Lawrence school board members Wednesday visited a public-education dreamland in which everything could be had for the asking.

In an exercise designed by school consultant DLR Group of Overland Park, the board imagined the ideal elementary school without consideration of budgets, existing school facilities or other factors grounded in reality.

“This is a difficult challenge,” said John Fuller of DLR. “You have to put qualifiers on just about every decision you make.”

A majority of the board fantasized:

 A minimum of two classes at each grade level in all schools.

 First-, second- and third-grade classes with no more than 17 students.

 A full-time nurse, counselor, social worker, psychologist and gym teacher at all schools.

 Consolidation of five preschool programs to a single location.

 Elimination of “combination” classes in which students of two grade levels are mingled.

 Special classrooms for speech, hearing, occupational, physical and music therapists.

It was an odd activity given harsh budget realities facing Kansas public school districts in 2002-2003. The board already approved a list of $4.7 million in possible budget cuts and fee increases.

However, Fuller said the wish list would allow DLR to prepare a template of what the board believes elementary schools should look like.

In June, benchmarks will be matched to reality at the district’s 18 elementary schools. The result will give the board an idea of what renovation or construction projects are required to bring schools up to par. Funding would come from a bond issue likely to be put before voters in November.

While there was consensus for nearly all elements of the dream list, the two-section school standard wasn’t shared by board members Austin Turney and Jack Davidson.

“I don’t think it’s a good idea if we decide we abruptly do this quickly at all costs,” Turney said.

Davidson said research on school size hadn’t convinced him one-section schools in Lawrence were detrimental to students.

Both have raised previous objections to consolidation of elementary schools. Currently, DLR says, 10 of the district’s 18 elementary schools don’t consistently have enough students for two classes at each grade level.

Fuller said the district’s elementary teachers favored a system that set a minimum of two classes.

“That is one of the strongest comments we’ve heard to date,” he said. “They need a peer within their grade level. We wholeheartedly agree.”

Board member Leni Salkind said there was no downside to making two-section schools the district’s goal.

“The outcomes are all positive in going that direction,” she said.