School board to begin scheduling bond-funded projects

The Lawrence school board will begin discussing the timeline for construction projects that will be funded with the recently-approved $92.5 million bond issue.

Voters approved the bond issue in the April 2 elections. Most of the money will used to upgrade and expand the city’s 14 elementary schools and two high schools, with the bulk of that money going into the six older elementary schools in central and east Lawrence.

Portions of the money also will be used to upgrade technology throughout the district and to expand career and technical education programs offered through the high schools.

Among the issues to be discussed when the board meets Monday night is the timeline for the sale of the bonds. Officials have said they plan to sell the bonds in phases over the next three years as old bonds are being retired. That will keep the district’s overall bonded indebtedness about even, so the district will not have to raise property taxes for its debt service fund.

The board is also scheduled to discuss the schedule of the individual construction projects themselves, which is likely to involve closing off all or portions of certain buildings and moving students to other buildings during the construction phases.

In addition, the board will discuss the timeline for selecting an architect and a mechanical and electrical engineer, as well as development of standards and guidelines for the projects.

Also at Monday’s meeting, the board will receive the latest five-year enrollment projections prepared by the district’s demographics consultant, RSP and Associates.

The board meets at 8 p.m. at the district office, 110 McDonald Dr. The meeting is one hour later than the board’s usual meeting time.

Prior to that meeting, beginning at 5 p.m., the board will take part in a workshop session. That meeting will also take place at the district office.