This session was extremely high quality. We received immediate positive feedback from principles who found the information and resources highly beneficial to their daily work in the field. We will be continuing throughout the year, members, as you already know, to refine and improve our district systems and alignment in across several key areas and specifically in Title 9. We do all of this work holding as our top priority student and staff safety. Title nine processes assist us

016and support us in ensuring safety for everyone in our system. We have lots of dates coming. I'll just keep this slide in front of you because it's hard to remember them all, but orientations coming uh through the end of July and the beginning of August. Um, and then we look forward to uh administrative PD. All of our school and district leaders will be in this room uh tomorrow morning starting at 8:00 a.m. and we'll be welcoming them. It's really three weeks and three waves. Uh really the c crescendo of the opening of 202526 tomorrow with our school and district leaders and then on August 7th welcoming our teachers. Uh they will report to every school building in the district and open in a powerful session there. we will broadcast uh that um that brief greeting

017to our entire organization but really preserve their time in the schools which is what they've asked us for. Um and then the third wave the most exciting will welcome students on Wednesday August 13th. Now remember, a reminder for parents of kinder, sixth, and ninth graders, a day ahead, a preview of coming attractions. They can join us on the 12th for that great uh welcome back to school and orientation day uh to help them get accustomed to their new environment. School transitions can be challenging and I appreciate that the board and our district have built in this extra day to ensure that our students new to the campus get the red carpet rolled out uh a day ahead of everyone else. It was such a delight last week uh for Andrew uh Bevon and I to

018get to meet Alex Kerr. If you've not heard about Alex, he is a Free State High School senior and he is on the campaign trail running for Lawrence City Commission. It was truly inspiring to hear his story. I would recommend the podcast. Andrew will be out later this week and I would recommend that you jump in uh whether you're going on a short drive or on the elliptical whenever uh just to hear Alex story. He is inspiring. his commitment to public service. He started in public service at the age of 11 and it has been his priority along with choir and theater and other school activities uh throughout these years. Uh his thoughtful insights into the needs that he's heard about the Lawrence community. He's very thoughtful leader and his care for our local community.

019Uh Alex is going places and uh my win for the afternoon was that he agreed that if he doesn't make the primary uh he will join uh the student advisory group with me. So I am delighted to be the runner up and of course we wish him all the best coming up on August 5th. Cans for the community. You may have seen this. Our volunteerrun organization that turns recycled aluminum cans into real impact. Their $1,000 donation to the Lawrence Schools Foundation in support of our school supply drive was matched by generous donor Bo Killow, bringing the total gift to $2,000. Thank you, cans, for the community. We've uh talked about it every week of the summer, but I thought it was important to give a shout out to Julie Henry and that incredible team over

020at Food and Nutrition Services. This is uh by the numbers the endeavor that they have undertaken this summer. According to their data, at nine different sites across Lawrence, our 2025 summer meal service has packed, delivered, and served more than 51,000 breakfast, uh,755 snacks, and 54,500 lunches. In case you've lost track, that's more than 105,000 meals served in support of our students and families this summer. I just want to thank members of the board who've been over there helping with the effort Tuesday over Tuesday. Thank everyone on our food and nutrition team and all of our volunteers who make this a gamecher for students and families. facilities and operations uh often their work is unnoticed. Uh so we hold it up and we give a big shout out to Dr. Ingerbrick and Paulish is back there

021tonight and all of our facilities and operations team. They are on a fullcourt press to make sure those buildings and classrooms are sparkling, the red carpet is rolled out, our welcome mat is out, and we're ready to open. Uh folks don't realize the massive amount of work that goes in to having our schools ready. I won't read you the list. It goes on and on. Thank you, Dr. Ingleberg. We uh have dates upcoming. I think I've uh touched on those already. And uh among those highlights, really one of the biggest highlights for me uh is the back to school Lauren Schools Foundation Kids Expo. That's coming up a week from this Saturday. Don't miss it. Saturday, August 9th, 2025. uh the full effort of a a loving and welcoming and embracing Lawrence community chneled through

022the Lawrence Schools Foundation just makes the magic in this event. It's everything from haircuts to new shoes to backpacks to all manner of community organizations this summer. Uh members, I think you'll recall our uh city, our police department, all of our support uh effort uh through the city and the county will also be represented. So all of the school affairs are coming together into one event. I can't imagine uh this property on that morning. I thought last year was pretty impressive and we didn't have the second component of it then. So, I thank you for the opportunity to share this report this evening. Our countdown clock, Andrew captured this today. It is counting down live on our website at our back to school countdown location. So, if parents want to glance over there or help

023their children uh get even more excited about back to school, we're down to 15 days. And every day we gain more excitement and enthusiasm around what matters most, and that is every single one of our 10,000 children who will show up that day and who are counting on us. So, uh, it is my great opportunity and honor to share this report and to serve the Lawrence public schools. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Swift. Moving on to the president of the board of education. Um, I have just a couple things. Um, I was able to attend uh a facilities committee meeting. Shannon's going to report on that meeting. Uh and then on Thursday the 24th, I had the the privilege to work with facilities and operations and EverG to do some uh media related to

024EverG's business energy savings program. That was a lot of fun. And then lastly, I just wanted to say that I was grateful to see the Department of Education reverse its decision and release um congressionally appropriated federal grant money to the states. We are certainly grateful for the impact these funds will have on our students and staff. And we are also equally grateful for the impact they can have across the country and help schools provide the services and support that every student and staff member needs. And so that's what I have. So we'll continue on to committee reports. Um who had a committee? I know Shannon did. Did anybody else have committees? Okay. All right, Shannon. >> Okay, great. Uh just a quick update, policy committee is not meeting in August. We will um have our

025not Yeah, not meeting in August. We will have our next meeting uh September 23rd. Um the um facilities committee met uh last week. We uh had an update on the summer projects which Dr. Swift uh touched on. And there's quite a bit going on to get everything ready to go. Um, including concrete work at Sunflower Elementary that may be extending somewhat into the school year. Solar panels are going on at Sunflower Elementary, which is very exciting. We will soon have our uh second solar installation done there. Um, I know that everybody has has heard a little bit about this the street construction in Lawrence. The water main replacement project along 19th Street is likely to have some impacts on our u back to school traffic. So, just wanted to um give a heads up about

026that. Um in addition, we learned that um in June, our facilities hosted 895 events um in the middle of summer. That's our our buildings are very very busy all year round. And in fact, uh the year-to-ate numbers uh for fiscal year 25, uh we we held 14,716 events in our school facilities. we uh are um a district that is open to and welcomes our community into our buildings and and to a great extent. And so I was uh very interested to see that data. Our software that we have been using in facilities and operations has allowed us to better schedule uh track and bill for all of those events as well as uh tracking uh maintenance work orders um and allowing us to see improving metrics for on-time completion of all of our maintenance work

