photo by: Journal-World

The Lawrence school district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.

The Lawrence school district again heard from community members affiliated with its high school gymnastics program, asking for the board members to reject a recent recommendation to discontinue it.

Meanwhile, one board member pleaded for understanding when it comes to the budget decisions the board will need to make in response to a $3.3 million shortfall the district is facing.

During a meeting on Monday, the board heard from the gymnastics program’s coach, Kat Farrow, an athlete and a parent, all arguing that the program provides an athletic activity that accepts all students, regardless of their talent level, unlike other athletic programs in the district. Farrow also argued that the Lawrence program is one of the largest in the state and interest in gymnastics is increasing in Lawrence and cutting the program would be detrimental to students who participate.

“We have built a highly successful state championship team that is available to all community members, regardless of who they are or what they can afford,” Farrow said. “All who are brave enough and want to join, they can. That is a huge point of inclusivity for anybody in Lawrence.”

As the Journal-World previously reported, district administration recently recommended the program be discontinued next fall, citing concerns about low participation, with just 22 students from the two high schools, and a small number of programs in the state. It also said the program lacked dedicated practice space in the district.

Days later, students at both high schools held protests during the school day against the recommendation.

Prior to hearing their comments Monday, Superintendent Anthony Lewis reiterated the district’s reasons for the recommendation. While the district also previously mentioned budget concerns as part of its reasoning — noting discontinuing the program would save the district $32,000 — Lewis said the budget is not the only reason the recommendation was made.

“Please know we don’t enter these recommendations lightly,” Lewis said. “I do understand that any time something is taken away, it is a huge loss.”

A decision on whether to cut the program has not yet been made. Lewis said the board will need to consider it as part of its budget and program evaluations of the district and that board members have asked district administrators for more information regarding the recommendation.

Lewis also said the board plans to hold a special meeting next week related to the budget and program evaluation committee, which includes a subcommittee for athletics and is working to make recommendations to help the district balance its budget. Lewis said the meeting will allow the committee to share with the public some of its work.

However, the budget concerns for the district have become a bit tougher. As the Journal-World previously reported, the district expected to see a shortfall between $2-3.3 million from its budget next school year. Lewis said on Monday that the state has informed the district that a provision it had hoped to use to soften the blow would not be available, meaning the estimated shortfall will be all of the estimated $3.3 million.

Board member Shannon Kimball said that the board members will need to make cuts to the budget to balance the district’s accounts, but where those decisions will be made are going to be extremely difficult. While she said her comments were not related to the gymnastics program, she said the board is going to have to make decisions that many people are not going to like.

“I want to express to the community that none of us are doing this because we want to be in this position,” Kimball said. “We are trying to do the right thing.”

Additionally, board member Carole Cadue-Blackwood asked community members who have concerns about the budget to help the district advocate for more education funding from the state.

In other business, the board:

• Approved purchasing new uniforms for the Lawrence High School marching band for about $116,000. The band has been using the same uniforms since 2009 and was scheduled to receive new ones, according to a memo in the board’s agenda.

• Approved its 2022 legislative priorities, which include asking the Kansas Legislature to work to secure more federal funding to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on students, among several other things.