Lawrence USD 497 school board

The Lawrence school board is considering structural changes to its semimonthly meetings that ideally will increase the level of public engagement in local educational matters.

Marcel Harmon, the school board’s president, introduced the changes at Monday night’s meeting, which, in a departure from tradition, opened the floor to public comments after the customary reports from Harmon and Superintendent Kyle Hayden. Normally, this order is reversed, with school board members taking note of comments but not necessarily engaging in much discussion with meeting attendees.

“I think the primary reason was to give a little bit more of a chance for there to be some degree of back-and-forth between the school board and the community when they’re making their comments,” said Harmon, who also extended the time limit for public comments from three minutes to five minutes per speaker.

The school board has faced criticism from community members lately, with some voicing concern that its meeting structure creates the perception of a governing body disconnected from the students and families it serves. Unlike City Commission meetings, which usually involve greater audience participation and discussion between attendees and commissioners, school board gatherings are designed to move through regular business efficiently, Harmon said.

That’s not to say, however, that the school board doesn’t care about patron concerns, he added. It’s important, Harmon said, to let parents and community members know that the school board is listening — especially now, as he pointed out Monday, when so many in Lawrence Public Schools (among them people of color, Muslims, and those who identify as LGBTQ) are still grappling with the results of last week’s presidential election.

Those feelings of fear and anxiety arrive on the heels of the district’s continuing investigation into the racist remarks allegedly made by a South Middle School teacher during class earlier this year, which prompted a lengthy — and at times emotional — discussion at the school board’s Oct. 24 meeting.

Concerns about equity, Harmon said, are valid, especially amid the many race- and gender-based “issues going on across the country.” But generally, he pointed out, it’s more efficient to first bring up these frustrations to the teacher and principal, who are often more equipped with the context needed to discuss and remedy equity-related complaints at the building level.

“It can actually end up taking longer that way,” Harmon said of bypassing this step and going immediately to the school board. “But I know with the current climate right now, I understand why people are feeling the need to come directly to the board meeting to express their feelings and their thoughts and concerns.”

The school board and school district have worked for years to create safe learning environments for all students, regardless of race, gender, religion and sexual orientation through its Beyond Diversity training for district and building staff.

But Harmon also sees that the greater public perhaps isn’t aware of those efforts, and that needs to change. Part of this, he said, is establishing stronger and clearer communication between the district, school board and the public those entities serve.

Given time to reflect on Monday’s meeting, Harmon said he and fellow school board members will likely stick to the new format. However, he also recognizes the need for a separate discussion on equity, which would tentatively involve the participation of community partners and building staffers directly involved in day-to-day equity work with students.

In the meantime, Harmon and the school board are encouraging parents, staff and students to speak up. Their input, he said, helps to inform and ideally improve equity efforts across the district.

“People need to stay engaged,” Harmon said. “We need to keep lines of communication open.”

In other business at Monday’s school board meeting:

• School board members had a brief discussion about school finance issues. State leaders are seeking public comment about school finance issues ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

• Received a report on the implementation of Next Generation Science standards, which are aimed at promoting a more hands-on approach to science education at the district’s schools. Board members expressed support for the guidelines.