[{"_1":2,"_136":-5,"_137":-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",[32,76,88,100,112,124],{"_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",6553421,"mediaKeyId","5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff","parentId",5067846,"title","Votes at a glance: Lawrence Board of Education, June 23, 2025","audioSeconds",8087,"startMs",3792000,"endMs",11879000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff&start=3792&end=11879","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff/thumbnail_3792000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6553421/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-Lawrence-Board-of-Education-June-23-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553421-bfb321082b7937dbea337e9f808538c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775448013&Signature=AlhnFBJ9uhlcwCKw1YE894Yc58g7wYP0LB8AnU9Ljg9HMzcLALrH5HBiYEz7HB2llDCyDwQ3pwXxDoeS~7El3wxdijl5~xg8FwNxNMCXv79hiYtYx9XLcTBT56WBMLHl2r4VxN1lrOnzdlPIgEtvvaQwx1Evwq5QifqpYIkofRnhql8JFShQ8tzRY2Zj7qvfyR5ymFn2FGphd8lny3WGjEpEFkzo3FfayxoyXe5POtNSwUbqP4Uo2IHY8KsYmJ8-pLAZlOXO6T2PLQpX1bLdSZJDQgDzuyusuGVQVidwy~0Jockc9UeuRNpQIOtqbcSpvi~2tgjXVOhnXf9qzPfbfQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lawrence Public Schools","date","2025-06-24T15:46:14.443Z","article","This \"Votes at a glance\" roundup lists recorded motions and vote tallies from the Lawrence Board of Education meeting on June 23, 2025. All motions and tallies below are taken from the meeting record.

1) Approval of agenda
Motion: \"I move the Board of Education approve the agenda for the 06/23/2025 board meeting.\" Outcome: Motion passes, 7-0.

2) Approval of the consent agenda
Motion: \"I move the Board of Education approve the items listed on the Consent Agenda.\" Outcome: Motion passes, 7-0.

3) Personnel announcement (consent)
Note: The superintendent publicly welcomed Cole Amaya as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, effective July 1. Swift stated the announcement followed the board vote on the consent agenda. No separate recorded roll-call was reported for the appointment beyond its inclusion in the consent agenda.

4) Recess to executive session (first instance recorded)
Motion: Recess to executive session \"for the purpose of discussing personnel matters pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA\" with Superintendent named to be present; return time specified in the motion. Outcome recorded in meeting minutes: motion passed (recorded votes indicate unanimous approval among present members).

5) Extension of executive session (30 minutes)
Motion: Extend executive session for 30 minutes; board to return at specified time with no action to follow. Outcome: Motion passes, 7-0.

6) Subsequent executive session motion (later in meeting)
Motion: Recess to executive session for the purpose of discussing personnel matters with a return time specified. Outcome recorded as motion passes 5-0 in the late-evening roll call (some members absent for this vote as reflected in the meeting record).

7) Adjournment
Motion: Motion to adjourn. Outcome: Unanimous \"Aye\" recorded; meeting adjourned.

Notes: The board recorded that it returned from executive session with \"no action to follow.\" The meeting transcript records the motions and vote tallies listed above, but does not disclose the contents of the executive-session discussions because they were held under the KOMA non-elected personnel exception.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education Meeting | June 23, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","A summary of recorded motions and votes at the June 23 board meeting, including approval of the agenda, approval of the consent agenda, multiple executive-session motions and the final adjournment.","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},6553424,"Public commenters challenge district speech policies; board recesses into executive session on personnel",705,5111000,5816000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff&start=5111&end=5816","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff/thumbnail_5111000.jpg","/articles/6553424/Kansas/Public-commenters-challenge-district-speech-policies-board-recesses-into-executive-session-on-personnel","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553424-d3d6b2abb4371797e800c71baa09c000/orig.mp4?Expires=1775448013&Signature=Bww0BoPjATKzya0M9WrP9LUcWlAyQi6Eu~2pdBmvNKZ-Qp2ImqUSIDhpbTuFBHBcTBW~R03O86K~mMIEW1BOKtAMwnAPnHSrU1qoXu3o4hMTy5zjXk1b69nl8wAUpSWfdSLmjP0pmSw7sZ7y5pTMYBNj1qCMDCCEA5evZ9FlLi-Gt~GskcS-QWJ30xEVGdhLmnewoygQecKbIhOrf0fEKrK55Czx5lTTjgx9w196hYvyhKsYzFg22ux6SjuQPO954pHswHCrsO6tT5eZbXS3QaxibeRv7MioplS2UQsVpW4IpFy87elOlgO-TVtzdZSmdFsuyrO07pau1RFa-oIu7g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public comment at the June 23 Lawrence Board of Education meeting included strongly worded remarks about the district's enforcement of speech and a recounting of an earlier incident involving a trespass letter. After public comment the board recessed into executive session to discuss personnel matters.

