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Lawrence USD 497 says police investigating Prairie Park support staff; district offers crisis outreach
Summary
The Lawrence USD 497 superintendent told the school board that the Lawrence Police Department is investigating a support staff member at Prairie Park Elementary. The district said crisis-support staff are contacting affected families and provided a police tip line.
Dr. Janice Swift, interim superintendent of Lawrence Public Schools (USD 497), told the school board that the Lawrence Police Department is investigating a Prairie Park Elementary support staff member and that the district is cooperating with law enforcement.
"We have been informed by the Lawrence Police Department recently that there is an investigation, involving a Prairie Park Elementary support staff member," Dr. Swift said during her superintendent's report. She said district crisis-support staff were making initial outreach calls to Prairie Park families and that the police had established a phone line for families with questions or information: (785) 830-7430.
The district said it will keep staff and families informed “throughout the process as there is information to share.” Dr. Swift added that student safety remains the district’s top priority and that the district is coordinating with the Lawrence Police Department on investigative efforts. She also reiterated district messaging promising to protect students’ safety and privacy and to ensure equal access to education for all children, regardless of immigration or other status.
Board members acknowledged the district’s outreach steps and repeated the police tip line during the meeting.
The board did not take public action on the matter during the meeting; executive-session motions to discuss personnel matters were made under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA) non-elected personnel exception and the board repeatedly recessed to executive session for personnel discussions, with statements that no action would follow when they returned to open session.
The district asked families with questions or information about the investigation to contact the Lawrence Police Department at the number Dr. Swift provided. The board also noted district crisis supports would continue outreach in the coming days.
