K-12 schools and education

Parade of Schools to highlight district’s recent renovations
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 29, 2016
Seven Lawrence elementary schools will open their doors to the public Saturday during the district’s second annual Parade of Schools.
‘Youthful exuberance,’ innovative style earns Hillcrest teacher district’s Horizon Award
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 27, 2016
Margaret “Mimi” LaPiana’s “youthful exuberance” on the job is partly what earned her the Lawrence district’s Horizon Award, presented to the second-grade teacher during a ceremony Tuesday at Hillcrest Elementary School.
Lawrence school district in search of more ‘qualitative’ data to measure blended learning
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 27, 2016
The latest update from district officials on the implementation of blended learning in Lawrence classrooms reveals that students, teachers and parents continue to report positive experiences with the teaching method. What’s less immediately clear, judging from an update presented to the school board Monday, is its effectiveness.
Cost of closing achievement gaps could be staggering
By Peter Hancock
September 27, 2016
Kansas Supreme Court justices seemed to indicate Wednesday that the next school finance system must be geared toward closing achievement gaps between racial and economic groups of students. It’s a problem that persists nationwide, and experts say there is no easy answer to it. The process could take years, and the cost in Kansas could be staggering.
Lawrence high schoolers to have access to condoms in schools this fall
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 26, 2016
Starting this fall, students at both Lawrence public high schools will be able to freely access condoms at their school’s health office.
Lawrence High School alumni to induct three into Hall of Honor on Sunday
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 23, 2016
Three Lawrence high school graduates whose careers have spanned government, commerce and international affairs will be inducted Sunday into the Lawrence Lions Alumni Association’s Hall of Honor.
Fifth-graders learn value of ‘every drop’ at Douglas County Water Festival
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 23, 2016
Tad the tadpole may not play fetch or enjoy a good belly rub, but he’s quickly won the hearts of the four kids gathered around his habitat for the day — a shallow, water-filled container populated with algae, tiny mosquitofish and the empty shells of zebra mussels — under the shade of a shelter at Clinton Lake’s Bloomington East Park.
Kansas Supreme Court skeptical of state’s arguments in school funding case, suggests limited remedy
By Peter Hancock
10:07 a.m., September 21, 2016 Updated 03:22 p.m.
Some justices on the Kansas Supreme Court suggested Wednesday that funding problems for the state’s public schools could be fixed with a narrowly tailored remedy focusing only on categories of students who are currently falling below state standards.
West Middle School teacher receives Horizon Award, praise for commitment to students
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 20, 2016
West Middle School teacher Kelsey Stolt arrived at work Tuesday morning fully expecting to attend an awards ceremony for another teacher. What she didn’t expect was a crowd of two-dozen colleagues and district staff, including superintendent Kyle Hayden, gathered in a West classroom to honor her with the district’s annual Horizon Award instead.
Lawrence High School homecoming parade returns with new route Wednesday
Staff Reports
September 19, 2016
After working with the city to develop a route “that would enhance the safety of parade participants,” Lawrence High School’s homecoming parade will be held Wednesday evening.
As court prepares to hear school funding case, voters may hold most of the cards
By Peter Hancock
September 18, 2016
The long-running school funding lawsuit Gannon v. Kansas returns to the Kansas Supreme Court on Wednesday. But some say the real battle over school funding is being waged on the campaign trail, and it may be that voters this fall will have the most influence over what happens with school funding in the years to come.
Principles of improv theater apply to business and industry, keynote speaker tells Lawrence Schools Foundation
By Peter Hancock
September 16, 2016
Karen Hough, Lawrence High School Class of 1985, is an author and actress who now runs a consulting firm, ImprovEdge, that uses the techniques of improvisational theater to help businesses and organizations improve. She was the keynote speaker Friday at the Lawrence Schools Foundation community breakfast.
Kansas Association of School Boards lays out priorities for new school funding formula
By Peter Hancock
September 15, 2016
The Kansas Association of School Boards says the next funding formula should include many of the elements of an old formula that Kansas lawmakers repealed last year. The group announced its priorities in response to Gov. Sam Brownback’s recent call for public input and dialogue on school funding.
At Sunset Hill, first-graders get a taste of cider-making
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 15, 2016
It’s a little after 10 a.m. Wednesday outside Sunset Hill Elementary School, where a group of first-graders watch in what could only be described as pure, childlike wonder as Joyce Williams demonstrates how to peel an apple.
Steady growth contributes to Eudora school district budget pinch
By Elvyn Jones
September 13, 2016
The Eudora school district continues to be financially pinched between steady growth and a temporary state funding formula that froze state aid at the 2014-2015 level.
