Lawrence school board to consider changes to school start times

photo by: Rochelle Valverde

Members of the Lawrence school board meet Monday, June 13, 2016, at the district's offices.

For many students in the Lawrence school district, the start of the school day comes as early as 8 a.m. For the district’s secondary students, some relief from those early schedules could potentially be on its way.

At its meeting Monday, the Lawrence school board will review a report on the district’s start times. The report is the result of one of the board’s annual goals: “to investigate the impact of adjusting school start times.”

Of the district’s 20 schools, 12 start at either 8 a.m. or 8:05 a.m. The remaining schools start at 8:45 a.m. The earlier start times allow the district to stagger its schools’ schedules and save money by “double stacking” bus routes. For those students with early start times who also ride the bus, some routes begin at or before 7 a.m.

During the school year, a committee comprising district- and building-level administrators met to look at the research involving later start times for secondary students. The committee also discussed potential effects that changing start times might have on the school district.

The report will provide information from research pertaining to later school start times, potential scenarios for changing start times and possible effect of changes. Ron May, director of administrative services for the district, will present the report to the board.


In other business, the board will:

• Review a committee report about the recognition of former coaches at Lawrence High School. After a proposal was made earlier this year to name the Lawrence High School stadium after late coach Bill Freeman, school leaders are recommending that the stadium and field remain nameless but that alternative means of recognition be considered.

• Review a report updating the board on legislative and school finance issues affecting the district. The report will provide the most recent information to the board regarding changes to the school finance formula by the Kansas Legislature and how the district will be affected.

• Review a report on the district’s recently adopted Ci3T program. The goal of the program is to address the academic, behavioral and social needs of students who are struggling in school.

The school board will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at the district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.