Lawrence school board member Adina Morse has been selected as the next executive director of the Lawrence Schools Foundation, which provides funding to benefit students and teachers.

Morse, 49, a former attorney and law professor who has two children attending Lawrence public schools, will resign from the school board next month. The board will announce at an upcoming meeting the process to fill this vacancy.

A Kansas Supreme Court ruling from 2000 says that a school district employee cannot serve on the board of education of the same district. The Lawrence school district employs the foundation’s executive director, although the foundation reimburses the district for the employee’s salary and benefits.

Morse will replace Susan Esau, who plans to retire after 11 years as executive director.

Morse said she has learned a lot during her year on the school board. “While I knew from personal experience that Lawrence has great schools, I’ve gained a greater understanding, through my board service, that the jewel in our community really is its public school system, and the foundation supports that excellence,” she said.