[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6588927,"mediaKeyId","5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5","parentId",5492337,"title","Facilities update: Sunflower solar panels, concrete work and insurance premium draw board attention","audioSeconds",197,"startMs",3012000,"endMs",3209000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5&start=3012&end=3209","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5/thumbnail_3012000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6588927/Kansas/Facilities-update-Sunflower-solar-panels-concrete-work-and-insurance-premium-draw-board-attention","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588927-7f92af52cbd02aece8c345e5472cfad7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672989&Signature=MYBhNeM8jXQWEmicHuVMIwFOuM6GK2cDp3IqDaSE1WsBbzhhAOMoBtSJNDYsQ6zBQ05DEicC71o8bb~8JYIevdy5LO5FRneyk0VeaxdcW-k-piGUSw3ElIp2qR8NB3Ew7pWCg752f2l4FoyeRKj-HBcfDDS7SpzwJ-SpZHoPS0BsVsaI2u-xaLrtYg8g0l7bu8dDThelQKwTszLwx5yqmIIIpMWMq8OT-bgotTWhDQU8jd9nEClkrsBmjYXU0Sf8PJpYUt5iz4JEt7TkmQyd~79zar1KCdnOOdUj4Lcc5CsAK8W1ExvcOjdLZUgiyCBVf9cXeL8sUNNnMuqWb5gPag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Lawrence Public Schools","date","2025-07-29T01:06:04Z","article","The district’s facilities and operations team updated the board on July 28 about summer projects, community use of school buildings, insurance costs and maintenance strategies ahead of the 2025–26 school year.

Shannon, facilities committee chair, told the board concrete work at Sunflower Elementary may extend into the school year and that Sunflower will receive the district’s second solar installation. The committee also warned that the Nineteenth Street water-main replacement project could affect back-to-school traffic and asked the community to plan for potential delays.

Facilities data and maintenance: The committee reported the facilities office hosted 895 events in June and 14,716 events year-to-date for fiscal year 2025, evidence committee members said of year-round community use. The board also received an update on a renewed property-and-casualty insurance policy; the premium for the coming year is $1,415,000, up from roughly $300,000 six to seven years ago.

Brush clearing and creative solutions: Board members discussed an innovative approach to clearing heavy brush on district-owned property adjacent to Langston Hughes: the district plans to contract with a farmer to use a managed herd of goats this fall to clear thick brush on the lot.

Other items: The board heard about a possible Neighborhood Revitalization Act request tied to a private development (Ninedale 2) and was told facilities and operations are tracking scheduling, maintenance work orders and metrics for on-time completion.

What happens next: Facilities staff said they will continue work through the start of school, coordinate around city construction projects, and provide updates if summer projects extend into the academic year.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education Meeting | July 28, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The district’s facilities committee reported July 28 that Sunflower Elementary will receive a second solar installation, concrete work there may extend into the school year, and a renewed property-and-casualty insurance premium will cost $1,415,000 for the coming year.","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},6588931,"USD 497 presents annual needs assessment: SEL, behavior and staffing cited as top barriers",638,5817000,6455000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5&start=5817&end=6455","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5/thumbnail_5817000.jpg","/articles/6588931/Kansas/USD-497-presents-annual-needs-assessment-SEL-behavior-and-staffing-cited-as-top-barriers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588931-a04c5218f27922f695dccd58f6f4411f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672989&Signature=DvEI0z4ms6GV~RKdvYfQGw7Jj-d8isAV0RYZJVLO7GqT3OfHCxi-p7wU~DAAHc5u4feREqsoDejp6uDq1LVYPVzDiR-4b0mparlKuZsigPpDfI9So2bzmDOELcO9ypAkGKHCBM7MQD38vdJBXiD-NvtXXz9AvOLti5wCqkspNFZOqWPY9K8IV~hC2671jKMRv0yMxV-ZFBxYKaGMpaEvlfL5AuYihkj9Q~SqKIkp3hRyhYb1m24dVRwYSaz0Satcm5HGN7E2yfi12LJu~elDyfSdos6UtQVVrKu6CVkwHYXvNT-1C3zv1t7tFVio0ETo0zrLIYoGX3Y0toz-~Q266g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lawrence Public Schools (USD 497) presented its state-required annual needs assessment at the July 28 board meeting, summarizing building-level feedback on instructional systems, school climate and barriers to student achievement.

