photo by: Journal-World

Lawrence Public Schools district offices pictured in April 2021.

The Lawrence school board at its Monday meeting will hear an update on Liberty Memorial Central Middle School, which is switching to a STEAM curriculum next school year, and an update on the district budget.

Administrators and educators will give an overview of “successes, challenges, and next steps” since the curriculum switch at LMCMS was approved in mid-December, according to agenda materials.

The district’s executive director of finance, Cynde Frick, will present the Sept. 20, 2023, enrollment figures, which are currently being audited, and discuss the status of the district’s current budget as well as review estimated funding and potential legislative changes that may impact the 2024-25 budget.

The board will also consider a number of items as part of its consent agenda, which are approved in a block unless a board member or the superintendent pulls an item for separate discussion. Those items include approving bids for nearly $900,000 in asphalt and concrete maintenance at various schools; approving an additional $200,000 to an existing contract to provide special education services; and reviewing several items originating in the Board Policy Committee, including policies related to pregnant and parenting employees, uniformed service leave and disposal of district property, among other matters.

The school board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at district headquarters, 100 McDonald Drive. The meeting is open to the public and can also be live-streamed on the district’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@USD497/streams.