photo by: Lawrence school district

The Lawrence school board will consider a capital improvement plan for 2024-25 on Tuesday, May 28, 2024.

The Lawrence school board on Tuesday will consider approving the district’s multimillion-dollar capital improvement plan for the 2024-25 school year.

The capital improvement plan is a budget outline for projects related to school building maintenance, renovation, equipment procurement, technological needs and other items.

The district’s administration is recommending that the board approve around $17 million in expenditures as follows: $8.8 million for facilities, $4.6 million for technology, $1.6 million for equipment and furniture, $875,000 for trade wages, $755,000 for discretionary spending at schools and $375,000 for instructional and athletic-related items, such as musical instruments and exercise equipment.

Any projects in the capital improvement plan totaling $20,000 or more would be brought to the board for approval, and changes in the plan could occur throughout the year based on need.

The board will also consider a recommendation to approve a five-year purchase agreement of Open Up Math for elementary schools. Open Up is a curriculum designed to foster mathematical learning and engagement in students through a more hands-on and community approach. The board is being asked to consider spending about $228,000 from the instructional resource budget for math center kits, teacher manuals and workbooks, with a remaining balance of about $485,000 to be spent during the 2025-2026 school year.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday at district headquarters, 110 McDonald Drive. The meeting is also available online via the school’s YouTube channel. Residents who want to share comments with the board may sign up in advance by emailing PublicComment@usd497.org by 6 p.m. Tuesday and may participate in person or via Webex video/phone conferencing.

The board’s agenda packet is available on the district’s website.