Improving the academic environment for all students is the top priority of Lawrence school teachers, elected officials and parents, a facilities consulting firm reported Monday.

“That’s a no-brainer, if you ask me,” said John Fuller, an executive with DLR Group of Overland Park, which is working on a facilities study of Lawrence schools.

During a three-hour study session with the school board at district headquarters, Fuller summarized surveys of 185 district staff, findings of 26 school tours and meetings with 14 community groups.

While there was consensus students come first, Fuller said the topic of school-operating “efficiency” split the board and general public. Board members were more interested than community members in focusing the study on “efficiency,” which was defined as possibly leading to elementary school consolidation.

The board ranked efficiency No. 2, while community members thought it was less important than long-term planning and academic program considerations.

DLR Group associate Jim French said surveys indicated Lawrence teachers and parents were worried about academic inequities in the schools. Some east schools don’t have basic tools  sufficient electrical outlets in classrooms, for example  that are taken for granted at newer schools on the west side of the city.

“Teachers are very aware of what one school has and another doesn’t,” French said.

Fuller said the district’s open student transfer policy should be revamped by the board. He said 425 elementary children don’t attend the school in their designated boundary area, and too many transfers are based on family convenience rather than academic necessity.

“This board needs to come to consensus (and) help craft a better transfer policy,” he said.

DLR Group is working with the school board to create a template for what should be contained in each school  art class space, lighting quality, access for the disabled, technology and dozens of other items  to provide students the same educational opportunity.

That template will be compared with school buildings to determine the cost of potential changes. Based on that evaluation, the board can decide whether to close, renovate or construct schools.