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

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.