Lawrence Virtual School now enrolling students

The Lawrence Virtual School is now enrolling students for its inaugural school year.

Through the virtual school, students can learn at home with a parent guiding their daily lessons. Certified teachers will provide support, accountability and advice.

“The education provided by Lawrence Virtual School will enable children who are homeschooled or attending nonaccredited private schools to learn at their own pace, explore their interests and achieve their academic potential,” said Gary Lewis, principal of the virtual school.

There is an enrollment fee involved with the virtual school. The cost is $43.50 annually for a kindergartner and $97 for first- through eighth-graders.

For more information, contact Lewis at 832-5000 ext. 624, or by e-mail at glewis@usd497.org.

State

Kansas Arts Commission seeks poet laureate

The Kansas Arts Commission is taking nominations for the newly created post of poet laureate.

The position is designed to recognize a poet of exceptional talent and accomplishment while encouraging appreciation of the genre among a wider audience throughout the state.

Nomination deadline is Sept. 1. Nominees must be 18 years old and nonstudents, have resided in Kansas for the past 10 years, intend to remain in the state during the poet laureate term of two years (July 2005-June 2007) and be willing to travel.

Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have a poet laureate. The position is established by tradition as an honor given to an individual writer in recognition of a high level of achievement in the art of poetry.

Guidelines and nomination forms are online at http://arts.state.ks.us/programs.html. For more information, call (785) 368-6545 or e-mail karen@arts.state.ks.us.

Schools

Board approves purchase of $11,111 risers

The Lawrence school district will purchase new risers for the vocal music program at West Junior High School at a tune of $11,111.

The current risers are “old and cannot be repaired anymore,” Ann Bruemmer, district director of arts and humanities, said to board members Monday afternoon during a board meeting.

Board members unanimously approved the purchase of the risers as well as contracts for new band instruments. The board awarded contracts for new instruments to New Jersey-based National Education Music Co. for $14,913 and with Texas-based Brookmays Music Co. for $12,050.