Lawrence school board approves 2026 legislative priorities; holds multiple executive sessions

The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education on Tuesday approved its 2026 legislative priorities and conducted several executive session recesses for personnel and potential litigation.

At the start of the meeting the board voted 5–0 to approve the evening’s agenda. During the meeting the board approved a motion to adopt the 2026 legislative priorities as presented; roll call on that motion was recorded as 5–0 in favor. The priorities document highlights fully funded education, increasing base state aid per pupil, opposing the use of public tax dollars for private school vouchers, supporting local control of curriculum, rejecting discriminatory statutes and pursuing universal school meals.

The board recessed for three separate executive sessions during the meeting. Two recesses were described as meetings to discuss personnel matters of nonelected staff in order to protect individual privacy; the first personnel recess returned the board to open session with no action recorded (vote recorded as 5–0). A second personnel recess later in the evening was recorded with a 4–0 vote. The board also recessed once to discuss potential litigation with legal counsel under attorney‑client privilege and returned with no action recorded (vote recorded as 5–0).

The board adopted the consent agenda by motion with a 5–0 vote. Earlier in the meeting, the board president read a resignation statement from board member Anne Costello and said the board intended to vote that evening to accept the resignation and publish notice of the vacancy, and to confirm a timeline for filling the seat at the next meeting on Nov. 10. The public transcript does not show a separate roll call expressly accepting the resignation after the reading.

Board members described the legislative priorities as a recurring process intended to allow the district to submit testimony and advocate in the Kansas Legislature and to align the board’s positions with the district strategic plan and local priorities. Committee members said applications for board‑authorized testimony will be coordinated by the policy committee and staff.

The board also handled routine motions recorded in the public transcript, including several motions to recess to executive session and the motion to adjourn at the end of the meeting. No ordinances, contracts or budget votes were recorded in the public portion of the transcript on Oct. 27.