Board approves capacity and class‑size recommendations; district publishes nonresident enrollment plan

The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education on April 28 approved superintendent recommendations on capacity, class‑size guidelines and nonresident enrollment procedures for the 2025–26 school year with a roll‑call vote of 7–0.

The board motion — "approve the recommendations on ratios, capacity, and enrollment projections for the 2025–26 school year" — passed unanimously. Board members recorded yes votes in the roll call: Franklin; Gordon Ross; Jones; Kimball; Myers; Kadu Blackwood; and Costello. The board earlier approved the meeting agenda and the consent agenda by recorded voice votes with the same 7–0 outcome.

What was approved: the superintendent presented class‑size ranges drawn from a February enrollment analysis and proposed targeted seat openings for nonresident students where space exists. The district reported that more than 90% of elementary classrooms were at 25 students or fewer as of a February snapshot and that district averages at middle and high school are generally in the low‑20s. The superintendent said the district currently enrolls about 97 students who came into the district through nonresident/transfer procedures.

Nonresident enrollment process and timeline: district staff said the nonresident application window for this year will be Jan. 1 through June 15 and that the district will publish available seats by May 1. The board was told districts will review nonresident applications from June 16–30 and that applicants will be notified by July 30. Staff said priorities remain: (1) students who live in a school’s attendance zone, (2) transfer requests from within the district, and (3) nonresident applicants when space exists.

Seats and targets: district materials included sample targets referenced by the superintendent: for middle schools the district set a target of about 15 open seats at each grade level across schools; at high school the target was approximately 25 seats (with a smaller number for seniors). Staff told the board these openings represent places the district is prepared to fill without displacing resident students and that staffing will follow enrollment to maintain desired class sizes.

Board discussion and follow up: board members asked how the district supports classrooms that become larger than typical during the year. Elementary director JC Roberson described strategies including contingency hires, classified aides, certified intervention teachers to teach core math and reading, and temporary reassignments to keep class sizes manageable. The superintendent said staffing will follow enrollment and that the district will monitor monthly through the summer.

Ending: the board approved the recommendations and district staff said the published seat counts and the nonresident application form will appear on the district website. Staff committed to returning with any further details and to notifying applicants as the timeline requires.