027orders. Um uh the board recently approved our renewal for our property and casualty insurance. ended up coming in um a just a little bit more than anticipated. So, $1,415,000 uh for that um premium for this upcoming year. I just wanted to note or remind board members that uh six or seven years ago that number was only $300,000 a year. Uh that is one of our expenses that has increased um substantially and much more rapidly than inflation over the years. Um, we may be having a a neighborhood revitalization act request come to the board. I'm trying to find out some more information about where it is in the process, but Nell 2, which is a project that uh Tony Kushnik is doing in East Lawrence um may come to us for consideration of that neighborhood revitalization

028act request. There are a number of items on consent this evening uh from facilities and operations as well. And then the last thing and I wanted to make sure it was okay for me to share this but I'll share this anyway because I think it's really really cool. So we have some property in the district that we need to clear brush from. Um and our facilities and operations has considered a number of uh ways to do this. It's the lot that's right next to Langston Hughes. Um so if you see a herd of goats on that property this fall um they are supposed to be there. They will be very well cared for. We are working with a um a farmer who provides uh this service to land owners uh when they need to have

029very thick brush cleared from their property. And um it is the the most efficient and u way for us to address this situation. And I appreciate our staff for um thinking creatively about how we could do this in a responsible way um because it's really important for uh safety on that property. um and being good neighbors in our community. So, uh that's the report from the facilities committee. >> Um we'll do >> I'm I'm getting there. >> Okay. >> We'll just start down at that end. >> Board commentary. Okay. I uh I don't have a lot. I just want to remind board members about a couple of upcoming things. Um, state board of education will be meeting August 12th and 13th at the August 12th date. That is when they are going to finalize their

030work to set the cut scores for the Kansas assessments that were uh administered in uh the spring of this year and going forward for this testing cycle. Uh so that's going to be a really important vote by the state board and I hope that you will uh keep an eye on uh the work that they're doing there. The education funding task force meets again on Wednesday, August 13th and Thursday, August 14th. No agenda has been issued for that committee, but according to the chair at last month's meeting, um I expect that that that day and a half will be fully focused on special education funding in Kansas. Um there's a couple of brief updates on some of the things I mentioned two weeks ago about federal issues. Um as GR and Dr. Swift have uh

031noted and announced the community the the funds the federal funds that had been impounded by um office of management and budget and US department of education were released late on Friday. Um, I do want to uh caution everyone that we still need to be watching that situation very carefully because um they they are releasing and distributing the funds, but there is still some talk about some sort of recision bill and um a procedure that they're calling pocket recisions um that the Office of Management and Budget is wanting to use. Um, and there are other K12 funds that were not impacted by the impoundment that could then be subject to these other processes. So, that's one thing to watch. The other thing to watch is that uh the US Senate Committee on Appropriations is going to

032begin considering federal department budgets for fiscal year 2026. The president's budget uh slashes 12 billion from K12 public education funding. So, that is the budget that they're going to start working on. The first hearing of that committee is this Thursday morning at 8:30 a.m. Central time, uh, Thursday, July 31st. And, uh, Kansas's own Senator Jerry Moran serves on that committee. So, um, there is an opportunity for Canons's voices to be heard in that process. And I would encourage you to take advantage of that. Um and then uh the immigration status interpretive rule that I mentioned um a couple weeks ago. That's the the interpretation that US Department of Education is saying they are going to take on participation in programs like Head Start PEL grants um some dual enrollment funding and adult education. Um there

033was a lawsuit filed right after that rule was announced in Rhode Island about 20 states participating in it. Um they have entered a uh an agreement to pause enforcement of that rule but only in the 20 states that sued. So Kansas was not one of the states that was a party to that litigation. Um but that continues to be a concern especially for a district like ours that uh we run our adult education program for our community. So, I just wanted to make you all aware of that development. Thank you, >> Kelly Rolanda. Carol. >> Okay. Uh, yes. I would just like to thank and congratulate Denise Johnson and the folks from Ren Lawrence and Doris Ricks for their considerable contributions to Lawrence schools. Uh, let's see. On July 17th, I attended the Darkness to

034Light Stewards of Children Sexual Abuse Prevention Training sponsored by the Kansas Children Service League and I also was able to earn 2 uh five cus towards my social work lensure. So, if anybody's looking for that, they can go there as well. But the training was excellent. It teaches one to how to be a better informed bystander or how to prevent and recognize and recognize child sexual abuse. Um, let's see. And I also was able participated in the milk kit distribution along with schoolboard candidate Molly Star who's here in attendance. And I'd like to thank her for her her time and efforts. And for those who are interested, the school district has uh created the school nutrition meal support fund and that can be found on our website. This is uh designated for students and families

035experiencing financial hardship. Money donated to the meal support fund may be used only for negative account balances. The school nutrition meal support fund committee will designate how to distribute the donations, noting that MSF transfer in the account remarks. Donors contributing more than $250 or upon request will receive a charitable contribution acknowledgement for their generous donation. And I'd like to thank GR my colleagues um board colleagues GR Ross and Shelley Kimble for bringing up the release of the federal funds and also talking about immigration and and it also ties into um what's been on my mind a lot lately, you know, focusing on immigration and what's happening to our neighbors just to the north and northeast um northeast here in Fort Levvenworth. For those who are not um well-versed in Kansas history, because I I don't

036know if this part is taught in Kansas history, but in 1832, that land where the Fort Levvenworth is, that was actually on our treaty land, the Kikapoo tribe in Kansas, that big swath of land was that was our treaty land. And so Fort Levvenworth was formerly, it was first recognized as Kikapoo City. And so to me, you know, it's it's um it just confounds me that people are being deported on, you know, stolen land. And in my mind, nobody is illegal on stolen land, period. And to that end, um yeah, I just um my thoughts and you know, a lot of my thoughts are on for on the residents and everybody in our community that may be impacted by immigration. And um also if you know there's some some time here before school starts if

037anybody's interested. You can actually see the cannon that was at Fort Levvenworth that was positioned towards the west. It was pointed at Missouri because that town fought against slavery and that cannon can be seen at the Kansas Historical uh Museum. And lastly, I would like to um remind folks if you haven't already, turn in your reading list, the reading program for the Lawrence Public Library ends on August 16th. Thank you, >> Bob. You okay? >> All right. So, we're going to move on to the consent agenda. So, uh couple things before we move forward with the consent agenda. So, uh I am going to pull item 2.16, the personnel report. I have a nonfamili nonfamiliar relationship with a person listed on the personnel report. So, I need to pull that so it can be voted

038on separately because I'm going to declare a a conflict of interest with that report. >> And I'm going to pull 2.14. >> Okay. >> Do you want me to make the motion? >> 2.14 is also going to be pulled the um the schedule of fees. So, that's two items. Does anybody else have anything that they need to pull? Okay. All right. So, I'll go ahead and make the motion then. I move the board of education adopt the items listed on the consent agenda with the exception of items 2.14 and 2.16 which will be discussed and voted on separately in new business. >> I second. >> Costello. >> Franklin. >> Yes. >> Gordon Ross. >> Yes. >> Jones. >> Yes. >> Kimble. Yes. >> Buyers. >> Yes. >> Could Blackwood? >> Yes. >> Motion passes 6.