Dr. Justin Spies spoke during public comment and said he was seeking signatures for a petition he described as \"full uncensored communications at meetings\" (an acronym he summarized during his remarks). Spies criticized what he described as inconsistent enforcement of the district's public-comment rules and said he had been removed from a prior meeting for using profanity while other speakers had used similar language without sanction.

Another commenter identified in the transcript as Carrie read a statement about being accused of making threatening remarks during a May interaction with the board president outside a meeting and questioned whether the district had reviewed officer body-worn camera footage before issuing a permanent ban letter. Carrie said the account in the letter did not match her version of events and asked why she had not been asked for her version before the ban was issued.

After public comment the board moved to executive session. The board made a motion to recess to executive session \"for the purpose of discussing personnel matters pursuant to the non-elected personnel exception under KOMA\" and named Superintendent Dr. Janice Kerr Swift to be present; the motion specified a return time and the board recorded votes. The board took no public action at the conclusion of the executive-session periods.

What the board recorded: Multiple motions to recess to executive session appear in the meeting record; the motions named the superintendent and set return times. The clerk recorded the board's votes before and after the executive sessions; the meeting minutes indicate the board returned to open session later in the evening with \"no action to follow.\" The board also later voted to extend an executive session and called an additional executive session with specified return times.

What was not disclosed: Executive sessions were convened under the non-elected personnel exception, so details discussed in those private sessions were not disclosed in open session, and the board recorded that no action followed the private deliberations.","Several public commenters criticized the district's handling of speech at board meetings and recounted a prior trespass/ban incident; following public comment the board moved into executive session to discuss non-elected personnel matters with the superintendent present.",{"_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},6553429,"Board recognizes outgoing president and communications director; student artwork presented",1538,530000,2068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff&start=530&end=2068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff/thumbnail_530000.jpg","/articles/6553429/Kansas/Board-recognizes-outgoing-president-and-communications-director-student-artwork-presented","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553429-4ec2e3a3fd2f11dceb1a30e44f8c4956/orig.mp4?Expires=1775448013&Signature=VNmwzTv0ENG1NLHkeRZz2pX9UjK76tOExgX8DAxIZ40W5Gmh4G~3HxZ0OZMB~w-YBXcxREUVp~28qD~eP2cbI4XWJQuJn6hjiHZBh-8V4HKzW5tB1jnN31YTsk8bjf~IrltmZGxoVC51OzviYUILlUOmlk0QahPba0CSXo-CCfLAMRqK497mEv0WKGhB0zJQ69p3tBCINoAausTIBqzwGWnwHhpLJIY15qbBtBZqMaHl27TZ0MUhnDggcdERQA0IG-ntiGG1BpRreTC9ye0FIH~RgYrwVxj6TJFOB6OgL-Mqp1n-tRMSvToZyOKm~mY0SDqe3gyKRf0Ej0breR64LQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education opened its June 23 meeting with formal recognitions for Board President Kelly Jones and outgoing executive director of communications Julie Boyle.