James Polk, the district’s director of data and assessment, told the board all 20 district buildings participated and roughly 200 staff members contributed to building-level reviews of systems and goals. Schools rated core systems on a four-point implementation scale: 1 (not in place) to 4 (fully implemented and data-driven).

Key findings: tiered systems of support, social-emotional learning and professional learning received average scores at or above 3 (operational or fully implemented). Kindergarten readiness and early learning averaged 2.75 (emerging). The district also reported that of more than 40 goals set last summer, 85 were judged operational or fully implemented this year.

Barriers and gaps: Building teams identified student behavior, SEL and mental health needs, attendance and staff shortages as the primary obstacles to improving student outcomes. Polk summarized building feedback as calling for clearer, more consistent systems: “The commonality that stood out… was that word, consistency and clarity,” he said.

Board discussion: Members asked for alignment between the assessment and budget decisions. Superintendent Janice Caris Swift said the district’s reorganization and staff alignment efforts are intended to direct resources to classrooms and address identified barriers. Board members also emphasized the pandemic-era shortfall in special-education funding: a board member noted a district shortfall of about $14 million for special education last year and urged continued advocacy for state and federal funding.

Discipline data: The assessment included discipline breakdowns; board members flagged notably higher out-of-school suspension counts at the middle-school level than at elementary or high school and asked staff to continue calibrating responses and supports across levels. Polk said the district will focus fall work with principals on updating goals and implementing tiered supports.

Next steps: The district will publish the assessment on its website, use it to inform fall budget and goal-setting work, and ask principals to update building goals based on the assessment’s findings.","District staff presented the state-required annual needs assessment showing 20 buildings participated; strengths include tiered supports and SEL work, while barriers include student behavior, mental health, attendance and staff shortages. Middle school disciplinary incidents drew particular attention.",{"_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},6588935,"USD 497 board ratifies tentative agreement with certified employees: 3.162% pool, $800 base increase",1390,3828000,5218000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5&start=3828&end=5218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5/thumbnail_3828000.jpg","/articles/6588935/Kansas/USD-497-board-ratifies-tentative-agreement-with-certified-employees-3162-pool-800-base-increase","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588935-61f5a8e7d8d39bc730ea237abba9cbd1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672989&Signature=KRayPvRLv2qGLzQ1mLkdK7e-eIP6feK5YgjhkqRebYdfbmIhE61fo4~JHggfHnmOGvPR05nj6ppZuBhUWDIpEvq7YEeG8TTKR9yCTsmjd7ESfs2VzyVigGI906ykRbwfWpmJ3dyx7rjMxVEjOubNYW4DTg~wVgN1QxZ0HB7XjlfdX-7mCs3ECDk8yH9ONHrQqdFNwhCNoVxmv2t3ru0f9VpunjNhcfB4xrosVf7arngAE0ACHlC9QvTMlbNuNeH3-rhCvF7-CYbw4IzXvuwLXfli3K2AbC2DPj~zcfRPROtIvRN1eLrzhqXKcdxqJBPMXYnZFBQ102BgQVI1bzqI9A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education on July 28 approved a tentative agreement with certified employees that allocates a 3.162% salary pool — about $1,678,001 total — including an $800 increase to the base salary and provisions for horizontal and vertical movements on the salary matrix.

The agreement, presented by Kristen Ryan, assistant superintendent for human resources and employee relations, also preserves single-coverage health insurance paid by the district, raises some stipends (including a $4,500 increase for school psychologists), increases employer fringe contributions and continues a $75 monthly retirement contribution to a 403(b) account.

Board members said the package balances several district priorities. \"We were able to give a 3.162% increase, and that gave every certified staff member $800 on the base,\" Kristen Ryan said during the meeting. LEA co-chair Josh Bradley, who represented teachers at the table, described the settlement as a mix of pay adjustments and schedule changes intended to support retention.

Why it matters: The contract both adds direct pay to employees and changes work-day structures to expand planning time at elementary and high school levels, steps negotiators and board members described as important to teacher retention and instructional alignment across grade bands.