039>> Sorry, my mic didn't go. I vote yes. >> And Costello. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 70. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. All right, we'll move on to first item of new business, item 4.1. >> Very good. 4.1. Uh, we have some great news. Miss Kristen Ryan and our partners from LEA are coming. Members, I just want to share my deep gratitude uh for the work uh of this team, everyone who was at the table and everyone who supported that effort at the table. I want to uh thank you for the diligence. Uh these are hard days and our process uh although we are all committed, deeply committed, our processes are not easy because these are hard times. And I just want to appreciate uh to me the fact that we can innovate in difficult

040times means we will stay the course to continue to innovate to see better days ahead. And I just want you to continue to know that you have the commitment uh of this superintendent and my entire team to continue that work so that we can get to a better place uh in the future. That is among our highest priorities and of course the board uh feels that way as well. I want to thank the board members who served on the team lots of hours uh at night when you could be with your family or doing something else. And so coming forward, you all are going to share all of the detailed information. Um, and we just want to thank everyone involved and wish you a wonderful school year. Uh, if we can do this, we will

041do lots of other great things together as well. Thank you, Miss Ryan. >> Yeah. So, thank you, Dr. Swift. And I have with me tonight um Josh Bradlin and Sarah Rosilian co-chairs. And so this is the team again, thank you board members and our entire team that is um spending a lot of time throughout the school year. Um we really appreciate their flexibility and their willingness to serve and anytime we want or need to schedule something, they're there. So thank you to our entire team. So tonight, our goal is we're going to just share high level um what's proposed um for the vote tonight to approve the agreement for certified staff. Um for me, I just want to say um what Dr. Swift was saying about innovation. Um one of the main articles that we

042spent a lot of time on this year was increasing plan time and just the why behind that. and we've been up here at least the last four years talking about increasing plan time and from our EPIC data that was a retention factor um for our staff and so I we made some big strides this year. It's it's not perfect um but we we made a a big impact K12 so it's not just the middle school in terms of having more plan time so that's pretty exciting. I think high level too what I want to share is um we were able to give a 3.162% increase and that gave every certified staff member $800 on the base. So an $800 raise and also honoring both vertical and horizontal movement. So for their years of service in

043district and then also um all of the good that they're doing for continuing their craft and their profession. With that, Josh and Sarah, you wanna >> And Miss Ryan, before they come, I'm remiss I should say their names aloud. Member Buyers Franklin and President Gordon Ross um were at the table and I just want to thank them for their work. >> For sure. Thank you. >> Hello. Uh Josh Bradlin. Uh I teach uh science at LMCMS. Uh and also a co-chair on negotiations. So, uh, I'm going to hit some of the main points in terms of salary, um, and some of the other things that we hit. Sarah will kind of focus a lot on the plan time aspect. Um, so like what Kristen was saying, um, we were able to add, uh, a little

044over 1.6 million to, uh, our our compensation. Um, $800 of that went to each cell on our salary matrix. Um, we also include in that uh the a little over $1,200 increase in our French benefit for medical coverage. Um, we had a we continued a $75 a month uh retirement account in a 403b. Um, we also had some additional changes in some of our stipens under additional assignments um including an increase of $4,500 for school sites. um and uh some uh increases just based off of the market with fellow districts in terms of some of our coaching positions and things like that. Um we also were able to uh agree to a a better way of how certain uh staff members can move horizontally um on our matrix um including continuing education credits. So nurses

045for instance didn't really have a great way to move horizontally and so we were able to come to agreement with that. Um that's kind of the high level stuff in terms of salary. Sarah, do you want to >> um Sarah Sillian? I'm over at Prairie Park. Um and so plan time actually is at least a decade in the making because we have records of committees and proposals and and things and it's been a challenge for so this is a a really exciting step towards what could be so um let's see um so to kind of align it making the plan time changes also help kind of align our calendar so we are because the district goal it was expressed the table is that we are looking at ourselves as early childhood through secondary um and

046so how can we best do that and then meet the needs of our families and things like that. So um with plan time um we've increased it at the elementary and the high school level. The middle school already was operating with um two plan times, one that was more professional team plan because of the middle school model and then so um accomplishing that elementary with Dr. Swift's edition of some of our new specialists and then at the high school with them changing to five of seven they're teaching instead of six of seven that will help um create that time for plan time. Um let's see and all the details are in agenda item 4.1 and it lists out very specifically more of what we're doing. Um and then oops sorry this side. Um, so there

047will be a little bit of a change with work here. Um, the duty day and I know I'm forgetting something. I'm sorry. >> Oh yes. And so because there will be unforeseen things that we uh that may possibly come up with plan time or any of those changes that we have made, we have added in a reopener clause um so that we can go back in and address those needs um in a very timely manner as opposed to having to to wait. So, >> and Josh is going to share the priority as we move into this next school year, our goals and our our number one priority. But I also just wanted to thank the team and the board for the continued commitment of paying the full single health insurance. So, that is there was

048a um a significant increase um regarding that and we still made that happen um which is almost a $10,000 benefit. So, thank you. >> Yeah. So um as far as moving into next year um with with how this year kind of unfolded um we had kind of two big uh priorities. One was in increasing plan time, one was increasing salary. Um when we kind of got the go-ahad to really pursue um doing double plans at each level, not going to not going to lie, that kind of consumed a lot of our time. Yes. um making sure that the language worked out and trying to think about everything that kind of might come up. Um and so one of the things that we're still go I've mentioned up here before is that we're still working on

