Lawrence public schools are reporting more absences than normal this morning in the wake of Kansas University winning the national basketball championship Monday night in San Antonio.

School administrators and staff members are anticipating that parents will pick up students through the day, especially with the public celebration for the team looming at 3 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.

Rebecca Mason, Central Junior High School’s attendance secretary, said due to the number of calls she had not yet had time to enter figures into the school’s computer system.

Mike Hill, Free State High School assistant principal, said the school had more than 500 excused and unexcused absences. Free State’s enrollment is just more than 1,200 students.

“We’ve had hundreds of phone calls today to our attendance office,” Hill said.

Also, at New York School, administrative assistant Sandy Unruh said the elementary has about 15 more absences than normal today.