Bottom line

Lawrence’s school board will consider spending up to about $10 million on capital projects during the next five years.

Background

At a study session last Monday, the board directed the administration to develop three lists of capital projects based on building maintenance priorities listed by the district’s facilities and operations director and by school principals.

The total amount of project costs on all three lists was to be $10 million. One scenario shows performance contracting paying for $7 million worth of work, one for $6 million and one with $5 million. Performance contracts are low-interest loans that can be used for projects that provide energy savings over the term of the loan.

Other business

The board also will:

¢ Hear a report from the director of assessments on the Annual Yearly Progress reports for the district. The AYP results show 17 Lawrence schools met the Kansas Standard of Excellence in at least one grade level in reading and/or math. Thirty-three groups of students in 13 Lawrence schools earned the Standard of Excellence in reading, while 28 groups of students in 15 schools earned the Standard of Excellence in math.

¢ Hear a proposal from the district’s fringe benefits committee to begin the process of seeking competitive bids for the district’s fringe benefits package, which includes health, dental and vision care. The district now uses Coventry as its health care provider, Delta Dental as the dental provider and VSP as the vision provider. Haake Benefits Consulting Group is to assist in evaluating the bids from vendors.

¢ Recognize the Lawrence High School 2006 state champion gymnastics team.