049salary. Um and that will kind of be our main focus for next year. Um while we were able to do the $800, it's still, as I've again have shown you, um we're behind some of our fellow districts around us. And so, um, we're really going to aim to focus and put that onto the table early and hopefully, much like we did a few years ago, really plan throughout the year and not kind of wait until we get kind of our number from the state. Um, and so that will kind of be our major focus. Plus, kind of like with what Sarah said, looking at, you know, what comes up with some of the changes that we made, we'll be able to act kind of quickly. Um, but, uh, definitely trying to get ourselves back up

050to a competitive spot. You know, three years ago when we kind of made that change or two years ago, um, we were more competitive and and as these last two years have kind of gone along, we have fallen back a little bit. And so really kind of focusing on that. So we did some very kind of creative things in the salary subcommittee kind of looking at how we can do things to increase the base um and really kind of see how we can uh where we can place things. Um but the truth is as we kind of look at it while yes our base amount is low um if you look at another cell it's it's low there if not even further behind. Um but again with trying to get through these two main goals

051of increasing plan time looking at salary we feel really good that we were able to accomplish that one this year. Now it's just moving on to the next one. up. >> Anything else? Okay. >> All right. I think that's it. Thank you very much. >> I'll stay. >> Okay. >> Questions, comments, Kelly? >> Um, so I just want to observe a couple of things. one, I think the LEA um really held their ground with the second plan in the middle school level a year ago and that's what set us up for the um our ability to really prioritize the second plan at the elementary and high school level. So that that interpace bargaining having been at the table during that year really the focus on the integrity of the contract shows us what can happen

052in subsequent years when we are very strategic about priorities and in this case you've named um the base salary and I just want to say for um my board colleagues I know are well aware of this but just wanting to name that some of our um most competitive wages to the where are they at? East. Um are closer to $50,000 to start. So if you are a teacher coming off the hill here in Lawrence and you can make a decision to come to USC 497 or you can make a decision to go to tha and I would like the board to focus on getting us to a place where we retain the um we retain the teachers we're educating here in town uh both at um KU and Haskell. Uh, and then I I um

053wanted to note that Josh used the phrase based on the market to um talk about how we pay our coaches competitively. That is probably a phrase we should be using when we are talking about our teachers salaries as well. Um, if we did a market analysis, we would, as you've pointed out, find that we are behind and I want to be able to support the HR department in your efforts to recruit and retain educators. So, when we look at the strategic plan that we'll be doing in the next upcoming year, I do think it's reasonable to say that $50,000 or something that the committee um determines to be a reasonable goal might be something to look at. And just to just to say to the community that I understand that to be something around $6

054million. Is that correct? >> So, um we all will remember that the very rough year we had getting to $6 million. So, the word innovate is incredibly important um because we don't want to see class sizes balloon or people lose the um the win that they get with the plan time by trying to offset wages. So, I hope that the subtext of the strategic planning as it relates to recruitment and retention really focuses on um what you all looked at in the um matrix um commit the subcommittee, but also just looking at possibility for a multi-year um commitment to the union. So, that might be something like a two-year contract, for example. So, thank you. If somebody else wants to go next, that's okay. Okay. Um, thank you. I am really, really pleased to be

055able to support this ratification tonight. Um, you know, as you mentioned that there are things that we have been working on as long-term goals, really long-term goals for some of them, like the plan time. Um, and I know that salary is one of those, um, long-term goals that I personally share, um, as a board member. Um, you know, we, um, we've made some progress. I'm really encouraged by a lot of the nonwage things that you all have done in the contract. I think it's very student and family centered. For example, the changes to plan time allowing us to have better alignment of our calendars. Um, I think that's a a real win for our families. So, I appreciate that work. I know that's not easy to do, especially when you're used to doing it a

056particular way and now we're going to change it. Um, but I think it's I think that's great. Um, that's that's good for our families and students. I think it's good for for our staff as well. Um, but and I'm and I'm really pleased that we were able to put money on the base there. There have been years that I have been a board member that we could not put we put zero on the base because we simply could not figure out how to get it done and um so in in during some really trying financial times u with the state. So this is uh truly a step in the right direction. Um but I agree with my broad colleague we have significant work still to do in that regard just looking at what market data

057is available out there. You're absolutely right. We have we have to make progress. Um we I want us to eventually be a a competitive and leading district in keeping our top tier educators and attracting new educators to our community. Um so we have to continue to push on this work um in a sustainable way. And I um and I think that is is a statement of our values and what we value in terms of what we want for our students and what we want for our staff. So, um, thank you all. I really appreciate the interest bargaining process. I think that the contracts that we have been able to approve since we moved to that process have been better for our staff. At least that's how it appears from where I sit. Um, and I

058think that that that it's a more constructive and um, thoughtful and goal oriented process that leads us to a better place. Um I know it's really time intensive. So for the for those of you who serve on that committee um staff administration and for my board colleagues who have taken on that task um much gratitude. So thank you >> Yolanda. >> Anybody else have anything? >> Yeah. Um my I have two points and you know me I always have one or two extra to say. Um, one I I have had the pleasure of doing both both types of negotiations because I back in my first tenure on the board, we just did I don't know what you call it. >> Traditional. I called it something else at the time. But uh but I have very

059much enjoyed the the current bargaining process because actually it's more of a collegial discussion. I I really enjoy how we look at different issues and as a group discuss them and come up with solutions. Um, my other point though has to do with how I want the community to understand that when we talk about raising salaries, it's more than just a discussion about for me more than just discussion about if we had the money. The issue here really is how do we innovate internally to the district around our programming in order to be able to save money and raise salaries. So, so you know the thing with schools that people don't necessarily always understand is that it's really about enrollment. It's really about the money we spend on other things. So part of this zeal

060that zeal that we have to wanting to help raise salaries for our teachers and our staff staff we have to understand that in order to do so what we have to do is increase enrollment if possible and cut not necessarily programs or people but figure out how we can better serve our public with less cost in order to apply those dollars elsewhere. Uh just for education, I think a lot of people see it as a magic thing and we have we can just say here's money. The reality is we have a finite amount of money and we get that money based on certain things and we need to understand in order to move forward with doing what I personally think is right for teachers and staff uh we've got to be more innovative around programming

061in order to save. Um, I would I would just add to that that one of the things that we really talk about when we go out and talk to staff is that, you know, for someone who's getting 7 or $800 on their cell, by the time we understand by the time taxes get taken out and everything, maybe 50 bucks a paycheck. I get it. But, um, that's not it. Also, um, one of the things that you mentioned innovating and I know we've started to have some early discussions. Um, a lot of the money that was available went into a 15% increase in French >> right off the bat. >> And so looking at what we can do there is something that can be innovative. Um, and so, but when we talk about it to staff,

