WRITER: Rochelle Valverde

Plans for hundreds of new homes have advanced since school district received projections for declining enrollment and proposed to close schools

Though enrollment projections provided to the Lawrence school board in January predicted that the district would lose about 300 students over the next five years, a few new residential developments have moved forward since then that could affect those numbers. The district hired RSP & Associates to complete the enrollment projections, which along with increasing costs and a goal to identify funding for ...

Some members of Lawrence school district's equity council say proposed school closures would hurt disadvantaged students

Some members of a council that considers equity issues for the Lawrence school district say the council as a whole was not asked for input on the district’s proposal to close Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementary schools, and that they have serious concerns about how closures would affect disadvantaged students. Seven members of the Equity Advisory Council, whose 28 members include school board members, ...

Police have increased presence at Lawrence High School following weekend homicide that involved two former students

Updated at 6:57 p.m. Thursday, March 23, 2023 The Lawrence Police Department has increased its presence at Lawrence High School following a homicide over the weekend that involved two former LHS students. Derrick Del Reed, 17, is charged with one count of first-degree murder in the shooting death of Kamarjay Shaw, 14, on Saturday. Reportedly, multiple people were at the scene of the shooting, but the ...

Lawrence school district releases map of proposed new school boundaries should Broken Arrow, Pinckney close

Story updated at 6:27 p.m. Thursday, March 23: The Lawrence school district has released a map of proposed new school boundaries should Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementaries close. The Boundary Advisory Committee met on Wednesday evening, and consultants working with the district went over a proposal for boundary changes that was revised based on input from the committee at its last meeting. The committee ...

Lawrence school district committee finalizes recommended boundary shifts for potential school closures

The committee working to redraw boundaries in the Lawrence school district related to the potential closures of Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementaries has finalized its recommendation for district leaders except for some minor adjustments. During a Boundary Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday evening, consultants working with the district went over a proposal for boundary changes that was revised based on ...

Lawrence City Commission approves spending $1.84 million to purchase land, small cabins for homeless shelter project

After hearing from dozens of residents who asked them to delay the process, Lawrence city leaders have approved spending $1.84 million related to the city’s recently announced plans to purchase the site of a former private school along North Michigan Street to house a village of temporary shelters for people experiencing homelessness. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 4-1, ...

Lawrence City Commission approves 85-acre annexation that plans to add 300-plus homes

For the second time in as many weeks, Lawrence city leaders have approved an expansion of the city’s boundaries to accommodate additional housing. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 5-0 to annex 85 acres located east of Kansas Highway 10 and south of North 1750 Road and rezone the property for medium-density housing. Commissioners agreed there was a great need for housing and ...

Media attorney, Lawrence school board president have opposing views on open meetings concern

When a Journal-World reporter asked the president of the Lawrence school board earlier this month whether she had ruled out making cuts to the district’s administration to help with a budget crunch, the response was unusual. She couldn’t say because she was worried her answer might violate the Kansas Open Meetings Act. Why? Because, in part, the reporter had also asked the same question of the other six ...

Lawrence City Commission to consider spending $1.84 million to purchase land, small cabins for homeless shelter project

Story updated at 4:17 p.m. Friday, March 17: Lawrence city leaders will soon consider three approvals with a total value of $1.84 million related to the city’s recently announced plans to purchase the site of a former private school along North Michigan Street to house a village of temporary shelters for people experiencing homelessness. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will ...

Lawrence City Commission to consider 85-acre annexation that would add 300-plus homes

City leaders will once again decide whether to expand the city’s boundaries to accommodate additional housing — this time toward the northwest with a development that plans to build more than 300 homes. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider whether to annex 85 acres located east of Kansas Highway 10 and south of North 1750 Road, which is directly north of Rock Chalk ...

Lawrence City Commission approves 143-acre annexation for SLT and Iowa Street development

Story updated at 12:22 p.m. Wednesday, March 15: Lawrence city leaders have voted to expand the city’s boundaries in the area of the South Lawrence Trafficway to allow for a development that plans to add dozens of acres of new homes as well as additional commercial space to the city. However, opponents continued to voice long-standing concerns about the proximity of the property to the Wakarusa River and ...

City plans to buy former private school site along North Michigan Street for homeless shelter project

Story updated at 4:17 p.m. Wednesday, March 15: The City of Lawrence plans to buy the site of a former private school along North Michigan Street to house a village of temporary shelters for people experiencing homelessness. City officials announced Wednesday afternoon that city commissioners will be asked to approve the purchase of property at 256 N. Michigan St., which is the former site of Veritas Christian ...

Lawrence City Commission approves economic incentives request for West Campus development

City leaders have voted to approve an economic incentives package for a development on the University of Kansas’ West Campus that will include research-related buildings, retail businesses, affordable and market-rate housing and a child care center. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission voted 4-1, with Commissioner Courtney Shipley opposed, to approve a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) ...

Lawrence City Commission to consider 143-acre annexation for SLT and Iowa Street development

Lawrence city leaders will soon decide whether to expand the city’s boundaries in the area of the South Lawrence Trafficway to allow for a development that plans to add dozens of acres of new homes as well as additional commercial space to the city. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider an annexation request for 143.41 acres located in the southeast corner of the South ...

Lawrence City Commission to consider economic incentives request for West Campus development

City leaders will soon consider an economic incentives package for a mixed-use development on the University of Kansas’ West Campus that will include research-related buildings, retail businesses, affordable and market-rate housing and a child care center. As part of its meeting Tuesday, the Lawrence City Commission will consider approving a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and a Community Improvement District ...

Board members discuss if administrative cuts should be on the table; central office has 21 administrators, 64 additional staff

An often-heard refrain of Lawrence school district officials is that there will be cuts and they will be painful, but there is one place in the district’s budget that some say is escaping scrutiny in this year’s round of budget reductions: district administration. As the Lawrence school board prepares to cut as many as 50 teachers and close up to two schools to free up money for teacher and staff raises, ...

City of Lawrence to use pandemic aid to support shelter's capacity increase; 98 of 125 beds will be overnight only

In an indicator of the closer relationship between the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Community Shelter, the city plans to use a portion of its pandemic aid to pay additional staffing costs for the shelter to expand its capacity to 125 people. The city announced Thursday that beginning March 13, the day after the city’s winter emergency shelter at the Community Building in downtown Lawrence is set to ...

Committee begins review of potential boundary changes from school closures; consultant to present revised concept soon

The committee working to redraw boundaries in the Lawrence school district related to the potential closures of Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementaries has begun conversations about where potential boundary lines might lie, and a consultant will soon prepare a revised plan based on committee input. During a Boundary Advisory Committee meeting on Wednesday evening, consultants working with the district went over ...

Lawrence Community Shelter to expand capacity to 125 people after years of serving 50 or fewer

After more than three years of limited capacity, the Lawrence Community Shelter will soon be expanding to serve 125 people. The LCS was for many years the community’s primary provider of emergency shelter, but it significantly reduced its capacity in the summer of 2019 due to budget issues, and amid the COVID-19 pandemic and staffing issues it has continued to operate at a capacity of 50 or fewer people at ...

Lawrence school district confirms that on-site child care will be provided during school closure hearings

The Lawrence school district has announced that child care will be provided at the upcoming public hearings for the potential closures of Broken Arrow and Pinckney elementaries. District spokesperson Julie Boyle said in an email Thursday evening that on-site child care for school-age children will be provided at both public hearings. As the Journal-World previously reported, providing child care was one of ...