photo by: Journal-World

Lawrence Public Schools district offices pictured in April 2021.

Lawrence school board leaders will soon discuss whether the district’s various school, administrative and facility buildings could potentially benefit from the use of solar power.

As part of a work session ahead of the school board’s regular meeting on Monday, Alan W. Lankford, of Lankford Fendler Consulting Engineers Inc., will present a report on solar energy that will include an overview of a possible pilot program for the district, according to the board’s agenda.

The Futures Planning Committee, a 39-member committee that included community members, teachers, staff and administrators, recommended that the district consider the use of solar energy and/or other renewable energy in the district as part of its budget recommendation to the school board. That component of the recommendation received the highest level of support from the committee, with 87% of the members voting in support. During committee meetings, some members discussed the possibility of federal programs or grants that could offset capital costs of solar panel installations. Some comments compiled from the committee as part of the process included the need for more investigation regarding costs, savings and implementation.

As of 6 p.m. Friday, the report was not yet attached to the board’s agenda.

In other business, the board will:

• Receive the third-quarter equity report. The quarterly report provides an update regarding the district’s efforts to address achievement gaps between different student groups. The report also breaks down attendance, behavior incidents and school suspensions by different student groups. Monday’s report includes an update about the district’s rollout of restorative justice practices, which focus on repairing harm and restoring relationships, and changes to the district’s “behavior matrix,” which lays out discipline for various behaviors. For serious behavior issues, such as fighting, both punitive discipline, such as suspension, and restorative practices are used.

• Recess into executive session to discuss ongoing contract negotiations. The district negotiates contracts, including pay raises, with the district’s teacher and staff unions on an annual basis. The agenda states the executive session will be 30 minutes with no action to follow.

The work session will begin at 5:15 p.m. at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. The board’s regular meeting will follow at 6 p.m.