062we we include the fact it's not just the $800 per cell, it's the $1,262 that went to Fringe, it's the $75 a month that goes to So, they do add up. And so, um, just something that as you know, as we're talking about it, um, we we understand that it is more than just that. You know, of the 1.6 6 million that we put into uh salary this year, 900,000 of it instantly goes into movement so people can move for their years and for their training. Um and so it is something that that we also communicate that out and that uh hopefully can help with uh kind of bridging that gap of where that money kind of goes. >> So >> great. Ann, do you have anything? >> Can I add one more thing? >>

063No, I don't. Thank you. >> Um, you know, I would just add I would just echo a lot of the sentiments of my board colleagues that, you know, doing this work that I've done. Um, I think I've been on negotiations every year but one. um that it it it it's a it's a great process and and we've certainly been able to accomplish a a lot, but you know that that doesn't mean the work is done. And and what I like about the IBB process is that it it has it has taught all of us that the work never ends. And and that's that's our mindset as we do it is that ju that that that we that we check a box and then we just replace that box with another box and we just keep

064moving forward and and the the work of the the salary subcommittee that we've done this year has been has has it's been a lot of fun. It's it's really been fun because Josh and I like spreadsheets and we like numbers and we like to play with stuff like that. Um, but it's it's been it's been innovative from the standpoint of seeing ways that that seeing the the innovation from that side of different ways that we can different paths that we could possibly take to get to the same goal um as opposed to um the one or two paths that that always existed in the in the in the past. Um and so that that work has been rewarding as as as well. So, it's been um it's been good and I look forward to continuing

065the work continuing the work with you all um as we move forward to to meet these goals together. >> Um I was just going to give a shout out to there sometimes we'll get the question of what can we do to help like I'm I want to do help. So, if you can um if people can help elect um education friendly candidates, we have elections coming up. if you can contact senators, representatives, um if you can join us at the state house to advocate for fully funding special ed because those dollars that go to that we use to make up the gap are things that could be going to salaries and other things to address class size and programming and all sorts of great things. So, um there are things that people can do. So,

066yeah, join us. Okay. >> Thank you. All right. Can I get a motion? I move the board of education approved a tenative agreement with certified employees. The certified salary pool will receive a 3.162% increase totaling 1,678,1 total approximately which includes a $800 increase to the base as well as horizontal and vertical movements. >> I second. >> Franklin, >> yes. >> Gordon Ross, >> yes. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Kimbell, >> yes. Buyers, >> yes. >> Could do Blackwood? >> Yes. >> Costello? >> Yes. >> Motion passes 70. [Applause] >> If you refresh your agenda, you'll see the two new items under new business. Um, first one is 4.2 personnel report. So, I'm declaring a conflict of interest and I'm going to turn this vote over to Vice President Buyers. >> Okay. Any discussion of the

067item? >> Motion. Any >> Okay, I need a motion. Uh, so moved. This is Carol. >> I think we have to read that one. >> Okay. This is Carol. I move the board of education approved the July 28th, 2025 personnel report as attached. >> Second. >> And moved and seconded. >> Jones. >> Yes. >> Kimell, >> yes. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> Blackwood, >> yes. >> Costello, >> yes. Franklin. >> Yes. >> Motion passes 6. Before we move on to item 4.3, I'm going to turn the the time over a brief time over to Dr. Swift. >> Thank you, uh, President Gordon Ross and members of the board. I just wanted to acknowledge uh this evening um that our work uh represented in this HR uh hiring this evening is really focused uh continues to

068be focused as our partners at LEA noted on streamlining the organization and that streamlining really includes better aligning our teams and so that is occurring tonight um in direct response to the patterns that our community and our staff directly shared with us over fall to improve alignment of our communications both at the district level which we've traditionally done but now uh in the addition of a coordinator position to align school communications efforts and school outreach as as well as an additional focus on student and staff safety and responsiveness. Um, we uh feel like we understand the assignment from our community and these individuals uh will align that work for us. I won't read uh the press release. Members, you have it. It'll be out in the community shortly. Andrew Beavenon is sending it out. Um

069but we welcome uh Jake Potter who brings uh 15 years of communications experience. Uh he is a communications pro uh and he will serve our community well. And then secondly um Miss Summer Workman who uh really uh hails from Lawrence. She is a Lawrence alum and uh shares openly that she was inspired uh to choose communications as a high school student uh by the work of Julie Bole. a long time ago. Um, and uh, she holds both that work around community and school communications alignment. And that's kind of a newer area that we're expanding into to better support our parents, our students, and our staff with what they directly told us. So, I thank you board for your support. My hope and my belief is that our stakeholders will see a difference uh from day

070one. Um and you uh will see the org chart this evening. Uh but Mr. Andrew Beavenon who has uh given so much to this district in multimedia uh will serve as a coordinator right alongside Summer Workman as a coordinator. they will do that work um and then uh Jake Potter will lead that team. So, thank you and I appreciate the opportunity to share. >> Thank you. >> All right, moving on to item 4.3 schedule of fees. >> Kelly, >> I just want to have a board discussion. We um discussed the uh preschool rate um at a spring meeting. Um but I wanted to note the timing that it takes um for us to make that determination of the rate. It's a bit late in the academic year and it's certainly not for young families um

071ideal in terms of the timing of when we make those adjustments. So, I would ask my board colleagues and and I just want to say I want to acknowledge one the rate is um comparatively low is my understanding when looking at the rest of Lawrence. However, it doesn't necessarily have the same hours as some other um spaces for uh when one considers both the preschool component but also the child care component when you have people that are under five. Um, so I'm asking um at this time that we consider that the board consider directing that we set a rate earlier in the year. So I know my understanding is we we are waiting because we want to make sure that we're that it is it is cost is what we are we're only doing it

072at cost. Correct. >> At cost. Yes. >> Yeah. So I would ask that we set the rate early in the year for families to be able to plan and if you have to if you can adjust downward >> later, >> you know, amen to that. But that you would not be able to adjust upward >> so that that it would be um something we would have to do uh proactively um to account for costs that we thought might exceed um whatever it is this year. in the in the subsequent year. Does that make sense? >> Very much so. And if the board is in agreement, I already spoke with Miss Frick this afternoon who enthusiastically embraced that approach if if you all are willing. Frick. >> Is that agreeable? >> Yeah. Okay. So, that would