Board members and the superintendent praised Jones for leadership during major events including two bond campaigns, the COVID-19 pandemic and a recent superintendent search. Superintendent Janice Kerr Swift presented Jones with student artwork created by Emma Newell, a Sunset Hill Elementary student who attended the meeting.

\"President Jones became interested in board service after having been an active parent in her daughter's educational experience here in Lawrence,\" Swift said while recounting Jones' volunteer history and community engagement. Board members spoke about Jones' inclusive leadership and thanked her for her service as president for three years and eight years as a board member.

Julie Boyle, the district's executive director of communications, was also recognized. Swift and board members thanked Boyle for years of service and for maintaining public communications, including her role in community outreach and event participation.

The board also recognized principals and district leaders at the end of year, including elementary and secondary principals of the year and departing administrators. The items were ceremonial and no board action was required.","Board President Kelly Jones was honored for her three years as president and eight years on the board; student Emma Newell presented artwork; Executive Director of Communications Julie Boyle received public thanks as she departs the district.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6553433,"Policy committee presents first reads on medication and complaints policies, recommends BDA language updates",218,2530000,2748000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff&start=2530&end=2748","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff/thumbnail_2530000.jpg","/articles/6553433/Kansas/Policy-committee-presents-first-reads-on-medication-and-complaints-policies-recommends-BDA-language-updates","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553433-42bdb1aa1b66f5ae8c51ed22116244c6/orig.mp4?Expires=1775448013&Signature=XEfOvQ8dqRktzwkqGg881OidACBb72t4BY0TSOP0gwL~X3ent5EvEjdn9iBLqb2mUBmzLLjtZsYUKAMZEtgZRvopPJqC-tonywIVEfcBSDGh5dnncVzda6i9OvNoG4dA7L8PTvR2UEsip-qUP4AZIJLWZnIZUA4djsY5G6z8uGKy~yqB~~1NWFGr-~eYbKnsw6QbF7llLSRFNhjfAPQH1DkB0816SFZYgejxHYpzqeonrXLuzSmTFBOg~gu3srF4AiFNeQOslLqDwPitnCkG4NSSWhNmWsVK1jIp7TxUc~oPEOZX09ZURbAsjcNeyQgdSTa9LwFxvM3NcnYtDAbrpQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Board of Education's policy committee reported routine policy work at the June 23 meeting, including first readings of three policies and a second read of a policy governing board policy processes.

On first read: the committee presented revised Policy GAE (complaints), Policy JGFGAA (stock supply of emergency medication) and Policy JGFGBA (student self-administration of medications). The committee said GAE was revised for grammar and clarity and to align timelines with duty days.

Policy JGFGAA was presented as a new policy \"representing a change in state law that allows for schools to keep an emergency stock supply of albuterol in accordance with the guidelines outlined in the policy,\" the committee said. JGFGBA was revised to separate statutory student self-administration of epinephrine and inhalers from parental authorization for other self-administered medications.

Second read: Policy BDA, which governs the development and amendment of board policy, was presented for second read with updates recommended by the Kansas Association of School Boards (KASB) to align board practice with the policy review process.

Why it matters: The albuterol-stock policy reflects a state law change the committee said and would allow schools to maintain emergency inhalers on site under the conditions the policy sets. The student medication policy clarifies distinctions between statutory allowances for epinephrine and inhalers and other medication administration rules.

Next steps: The items were provided for first and second reads as part of the committee process; the board did not adopt the first-read items on June 23. Board members will see the recommended language again for final consideration according to the board's policy-adoption schedule.

