School board to decide on tech ed center location

Lawrence school district officials are now formally recommending that the new technical education center being funded with the recent bond issue be built at 31st and Haskell, in conjunction with an adult job training center to be developed by the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.

But the final decision will be up to the Lawrence school board, which will be asked to decide the issue when it meets at 7 p.m. Monday at the administration building, 100 McDonald Drive.

“Locating the center at this location provides advantages for USD 497,” Superintendent Rick Doll said in a memo to the board. “Students would have access to more career and technical education programs and the collaborative planning among the school district, area colleges, and business and economic development interests will be positive for the district and the community.”

The facility, which the district is now calling the “College and Career Center,” was originally planned for property the district already owns near Holcom Park, west of 25th and Iowa. Construction for the 30,000 square-foot facility, estimated at $5.7 million, was included in the $92.5 million bond issue that district voters approved April 2.

Meanwhile, the chamber has been working on plans for an adult training center that it plans to develop at an industrial facility currently owned by HiPer Industries at 31st and Haskell.

Chamber leaders have urged the school district to build their technical education facility there as well in order to have one combined center that would give both high school students and adults a broader range of job training options.

In other business, the school board will:

• Receive an update on progress in other bond-related construction projects.

• Vote on final adoption of the 2013-2014 board of education goals.

• And hear a report on the status of the district’s purchasing and printing operations.