073mean for next year we would be and especially as we're working to expand the early childhood education oper off offerings which is part of our equity work or we've identified that as being a critical component of our mission. um we could then expect that I don't know if it's January, but that the ELT would come back and say we think this is a reasonable time to set that rate. We'll communicate it to families then and then um we wouldn't expect it to do anything but go down after that point. >> So, is it possible for you all to come back at um the next board meeting or or maybe the subsequent one after that to tell us this is when we think we could make that? >> Um preliminarily, they really liked your your suggestion

074of January. It's when folks begin to think about enrollment for the following year. It's kind of a natural uh time. So, we're good with that. But, but we will have the discussion. I appreciate that opportunity. >> Um, and that that's just the discussion I wanted to have. I don't know if anybody else wanted to jump in. >> Thank you. That's brilliant. >> Okay. Um, mayor, I appreciate uh the suggestion and also just want to reiterate that uh our New York Monastery families um did um the all except one uh family that made another choice. They returned those agreements before the end of school. So, we uh we not trying to say that it's easy for an increase. That's never easy. But I do appreciate that folks made their vote and let us know uh back

075in May that they were going to return. So, good. >> And at that, just to be clear, at that time in May, we talked to them about the rate increase. >> Yes. And that was represented in the agreement they signed. >> So, they're not finding out tonight, correct? Thank you. >> Exactly. many in our community are finding out around now, but our parents involved had that. >> Yeah. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> And we'll be able to do it even earlier in the next year. >> That's our goal. And also at our uh satellite uh elementary locations right now, Woodlon and Sunflower, we want to do a better job there. It's a little more complicated. And of course, Kennedy is a pro at this. They've been doing it uh forever. So, >> Very good. Okay.

076All right. Without anything else, is there a motion? >> I can make the motion. Um, let's see. I move the board of education approve the schedule of fees for the 202526 school year as attached. >> I second. >> Jones, >> yes. >> Kimble, >> yes. >> Buyers, >> yes. >> Blackwood, >> yes. >> Costello, >> yes. Franklin, >> yes. >> Gordon Ross, >> yes. >> Motion passes 70. >> Thank you. >> All right, we'll move on to item 5.1, annual needs assessment. Dr. Swift. >> Thank you, uh, President Gordon Ross and, uh, members of the board. We um welcome the opportunity to connect the dots in our work uh between the feedback from school teams uh building leadership teams and principles taking that feedback and really integrating that into our next steps and board. you're

077familiar with the needs annual needs assessment process and that is the goal of that process is to connect the dots between the needs we witness in buildings our experience there and the budget and board decisions and district work we want to bring all of that together so uh you'll notice and I appreciated uh member Castello and other members of the board raising questions over the weekend you'll notice that we've done a lot of work to streamline this information because sometimes when it's too much uh we kind of lose the thread. Um so we've done some work to streamline without losing any of the value of the feedback from building leadership teams across the district. So u Mr. Pulk is here and I do want to give a shout out to Dr. Cola Maya who has

078walked with us over the previous uh couple of weeks to get us uh over the finish line this evening and Mr. Pulk is going to take us through and then of course we look forward to questions and the discussion. Thank you. >> Thank you for having me tonight. Um I am James Pulk, director of data and assessment for the district. Um, so just to give you uh a little bit of background for this, this is a state required report that all districts have to give to their board. Um, it is something that is to promote transparency. So after we present tonight, it will not only be on board docs but also be um live on our website. Um, this assessment is designed to give you firsthand uh feedback from our teachers, teachers leaders, and building

079leaders to directly inform your work of the board. Um all 20 of our buildings uh participated uh in this uh needs assessment. Um they reviewed uh the structures that we have in place, rows, capacities, student barriers, and other budget recommendations. And so you'll see that captured um in the presentation as well as the board enclosure. And so we'll go through um the results. You'll notice that on a lot of the questions that we have um tonight, it's on a one to four implementation scale. So a one would mean that that structure is not in place. A two would mean that it's emerging, so some of it is there, but it's inconsistent. Three would mean it's operational, so it's consistently implemented throughout the building. And four means it's fully implemented. So not only is it implemented,

080but it's systematic, it's sustainable, and it's data driven. So our first thing that we're looking at are our structures. These are our core systems and frameworks and conditions that support the building's ability to function effectively and equitably. And there are seven different components here. On the next slide, I highlight some of our glows and grows for this. Um tiered systems of support, social emotional learning, mental health integration, and professional learning and collaboration all scored higher than a 3.0 0 average which means across our 20 buildings they feel that these are opa operational or fully implemented so they are sustainable and data driven um our grow is that our kindergarten readiness and early learning scored an average of 2.75 meaning it's emerging and I want to note that that specific score of 2.75 is just feedback

081from our elementary buildings and excludes our secondaries because they don't have kindergarteners Um, our next piece of data looks at progress towards building goals. So, last summer in in uh 2024, our buildings came together with their leadership teams and they made over 40 goals. So, two goals per building. And u as they filled out their need assessment this spring on their progress towards those goals, um, our buildings determined that 85% of their goals were either operational or fully implemented. So that means that they made terrific progress this year towards achieving those goals and putting them in place. And again, that's on that one to four implementation scale where they feel that those things are consistently implemented throughout their building andor sustainable and datadriven. Our next component that we're going to look at are principles of

082learning. So these are the four Rs of relationship, relevance, responsive culture, and results. And these are the core beliefs of research-based understandings of how our students learn best. And so our building leadership teams and teacher leaders came together to determine how they feel like they're doing with these four components inside of their building as far as implementing them. And as we look at our glows and grows on our next slide, you'll notice that relationships, relevance, and responsive culture all averaged a score of 3.0 0 or higher, meaning those are operational or fully implemented. Whereas results scored a 2.95 average score, meaning it is still emerging as we look to continue to find ways to improve our systems. Another really valuable component that I want to highlight of the needs assessment are identifying barriers inside of

083our building. So, what is stopping our progress towards students achieving levels three and four on our state assessments? So we put those into different buckets for you here as we took the feedback from the buildings and we identified student behavioral and mental health attendance and staff shortages all as barriers to achieving those goals. And you'll see if you look at some of the insights there are some common threads woven throughout these. You'll see things like system level solutions with consistency and fidelity. You'll see things like strengthening family engagement and community engagement. You'll also see things like professional development, educating our staff on how to meet behavioral needs of students or continue to grow their capacity. And so, as we look at the results of this needs assessment, we have lots of next steps. Um, we