Speakers and sources: The policy committee presented the items during their report to the full board. Committee members identified the law change around emergency albuterol as the reason for the new policy language.","On first reading the board's policy committee proposed a new policy allowing a stock supply of albuterol in schools, clarified student self-administration rules for epinephrine and inhalers, and updated a complaints policy; BDA received a second read with recommended language aligning practice and process.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6553438,"Superintendent reports summer operations, ParentSquare rollout and administrative changes; assistant superintendent appointment announced",2771,1277000,4048000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff&start=1277&end=4048","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff/thumbnail_1277000.jpg","/articles/6553438/Kansas/Superintendent-reports-summer-operations-ParentSquare-rollout-and-administrative-changes-assistant-superintendent-appointment-announced","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553438-9951b2bb9a999d13b0022034f22b146d/orig.mp4?Expires=1775448013&Signature=bG10bm4gpQJ8nGWEksvy-~Le4r7czhC38xtsG49tss5~ArQDPs5CKc7PiLwpDZ4o9WBO~8MXyuC~2b3i4XY825A~bdl9kamiFLzAFPNuMPWWw2xYV6DR06feecVqGZjHC5DY8-p-Ea2LGOmHW24diwdl5IBjNGWqaODk3CMw6Klc-HFHwJn-EqiJeT65ciPbo0HTEnBN84-A0upzcAsp7mubW9-vLltBlRdZ2RBzSfKpLCBwGkZleZj7dWxgVOzTD2vnZfs-cfL~QZNSe-tw~J4L0BCKRmxMBM-Kba77mK3LlVV8RxiHDsRk5qRQ5VCEWgeIH7hcL5GOnZb7LTgu-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Janice Kerr Swift briefed the Lawrence Board of Education on June 23 about end-of-year activity, a district communications rollout and personnel changes ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

\"These two summer months are quite compressed as we both close out the 24-25 school year and set the table for next school year,\" Swift said, describing ongoing programming, professional learning and facilities work.

ParentSquare rollout and summer operations: Swift said the district is rolling out ParentSquare, a unified communications tool that will consolidate newsletters, teacher and school messages, and offers two-way translation. She said families should begin receiving communications through the tool and that it is intended to centralize family messages across a household.

Administrators and hires: Swift listed several administrative appointments and interim assignments the district will implement for the coming year. She said the board will be asked to approve an interim principal for Sunset Hill for the 2025-26 year and named Jennifer Georgi as the recommendation for that interim role. She also named new and reassigned administrators including Courtney Ellis (assistant principal, Billy Mills Middle School), Adam Meyer (assistant principal, Free State), Jason Schroeder (assistant principal and athletic director), Jeremy Phillips (assistant principal, Southwest Middle School), Denise Johnson (interim Prairie Park principal) and Jason Kingman (assistant director of special education). Several leaders were acknowledged as departing for other roles or retiring, including Hillcrest principal Sarah Cruz and executive director of communications Julie Boyle.

Assistant superintendent appointment: Swift publicly welcomed Cole Amaya as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, effective July 1. Swift said Amaya was selected after four interview rounds and will focus on curriculum, instruction and assessment functions.

Other items: Swift announced that buildings without scheduled summer activities will be closed to the public June 30 through July 7 to provide staff leave time and allow facilities maintenance. She also thanked staff who distribute free summer meal kits and noted district participation in local parades earlier in the month.

What the board did: At the meeting the board approved the consent agenda, which included routine personnel and purchasing items. The approval took place before Swift introduced Amaya publicly; she noted that her announcement followed the board vote.