Details of the agreement: The package includes:
- A 3.162% salary pool, approximately $1,678,001, with an $800 base increase for all certified staff and continued recognition for vertical (years of service) and horizontal (additional education/credits) movements on the salary matrix.
- Increased fringe benefit support for medical coverage (presented as about $1,200 in additional district contribution for affected lines), continued full single-coverage health insurance, and a $75-per-month contribution to employee 403(b) accounts.
- Targeted stipend increases, including a $4,500 bump for school psychologists and market-based adjustments for coaching and additional-assignment stipends.
- Scheduling changes to increase planning time at elementary and high school levels; the middle school model already carried additional planning time under a prior change.
- A contract reopener clause to allow the parties to address unforeseen issues arising from the scheduling changes.

Negotiators emphasized the planning-time changes took multiple years of work. \"Plan time actually is at least a decade in the making,\" said Sarah, identified by negotiators as a co-chair and a Prairie Park teacher, noting the change aligns calendars and supports K–12 continuity.

Board vote and next steps: The board approved the tentative agreement unanimously, 7–0. The superintendent and LEA representatives indicated the district will implement the scheduling changes and communicate details to staff before the school year begins.

The board discussion also flagged longer-term salary work: negotiators said the district remains behind peer districts on base pay and intends to prioritize additional salary work in the coming year.

The approval is binding as a tentative agreement pending ratification steps required by the district and LEA procedures.","The Lawrence school board approved a tentative agreement with certified staff that adds a 3.162% salary pool, including an $800 increase to the base pay and expanded planning time at multiple grade levels. The contract also preserves single coverage health benefits and adds stipends and benefit enhancements.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":93,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6588922,"Votes at a glance: board approves consent agenda, personnel report, schedule of fees and certified tentative agreement",1552,3666000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5&start=3666&end=5218","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5492337-89c25955ca1bcc1a81a06190565abec5/thumbnail_3666000.jpg","/articles/6588922/Kansas/Votes-at-a-glance-board-approves-consent-agenda-personnel-report-schedule-of-fees-and-certified-tentative-agreement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6588922-36f78bb30abaea57d49bcb79a62581d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770672989&Signature=F-Rck8pPRtSgrdK3b-t~o0wSJ9vs0lKd~7NGkueij6uNtSUxNS270TZJAKAtzKtOh4XM5-G47POFKY5dyxGRDLjQQS5HJ6YuJ2dw2CQhs9TO9N59RG7LXciWisjsC99RvLklPrO4cxix5xfhWuRWliXm0Y8zWjebOMmyyId62VQMrxtNYd6BfBFi~At~H4Q6ZX4zdkbXsWgb2b5uaq7B9kDoHWTTOBNzJzE-7rbums-1nSDI18mpsXG9jx-z-iLouqmiVgpXPCqr2Chr8ByyJNZ5tGQpESH9l48-AjmDDRd7-2wVKb5-LjBFhA7Md4pyOYSy-BWppYAydbDDATtN3g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education took several formal actions at its July 28 meeting. Key outcomes:

- Tentative agreement with certified employees (Agenda item 4.1): Approved 7–0. The agreement establishes a 3.162% certified salary pool (approximately $1,678,001), including an $800 base increase and horizontal/vertical movements. (See separate coverage for full details.)

- Consent agenda adoption: Board adopted the consent agenda with two items pulled for separate discussion (items 2.14 and 2.16). Motion to adopt the consent agenda as amended passed 7–0.

- Personnel report (Item 4.2): Because a board member declared a conflict of interest and recused, the vice president presided and the board approved the personnel report dated 07/28/2025. Motion passed 6–0.

- Schedule of fees (Item 4.3): The board approved the 2025–26 schedule of fees as attached to the agenda. Motion passed 7–0. Board members discussed setting future preschool rates earlier in the year (January suggested) to give families more lead time; administration agreed to pursue earlier notice next year.

Votes and recorded tallies were read into the record for each motion. Where a motioner or seconder was not clearly stated in the meeting audio, the board minutes will supply formal maker/seconder attribution.","At its July 28 meeting the USD 497 Board of Education adopted the consent agenda, approved a personnel report, set the 2025–26 schedule of fees and ratified a tentative agreement with certified staff. Most items passed unanimously.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Facilities update: Sunflower solar panels, concrete work and insurance premium draw board attention

USD 497 presents annual needs assessment: SEL, behavior and staffing cited as top barriers

USD 497 board ratifies tentative agreement with certified employees: 3.162% pool, $800 base increase

Votes at a glance: board approves consent agenda, personnel report, schedule of fees and certified tentative agreement