photo by: Journal-World

The Lawrence school board will meet on Monday at the school district offices, 110 McDonald Dr.

After a lengthy public comment session and discussion about proposed school closures, the Lawrence school board on Monday eventually tackled its agenda items, including approving additional vacation around Thanksgiving.

Students and staff will now get a full week off at Thanksgiving, and 12-month staff will get an additional paid holiday for Juneteenth.

Other calendar items approved for the district’s 2022-23 school calendar included:

• School staff will return to work ahead of the fall semester Aug. 10, with parent-teacher conferences taking place prior to the start of the school year. The beginning of the school year for K-12 students is set for Aug. 18, after a half-day for kindergarten, sixth-grade and ninth-grade students Aug. 17. The first day of the early-childhood program follows on Aug. 25.

• The district’s spring break remains aligned with the University of Kansas’ break, scheduled for March 13-17 in 2023.

• The calendar will include two classified professional development days; that addition was negotiated with PAL-CWA, a labor union representing the district’s classified staff, which includes paraeducators, custodians and office staff, among others.

The board also heard an update on the district’s strategic plan. Curriculum objectives include identifying what students should know and be able to do from pre-K through 12th grade and beyond, and using instructional resources that honor and preserve students’ diverse cultural backgrounds.

As part of that update, the board approved a five-year curriculum review schedule for elementary, middle school and high school courses. The board also approved the course description booklet.

photo by: Photo courtesy of Lawrence Public Schools

The four-speaker team of John Marshall, Serena Rupp, Ezra Joseph, Emma Stammeyer, Gilly Falin and Eleanor Roust finished as state champion runner-up earlier this month at the KSHSAA 6A State Debate Tournament. The group, pictured here, was recognized at Monday’s Lawrence school board meeting.

The board also recognized Free State High School’s debate team for its performance at the 6A State Debate Tournament. The two-speaker team of Aaron Persinger and Sophie Racy placed third, and the four-speaker team of John Marshall, Serena Rupp, Ezra Joseph, Emma Stammeyer, Gilly Falin and Eleanor Roust finished as state champion runner-up.

The board’s Budget and Program Evaluation Committee (BPEC) and Boundary Advisory Committee (BAC) will both meet this week, as the BPEC continues to evaluate subcommittee budget-saving proposals and the BAC considers possible boundary shifts. The BAC meets from 4 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, and the BPEC meets from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday.