[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6562276,"mediaKeyId","3276920-f08a1311d0ad579efae4318636f80a49","parentId",3276920,"title","Residents press board on alleged staff misconduct, library material and scheduling transparency during public comment","audioSeconds",1128,"startMs",8963000,"endMs",10091000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276920-f08a1311d0ad579efae4318636f80a49&start=8963&end=10091","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276920-f08a1311d0ad579efae4318636f80a49/thumbnail_8963000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6562276/Kansas/Residents-press-board-on-alleged-staff-misconduct-library-material-and-scheduling-transparency-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562276-cb37c02bc26c1c50b5a607e6a3856cf1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437648&Signature=lkRt7pHbmRWHaj438NlBAWr7Yu9qX7eMGptr3-0uRmzeIy-3FgPnnggRLwb5X9OKY74E0JaZIrBRUsBC-Bz6z8r2To3~Eulg9DhqfEj1uQs7YMmDlBcVHxKygnoAuamOMqRPWasC4mUguAM-hjtoPTrmvKJPzF1ykK4sL2xISlQi9hyWCVy41JdiLCEZzbcrEwfPATmTmZZwt1wc-cZFgbdAJ6kaTdA8MSA3KYnvm6vvqNAl0AjDbs~q3S4EJ9NruEF9-rkQTmeBDWq1MHsqBxbRzwFXGx1ElY40srz8hZ13RLf2TTGxIKN6ZuRrnK06TsY5dBqximFGYA-K3Bt3mg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lawrence Public Schools","date","2025-05-13T01:46:58Z","article","Several public commenters used the May 12 board meeting to press Lawrence Public Schools leaders on transparency and student safety, to challenge the district’s handling of a pending criminal case, and to raise concerns about library materials and elective-scheduling communications.

A number of speakers — some calling for outside review or clearer public information — criticized the district’s public communications and the pace of information after a teacher’s arrest. Dr. Cindy Courtney, identified herself as a community member, said, “It has been 91 days since Mister Gridley’s arrest,” and called for an external information session or audit that would be independent of district officials; she offered a list of specific questions she wants answered about safety protocols and investigations.

Another commenter, who identified himself as Dr. Justin Spies, framed part of his public comment as a legal concern about whether the district’s handling of public comment and bans constitutes viewpoint discrimination. “That’s what’s called viewpoint discrimination,” Spies said, accusing the district of permitting positive commentary about staff while limiting critical speech.

A third in-person commenter, Carrie, read aloud from an adult memoir (identified as the graphic memoir Gender Queer) and said the passages were sexually explicit; she told the board she believed such material should not be available to students. The board’s presiding officer asked her to follow the public-comment rules; the meeting transcript shows staff warned speakers when language or behavior crossed stated policy limits. The board did not take any immediate action on library inventory during the meeting.

Separately, a West Middle School choir director (Mr. Veets) told the board teachers and fine-arts staff have not received timely answers about proposed schedule changes for next school year. He said elective teachers have been given limited or inconsistent information, that choir directors made repeated attempts to communicate concerns to district leadership with little response, and that some proposed changes (such as moving 0-hour choir into the regular schedule or changing quarter/semester formats) would harm music programs. He praised his building principal, Katie Carson, and said communication breakdowns appear to be happening at other administrative levels.

Board members and the superintendent acknowledged the public comments and said they would continue discussions with families and staff. The meeting record shows no formal board action was taken in response to the public comments during the May 12 meeting.

The transcript also records several heated exchanges, interrupted remarks and board warnings during public comment, and multiple callers who accused the district of not being transparent. Board policy language about public comment procedures and limitations (including references to policies GAE and JGECA) was read aloud at the start of the public-comment period.

No new board policy or formal investigation summary was announced during the meeting; the board indicated it would follow up with staff and community members as appropriate.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education Meeting | May 12, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple public commenters raised concerns at the May 12 meeting about alleged misconduct at a district elementary school, sexually explicit library material, the district’s public-comment procedures, and proposed middle-school schedule changes affecting arts electives.","taxTitle","Lawrence, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",13090,"location","Kansas","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6562281,"Board approves consent items, moves to executive session; agenda, consent pass unanimously",5574,993000,6567000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276920-f08a1311d0ad579efae4318636f80a49&start=993&end=6567","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276920-f08a1311d0ad579efae4318636f80a49/thumbnail_993000.jpg","/articles/6562281/Kansas/Board-approves-consent-items-moves-to-executive-session-agenda-consent-pass-unanimously","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562281-db46a917140c79e98387530f4423bbe1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437648&Signature=gibNMc016j0CzyDB29jQG0Ub0RGeRMjBzOZ9AdEPQCfFgRJBBzJFXxR3-LybzglPzq86M7ykHc3FjlUmA0IpoY0QEEUylyqyFZ~cpLK26nOBooWGeXgVT2XFPhOlO6v~Tgug-EGJQNfOuAc2Zef5ooA0tt3qYoU1l6C52ljvkFyThVEStVY8uyrNZi90Ptf0di63nnhidfFjDlQFDltpdH5KVxuXKwy~5ObhqK7ACjfshrOVuvFr3gGB0IzqY~7qqNrFqYakd9VXecPHUHaZczL1RB32aeZW8aQoa1fKY7BaMLdwx790jZeTHm5jY1kk~r6IOsVEdsCDqgf7DfkBLQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education approved the meeting agenda and a consent agenda, and recessed twice to executive session for contract negotiations during its May 12 meeting.

Votes at a glance
- Agenda approval: A motion to approve the May 12, 2025 agenda passed (recorded vote: 7–0). The motion was seconded by a board member who identified herself as Carol.