084want to thank the 200 staff members or so that participated in this with their building principles. Um, we want to make sure that we're publishing this document um on our state on our district website and we want to continue to reflect on the work that we're doing um and how these results align with the decisions we're making and the plan of action as we move forward. >> As uh Mr. Poke Wraps. I will also note that beginning tomorrow, our work this fall with principles will be to update their goals. Uh they gave those goals last spring, but to update their goals based on what we know now. Um so this this will be a good time. Thank you, Mr. Pulk. Um, thank you Dr. Swift for uh doing this work. Even though it is a

085process that is required by state statute, um, I do think that there is um, important value in um, hearing from our staff um, in a more direct way through this process. Um, and I feel like you have built a process that um, follows the directive of the board that we want to have staff at the building level involved in providing input and have that input shared with the board so that we can um, be better informed in making our budget decisions, which ultimately is what um, statutoily this process is supposed to be about. Um, so, you know, every year that we've done this, I always read the assessment and I read the feedback from the buildings. Um and um I'm always struck that uh there seems to be some commonalities in um the things that

086they are identifying as needs and barriers. But and you started to touch on this Mr. Pulk um in in your last comments um but um you know kind of that thread of consistency and fidelity PE professional development um um is what do you see as kind of the single most important thing that our district needs or our staff needs in terms of um helping us to more fully support them in overcoming those barriers? Yeah, I think the commonality that stood out to me as I read through um the comments from the buildings w was that word um consistency and clarity um as we continue to move forward with with our mission and vision and and you know uh achievement um with our students. I think creating that clarity um for not only our building leaders

087but also our teachers in our classrooms so we know not just um what needs to be taught but what are the components of effective instruction and how they're going to teach it and um I could definitely see common themes uh throughout the the reports in that. >> Okay, thank you. Um I appreciate that answer. um come with that in mind. Um maybe you andor Dr. Swift can uh help the board just because one of the things we have to do with this is when we have our budget hearing and we get ready to approve our budget, we have to make findings as a board >> um that we have reviewed this information and we are using it to inform our budget decisions. Um so um you know are there particular steps that we've already taken

088this year um in that regard that will align our budget work with those needs that have been identified um or are there steps that you you can easily identify for the board tonight or at that meeting where we have to make the findings to say these are the steps that we're going to be taking throughout the fall that align our budget work with um the priorities that have been identified and the barriers that have been identified. >> I really appreciate that question, Member Kimble, and the uh the our entire focus on the streamlining of the organization in order to direct every resource possible in direct support of classrooms in schools. that that's the um that's the main thing with regard to aligning as much as we can to specifically address the needs. The the other

089side of that coin is our continuing advocacy that we fully fund special education and that we fully fund uh the education of our young people so that we can um and I appreciated Josh and Sarah's remarks. Um but that's not just talk. Those are our needs in terms of putting a quality teacher in front of every child and ensuring I loved um the the words ensuring that they are paid market um and we all know our market is not what it should be uh generally in this country but even getting to that uh 50,000 mark so that we're able to fully staff and direct the resource to directly to children and their needs. >> Thank you for that. Um, as I know, uh, everyone has probably tired of hearing me say that that gap in

090sped funding uh, last year was $14 million. So, if you think about what um my board colleague um Kelly said about how hard we worked when we had to find $6 million in our budget, um that $14 million that the state and federal government are not providing to us to pay for those services would be a gamecher in that regard. Um and it means we are taking $14 million away from our general operational funds. um which are the dollars that would need to be directed to each and every one of these barriers that um our staff have identified. Um and that is a legislative decision to not give us that money every single year for the needs of our students. So I just I wanted to make that point, but I really appreciate um the

091way that you framed it um in terms of um consistency, clarity, training, streamlining our resources. That is how we do the budget work. Um, something else I want just want to highlight and then I'll I'll step off my soap box. Um, is that uh one of the components that allows us to go as far as we do right now in meeting those needs is our community's um historic and continuing support for this board fully levying um the full amount of dollars that we are authorized to levy under state law for our local option budget. I know that property taxes are a really important issue for everyone, everyone in this room, everyone in our community, but at the same time, it is those local property tax dollars that um have helped us protect the advances that

092we ha we have been able to make in these areas and supporting our our uh teachers and our education support professionals. So, um just that um being able to approve that budget every year with that 33% of LOB authority is a really important thing that our board does have control over um with the support of our community and meeting those barriers. So, um just wanted to say a quick thank you and um to our community for allowing us to continue doing that. Thank you. Appreciate it. >> Yes. Can you um please turn it to slide 11? This is Carol and I'm looking at the ROSE capacities and I'm looking specifically looking at the the two um standards here. Do students receive support for physical and mental wellness and the one beneath it. Do students engage

093in the arts and cultural appreciation? Well, I see oh that's um slide 11 >> that no slide 11. I think we have different slides. It says rows capacities. There you go. So those two bar graphs are are to me I I'm a social worker here and I think my colleagues here would agree that those two are interconnected and we um we see where we are lacking and where we can improve. And um I'm thinking specifically about our students of color and our Native American students where we are falling behind in graduation and success rate. So, this data will support the need to support our students of color. And I've heard um some criticism from the the the public that said, "Well, the Native American population is so small. Why do you want to focus on

094them?" And again, it goes back to where we need to teach our our students in schools about our treaties and how and even just something so simple as um the protection clause in the constitution, article 6, section two that says supreme treat or supreme law of the land. And I was sat here earlier and I talked about our Kikaboo treaties and we have a treaty with Washington from 1854 that has a protection clause or welfare clause if you will that says if we kickapoos are using our best and ardent stu uh spirits to improve our lives the government shall support them and to me I argue that you know there's no there's no expiration date to the constitution. So it's those kinds of lessons that you know we need to hear in school and some

095of and I know um from my research that our students would you know they would anybody would feel better if they can see themselves in the curriculum. >> So those two are to me those are just interconnected. So we did have a um the board while while I was serving as board president in the last month, we did have um a outreach to us about curriculums being developed um at the state level which you may know about um but I forwarded uh our former um director of NAS sent it uh to us. So, um, I I I'll I'll make sure that you've seen it, but it goes to Carol's point. I think there might be something that when you started this conversation, which you've been talking about this for a long time, there wasn't something

096that was necessarily packaged in a way that the district could implement into the curriculum. Um, and it does seem to me like there is at least some professional development that can be done that Kenny's been working on. And there might be others as Yeah. And there might be others. um as well, but I will forward that on LCCU to look at as well and to um Dr. Swift for your consideration. So, >> thank you. >> Yeah, >> that's all. Thank you. >> Ann, do you have anything? >> No, I don't at this time. >> Okay. Um thank you very much for the report. Um, I I'll echo a lot of what my my board colleague said is, especially Shannon about um the the the information both in the slideshow and the report and the statutory

097obligation that we have to use it for our budget our budget report. Um, I just have one question for you. when I was looking over the data um in the attached report that the the annual needs assessment, one of the sections that you had in you had in there specifically was on disciplinary incidents. Um and you had broken it down by level. Um and it it stood out to me a disparity of middle school versus elementary and high school. And I was just curious when in looking at that data if you might have any particular insight or and and you may not because you just don't don't don't know but any particular reason why those middle school incidents specifically of out of school suspensions were so much higher than elementary or high school. >> Yeah.

