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

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.