- Executive sessions: The board recessed to executive session twice to discuss negotiations and to protect the public interest in employer–employee negotiations; district leadership (superintendent and deputy superintendent) were invited to attend. The first motion to recess to executive session passed 7–0; the board returned to open session with no action to follow. Later the board recessed again for additional negotiations; that motion passed on a recorded vote of 5–0 (some members were not present for the second vote). The board reported no action followed both executive sessions.

- Consent agenda approval: The board approved the consent agenda on a recorded vote of 7–0. Items noted in board discussion included: a districtwide roof repair and replacement contract; an amendment to Syntegix coverage to extend inspections to previously excluded spaces (for example boiler rooms and roofs); and a lease agreement to provide MacBook Air laptops for high school students (district representatives said the lease will supply M2 MacBook Airs, include AppleCare+ coverage and may include protective cases to reduce repair costs).

- Adjournment: A motion to adjourn passed unanimously.

The motions to move into executive session referenced the statutory exception for employer–employee negotiations; the board reported the sessions were for negotiation purposes and for the protection of the public interest. No policy or substantive decisions were taken during the closed sessions, and no ordinance or resolution numbers were cited in the meeting record.

Where the transcript records names of members during roll call, the board accepted the agenda and consent items unanimously by voice/recorded vote. The consent agenda items were not debated at length during the public meeting; presenters and staff described technical details only in brief.","At the May 12 meeting the Lawrence USD 497 board approved the meeting agenda and a consent package including roof repairs, a Syntegix amendment and a MacBook lease; the board recessed twice for executive session to discuss negotiations and returned with no action.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6562286,"Lawrence USD 497 to expand AVID districtwide, leaders say program boosts student readiness",1706,6984000,8690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3276920-f08a1311d0ad579efae4318636f80a49&start=6984&end=8690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3276920-f08a1311d0ad579efae4318636f80a49/thumbnail_6984000.jpg","/articles/6562286/Kansas/Lawrence-USD-497-to-expand-AVID-districtwide-leaders-say-program-boosts-student-readiness","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6562286-a64fabf93eb5ddd6466234bb4bdd85ae/orig.mp4?Expires=1770437648&Signature=hHY6D~8R37OLcxC1hvzlCOSwg3xdLL2mb30CY-zMRPxDwCMw4gYIXzEAVHEamdzoDanocizxOdZZ061eek47W96spxufLEE1iYxrNrF6rBgQS61EURt1HPdAGSjGyOXVhPrpUqPgRvSxS8gpdrSX8xyrXb-EzcjnLO4o8tIEa5jdHL24WEadV71OQjn8EJsiJqYqkzzJW98gc6cp7aLNhY9GYhE05x~17WuQ4M7HhSmQFMf5J0fMR63Hn-a7vPVf08eWUF~I1t84CeWQShfK8VcspfjmN9OhkETcwyHu926-nVl7Y~JxjBAQc92K3SMcKEN3JLx-wUMT9Kx8cA4Clw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawrence Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Ginny Swift and district AVID leaders told the Board of Education on May 12 that the district will implement AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) across all traditional schools by 2026.

District officials said AVID is a system of instructional strategies and student supports — summarized by the WICR framework (writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization and reading) — intended to give students the classroom and organizational skills associated with college and career readiness. “We will be a fully implemented AVID district,” Dr. Swift told the board.

AVID leaders reviewed the district’s rollout and gave two case studies. Dr. Sarah Hossettler, who supports AVID implementation districtwide, said the program began in the high schools in 2012, expanded to middle schools in 2015 and was introduced at some elementary schools in a staggered sequence beginning in 2018. At the meeting she framed the update as the question, “How are we growing AVID implementation for student success here in Lawrence Public Schools?”

Southwest Middle School Principal Dr. Carissa Miles described how the school uses AVID tutorials, organization supports and staff professional learning to keep students on track. She said AVID started at Southwest with a small elective and now provides schoolwide practices, including an introductory sixth-grade “AVID light” class. “We’re not going to assume that every kid comes to school with those skills already in place,” Dr. Miles said, describing explicit instruction in planners, study routines and executive-functioning supports for adolescents.

Amanda Green, principal at Sunflower Elementary, described AVID strategies for early grades, including focused note-taking, cooperative learning and monthly, teacher-led professional development focused on AVID routines. Green said even young students can be taught habits often associated with older learners: “Students absolutely can do that rigorous work,” she said, noting first graders from Miss Jessica Brown’s class presented a fundraising project to the board earlier in the meeting.

District leaders said training is scheduled over the summer — including an upcoming July training and summer institute — to prepare staff in schools that will newly adopt AVID. Dr. Hossettler said some teachers and administrators from new AVID buildings have already invited district staff to observe and begin implementation work.

Officials cited early operational results and program priorities: bolder alignment across K–12, consistent instructional strategies the district can scale, and student leadership and agency. Dr. Miles said local data tools (ION) are being used to track attendance, behavior entries and achievement for AVID participants and nonparticipants; she said the district sees better attendance and fewer disciplinary entries among students in AVID pathways and that achievement data “continues to increase.”

The presentation closed with plans to continue alignment across elementary, middle and high schools and to expand opportunities for student leadership, including “grad walks” by seniors visiting younger students later this spring.

District staff and principals offered to return with implementation metrics and spring assessment data after summer trainings to show year-over-year changes.

The AVID presentation was given as part of the regular board meeting and involved no formal board vote.","District leaders told the school board they will implement the AVID college- and career-readiness system in all traditional schools by 2026 and described classroom and school-level examples from Sunflower Elementary and Southwest Middle School.","actionData","errors"]

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Residents press board on alleged staff misconduct, library material and scheduling transparency during public comment

Board approves consent items, moves to executive session; agenda, consent pass unanimously

Lawrence USD 497 to expand AVID districtwide, leaders say program boosts student readiness