Lawrence school board to receive update on plans for ‘repurposing’ Liberty Memorial Central Middle School

photo by: Journal-World

Lawrence Public Schools district offices pictured in April 2021.

The Lawrence school board on Monday will receive an update on plans for the potential repurposing of Liberty Memorial Central Middle School to a special curriculum that blends the “STEAM” fields of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The idea for repurposing LMCMS came amid declining enrollment and the closures of Pinckney and Broken Arrow elementary schools earlier this year. In February , the board voted to repurpose the school with a to-be-determined curricular focus beginning with the 2024-25 school year.

Despite the school’s inclusion in a broader conversation about the future of district facilities, Chief Academic Officer Patrick Kelly told the board in September that LMCMS was not in danger of closing.

“There has been no mention of closing this school at all,” Kelly said. “That narrative is out there, and we wanted to start off by saying what a great facility this is.”

The LMCMS switchover to a new format also coincides with a new state law taking effect next summer that will allow Kansas students to go to any public school in the state, space permitting.

No other items are listed on the board’s agenda for “new” or “old” business. The board meets at 6 p.m. Monday at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.

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