23rd annual fiesta slated later this month

The aroma of Mexican food and the sounds of mariachis will fill the area around St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 1234 Ky., when it stages its 23rd annual Mexican Fiesta on Friday and Saturday, June 25-26.

Live entertainment, authentic Mexican food, corn dogs, nachos, refreshments and T-shirts will be available. There also will be a moonwalk for children both nights and carnival games on Saturday night.

Entertainment will be provided by St. John’s Children’s Dances and the La Mañana Band. Also performing will be Mariachi Mexico, St. John’s Children’s Dances and Fiesta Band. Dancers at a previous fiesta, above, performed for a crowd.

The fiesta will run from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

Education

School board to discuss pay issues in district

Teacher and administrator salaries will be among the topics at Monday’s meeting of the Lawrence school board.

The board meets at 7 p.m. at 110 McDonald Drive.

The district’s negotiations committee last month decided not to approve a new contract for teachers until the Legislature met again to determine school funding levels. Mary Rodriguez, director of human resources, is recommending the board also delay salary increases for administrators.

Other items on the board agenda include:

• Online employee benefits enrollment program.
• Revised recommendations for employee benefit plan.
• Employee reclassification funding.
• General liability insurance package.
• Adoption of textbooks.
• Contract for copy paper.
• Contract for uninterruptable power supply.
• Human resources online application software program.
• Donations policies.
• Budget update.

Bird watching

Audubon field trip seeks least tern sightings

Area bird watchers stand a good chance of seeing piping plovers and least terns on a Jayhawk Audubon Society field trip Saturday to a site on the Kansas River near St. Marys.

Those wanting to see the birds — both are uncommon in Kansas — are asked to call 749-3203 before Thursday. Plans call for the group meeting at 8 a.m. in the southeast corner of the Target Store parking lot, 3201 Iowa, and carpooling to the site.

The trip will be led by Baker University biology professor Roger Boyd, who has studied least terns.

Participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes, sunscreen, insect repellent and a hat.