Teachers union asks Kansas Supreme Court to restore tenure
By Peter Hancock
11:02 a.m., September 13, 2016 Updated 12:36 p.m.
The state’s largest teachers union asked the Kansas Supreme Court on Tuesday to restore a decades-old law that provided job protections known as tenure rights for most of the state’s nearly 34,000 public school teachers.
Lawrence schools receive funding for purchase of 200 portable Wi-Fi devices
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 12, 2016
In Lawrence, some 400 secondary school students go without internet access at home, according to a survey conducted last spring by the Lawrence school district. A $39,000 gift from the Lawrence Schools Foundation, presented to district officials at Monday’s school board meeting, will significantly reduce that number, providing Lawrence middle and high schools with 200 Kajeet hot spot devices.
Kansas Supreme Court to review teacher rights
By Peter Hancock
September 12, 2016
The state’s largest teacher’s union is challenging a 2014 law that repealed the right of veteran teachers to a due process hearing before they could be summarily fired.
Lawrence school board to consider endorsement of Tobacco 21 initiative
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 12, 2016
When the Lawrence school board meets Monday, its members will be asked to lend their support to a local initiative aimed at raising the tobacco sales age 18 to 21 in Lawrence.
Lawrence schools, Hy-Vee to host kickoff event for school running clubs
Staff Reports
September 7, 2016
The Lawrence school district is partnering with Hy-Vee to host a season kickoff event for its elementary schools’ marathon teams. Pack the Field will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Southwest Middle School track, 2511 Inverness Drive.
Lawrence Schools Foundation breakfast fundraiser to be held Sept. 16
Staff Reports
September 6, 2016
The 15th annual Lawrence Schools Foundation Community Education Breakfast will be Sept. 16 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel, 200 McDonald Drive.
Lawrence sixth-grader honors family’s history with great-grandfather’s horn
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 5, 2016
Jackson Green has always appreciated old things. A recent haul from his grandparents’ house — the couple had just recently moved into “an old people’s home,” the 11-year-old explains — yielded a fresh haul of antiquities, among them a piano and a rotary phone.
Eudora High School 1-to-1 laptop rollout going smoothly
By Elvyn Jones
September 5, 2016
There’s a new rule this year for students to obey in the hallways of Eudora High School. In addition to such longstanding rules against running or lingering while moving from room to room, students now must heed a 21st century dictate.
Out of the blue, local teacher receives letter from President Obama
By Joanna Hlavacek
September 2, 2016
Cara McNorton remembers the day the President came to town. At Kennedy Elementary School, where McNorton teaches fifth grade, students gave up their precious recess and PE time to instead huddle around a classroom screen, watching intently as President Barack Obama’s speech from the University of Kansas streamed in real time in front of them.
Brownback, education groups start planning for next school funding formula
By Peter Hancock
August 31, 2016
Gov. Sam Brownback announced Wednesday that he will work with the Kansas State Department of Education to solicit ideas on what the state’s next school funding system should look like. His announcement came on the same day that a group of school administrators unveiled the framework of a plan they have been working on for 15 months.
Districtwide talent show looking for performers
Staff Reports
August 31, 2016
Ovation!, the Lawrence school district’s first-ever districtwide talent show for middle and high school students, is now seeking performers.
Lawrence Arts Center to introduce career preparation program for young artists
By Joanna Hlavacek
August 29, 2016
Neal Barbour likes to think of the arts as a tool belt. If you’re a creative type looking to build a career for yourself in art, he explains, you’ll need a complete arsenal in your tool belt — one that goes beyond talent and passion to include networking, personal branding, grant writing and other professional essentials.
Lawrence schools’ ACT scores continue to exceed state, national averages
By Joanna Hlavacek
August 26, 2016
Lawrence high school students continue to outperform, on average, their peers on both the state and national level when it comes to the ACT, according to numbers released Friday by the Lawrence school district.
Baldwin, Eudora students exceed state, national peers on ACT scores
By Elvyn Jones
August 25, 2016
Baldwin High School recorded a healthy bounce back, and Eudora High sustained previous success in ACT scores released this week.
Boys & Girls Club reaches longtime goal with launch of Sunset Hill site
By Joanna Hlavacek
August 17, 2016
When students walk through the doors of the refurbished Sunset Hill Elementary School as classes resume Wednesday, they’ll likely notice the several new classrooms, music and art facilities, and expanded cafeteria and kitchen that comprise the school’s recently wrapped $9.6 million renovation project. Also new this year: the addition of a Boys & Girls Club site at Sunset Hill, 901 Schawrz Road. The opening, which kicks off programming after the final bell Wednesday, marks the achievement of a longtime Boys & Girls Club goal, said Colby Wilson, executive director of the Lawrence club.

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