Board members thanked departing staff and praised the district’s summer planning and communications work.","Superintendent Janice Kerr Swift reviewed summer planning, a ParentSquare communications rollout, several principal and administrative staffing changes for 2025-26 and introduced Cole Amaya as Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning, effective July 1.",{"_33":125,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":126,"_41":127,"_43":128,"_45":129,"_47":130,"_49":131,"_51":132,"_53":133,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":134,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":135,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6553443,"Lawrence paraeducators vote to consolidate bargaining under Lawrence Education Association; leaders plan state advocacy",658,4112000,4770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff&start=4112&end=4770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5067846-65084698728af87c9280b846e1c53eff/thumbnail_4112000.jpg","/articles/6553443/Kansas/Lawrence-paraeducators-vote-to-consolidate-bargaining-under-Lawrence-Education-Association-leaders-plan-state-advocacy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6553443-91e2c61e5ace02d8061be852742a6f68/orig.mp4?Expires=1775448013&Signature=ii7vauKr8RB-PWl6jejYmjdJwkmq3wHxaOAS~WdmxvUXgo0AhhdClieR-5F2-3ZbhZFEb1Fnt2n7oGS2CjcxbT96~xIXtpN~FrA5Ik0imzCLrjkZzUIyFNUhuf-r5Hl6cFNipAr5SiGtWUGkYZLthvR3zbxdDyL1t7fLErSkifv-C8UUr0Z0uMPxHn94h4zqPlUM0tefAFaJtmClm36wMRD9jQMx-t5GKGdyLgg65VO0-DQBgCFUv2szCmW28DAEKDFowNiEARBW3D3rsvo2UXuZD8OXzz4n1eE4Q7mca0yei64I~5Cdpt9sILFvQXQz4nXUSeqqjL6vdRKYPq5-Ag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Emerson Havzales, president of the Lawrence Education Association, told the Board of Education on June 23 that a membership vote on June 10 gave LEA exclusive bargaining rights for a unified unit representing classified and certified staff.

\"June 10, we had the biggest historic win in Kansas, education history. And 95% majority, voted for LEA to represent exclusively in the bargaining unit,\" Emerson Havzales said during a presentation to the board. The group described the vote as a 95% yes result.

The presentation recounted the association's history and recent organizing. Leaders said the local began as Paraeducators of Lawrence (PALS) in 2015, grew from roughly 90 members to about 150, and in 2024 helped secure a roughly 40% pay increase for classified staff. Organizers said they collected enough petitions in early 2025 to request an election for bargaining rights and then recruited large numbers of classified staff in a short period: \"we recruited 45% of the ESPs into LEA in just 21 days,\" the presenters said.

Why it matters: LEA leaders said the arrangement will create two bargaining tables — separate contracts for classified and certified employees — under a single union structure. Presenters said that approach will allow the two groups to bargain for their distinct priorities while remaining coordinated on districtwide issues.

Board members and the superintendent responded with support for the association’s plans to pursue bargaining and to carry the issue to the state level. Board member Shannon (first name recorded in the meeting) praised the organizers and said the district and students benefit when staff are supported.

Details and next steps: Presenters said their local will begin bargaining as soon as dates are set; they said they expect negotiations to begin before the fall school year. The group also said it will coordinate statewide organizing and advocacy in Topeka and called on community supporters to join those efforts.

Voices and context: Emerson Havzales introduced the presentation and was joined by paraeducators and classified staff who described the campaign’s organizing milestones, including Julie Donnelly (paraeducator, Hillcrest Elementary), Mary Lee (district paraeducator, speech services, primarily Schwickler), Danita (membership director, LEA), and Ross (teacher, former PALS president). Presenters repeatedly credited the late Denise Fish as an organizer who helped start the effort.

What was not decided tonight: The board did not vote on any bargaining terms or contracts at the June 23 meeting. Organizers said bargaining dates are being arranged and that specific contract proposals will be negotiated at the table.

For the community: LEA leaders asked community members and district supporters to help with statewide advocacy and to monitor upcoming bargaining dates. Board members expressed appreciation for the organizers’ work and said they look forward to negotiating in good faith when proposals reach the bargaining table.","Members of the Lawrence Education Association voted in June to be the exclusive bargaining representative for a combined classified and certified unit, a step union leaders said will create two bargaining tables under one union and expand statewide organizing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Lawrence Board of Education, June 23, 2025

Public commenters challenge district speech policies; board recesses into executive session on personnel

Board recognizes outgoing president and communications director; student artwork presented

Policy committee presents first reads on medication and complaints policies, recommends BDA language updates

Superintendent reports summer operations, ParentSquare rollout and administrative changes; assistant superintendent appointment announced

Lawrence paraeducators vote to consolidate bargaining under Lawrence Education Association; leaders plan state advocacy