098I I think when we looked at that we we noticed similar things. We noticed that disparity as well in that and that goes back to the work that we um were doing this year with our uh secondary principles in general um and will continue into this next year is um understanding um the why behind that and the ongoing work that we have to not just um you know respond to what we're seeing in our buildings but also calibrate that um between our buildings and and make sure that our uh secondary administrators have all the tools that they need as well as the teachers to um process those behaviors as they come up. So, we're we're evaluating that. We're looking at that and and we'll continue to work on that. Yeah. >> And I just want

099to note uh thank you uh President Gordon Ross for the question. I want to note for the community because it's not on the slide. It's a little bit longer that it is on page five in the report and we have broken it down uh based on your excellent questions that came in over the weekend. We've broken it down to the number of students and then also to the number of events or occurrences and uh we will continue uh that work uh really to develop our tiered systems of support. That's what we'll be talking about tomorrow morning. but ensuring that those tiers of support are supporting students so that we reduce those numbers and that's our goal um is to work on both the academic and the behavioral side of the house. So, thank you for

100the questions and just referencing the community. I'm sorry we don't have the report up. We'll try to do that in the future, but it's page five is that data. Thank you. Okay. Anybody else have anything? Okay. Thank you. All right. We'll go ahead and move on to public comment. Somebody read the statement for me, please. >> I'll volunteer tonight. The USD497 Board of Education welcomes public comments and thanks you for taking time to talk with us about our policies and procedures. We set aside this time during our regular meetings 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

101up with you as necessary. This is your time to share your opinions. However, public comment is not the appropriate form for making complaints about specific staff or students. If your comments relate to complaints concerning students or staff, such complaints must be addressed to district staff as provided under board policies KN and GAEE, which are 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 germaine to the business of the board. Furthermore, comments must comply

102with standards laid out in board policy GAE and board policy JGECA, which are 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 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 um of each meeting. Comments relating

103to agenda items are welcome. 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 comments or viewpoints to the board at schoolboards497.org. All right, we'll start with uh Justin. >> Can you hear me? >> Yes. Hey, uh, Raggyanne Costello, I see your mute button is working this meeting. Remember that meeting when you called me crazy Justin Spece on your microphone. I remember last meeting I was removed from the meeting by Gordon Ross as I spoke during general public comment for saying a naughty word and the word was du m b a ss s e s. And even worse, I said it twice. Oh no. But a speaker at a previous meeting wore a shirt that

104said the word du mb a ss and he he also said the naughty word du mb ss but I can't. Is that unable protection of the 14th amendment of the United States Constitution? Is that retaliation against me? Is it viewpoint discrimination? Seems like it. But if I can spell naughty words here at the meetings and people can wear naughty words on their clothes, then why can't I say these same words? You say it's because students may be listening to the meetings, but are you saying they don't know how to spell? You're the school board. Are you saying your students can't spell? It's a lame excuse. It's called free speech, guys. And what I was going to say last meeting before being removed by Gordon Ross for saying naughty words was that last meeting Gordon Ross

105was voted president of this school board. But people might not remember that Gordon was voted out of his school board position during the November 2021 election. And then these idiots on the school board voted him back on the board in August of 2022 after a board member resigned. Now you're president. A guy the community no longer wanted on the board is now running the board. He's unelected and is now running the board. And so with leadership and decision makers like that on this board, it's no wonder you all hired a teacher that raped students in your schools. You're foolishly more worried about adults saying naughty words here during the meetings than you are for properly vetting teachers to make sure you aren't hiring child sexual predators. Get it together, guys. Have some perspective. I want

106to talk about my fully uncensored communications at meeting petition that I'd like for you guys to consider signing. And that acronym is f u cam m and it's pronounced fuckom. >> That's your warning, Justin. >> Well, Gordon, fu cam is not a naughty word. That's uh fu cam. It's pronounced fuckom. >> Thank you, Justin, for joining us this evening. All right, so we're going to move on to Carrie. Hello. >> Yes. >> You know, this weekend the craziest thing happened to me. I was in Walmart and I walked it to an employee and asked him a question. They let me ask them the question and they didn't interrupt or tell me that they were going to trespass me. Then, wildly enough, as I walked back to my car, a woman and her son who I

107didn't know approached me in the parking lot and asked me for money. I kindly answered her with a no thank you and got in my car and drove away. It's crazy how people communicate these days by asking each other questions. Unless you are Miss Kelly Jones, who after my last speech we all know as the fake victim. The fake victim campaigned to work for We the People, yet doesn't let you ask her questions in a parking lot, even when Officer Bishop and her police dog is present. The fake victim lies about her interactions with people who don't agree with her choices and gets her bestie, Miss Superintendent, to entertain and co-sign her lies by trespassing people from public property when they have not broken a law. I was not threatening or harassing by trying to

108ask a question of an elected official. If I was, I am sure officer Bishop and her do police dog wouldn't have ignored me by turning their back on me to walk up the stairs and back into the building. My only crime is calling out these lying board members along with Miss Superintendent and fighting for freedom of speech. I guess the Constitution doesn't apply when it comes to USD 497's boardroom. Yet in the district libraries, anyone anything goes to the community. The school board needs to be spending time figuring out real issues versus silencing people. They've been aware and pat themselves on the back during every meeting when school absences in Lawrence have gone up 82% to the point where the average student misses more than 3 weeks of school in a year. USDC 497 has

109lost three times more students than any district within the Topeka through the Kansas City corridor, equaling about to be approximately 1,600 students. All while the population of Lawrence has grown every single year. But they lie to your face and tell you that it is due to birth rates being low and how there isn't enough affordable housing. Vote Kelly Jones aka the fake victim and Shannon Kimble out in November because like President Trump once said, quote, "They don't know what the they're doing." End quote. >> This board is full of hypocrites who provide the same words to minors that I have said in here being um and been removed. I told the truth about how their policy is and unconstitutional. My former Dr. Swift, any announcements? >> I believe we're all wrapped up. Thank you, sir.

110All right. >> Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Move to journ. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No. All right. We are adjourned. Thank you.