photo by: Contributed and file photos

David Cunningham and Darcy Kraus

Two Lawrence school district administrators will leave their positions at the end of the current school year, the district announced recently.

Superintendent Anthony Lewis said in a news release that Darcy Kraus, the district’s director of elementary schools, and David Cunningham, the district’s executive director of human resources and chief legal counsel, are set to retire. Kraus is retiring on June 30, and Cunningham is retiring on May 30 to accept a position with the Kansas Association of School Boards.

Kraus spent eight years working for the district, first as the principal of Sunset Hill Elementary School for four years and another four years in her current position. The district will begin a search to fill Kraus’ position.

Cunningham has served the district for 14 years. The district will promote from within to fill his position as HR director and reorganize the office. As part of a reorganization, the district will not fill the legal counsel role.

Samrie Devin, the director of human resources, will take over the executive director position on April 5. Devin has worked in the district’s HR office for the last five years. Prior to that, she served as the principal of Quail Run Elementary from 2014 to 2016. She also served as an elementary principal for 10 years and a teacher for eight years for the Geary County school district. It’s unclear if Cunningham will only serve as chief counsel when Devin takes over the position. District officials did not respond to the Journal-World’s request for clarification on Monday.

The district will also promote HR Supervisor Sarah Hamlin to assistant director of HR operations and look to hire a new facilitator for recruitment and retention, which will aim to help the district fill and retain teachers and classified positions, such as paraeducator, food service and custodial roles.

According to the news release, Lewis will recommend the school board reallocate the funding for the legal counsel position toward the district’s legal services fund. The district is a member of KASB’s Legal Assistance Fund and contracts with the local law firm Stevens and Brand LLP.