photo by: Journal-World

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

The Lawrence school board will hold a public hearing on Monday as it considers adopting the budget for 2024-2025, which proposes a slight increase compared to last year.

The proposed mill levy is 52.252 mills, where one mill equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. This represents a 0.042-mill increase from last year’s rate. For a $300,000 home, this increase would mean an additional $1.45 in annual property taxes.

According to the agenda, the decision will be based on the school district’s needs assessment, state review and board discussions. Key factors include academic performance and progress at each school, district curriculum, staffing, facility requirements and other crucial elements for student success.

As the Journal-World reported, the school board approved a maximum budget authority and property tax rates that included a largely unchanged maximum mill levy.

While the proposed mill levy for the budget matches the maximum mill levy, board members will have the opportunity to consider decreasing the property tax rate. School districts generally set their maximum budget authority high to allow flexibility in addressing district needs and to secure as much state aid as possible. These maximums do not represent anticipated spending.

The board will also consider authorizing a local option budget – which is a supplemental budget that allows school districts in Kansas to add funds to their operating expenses in addition to the state aid they receive – of 33% for the 2024-2025 budget. According to the agenda, an annual resolution needs to be passed each year to specify the percentage the board will be using for their budget.

In other business, school board members will:

• Consider authorizing the administration to initiate settlement negotiations for a workers’ compensation case, with a settlement amount not to exceed $30,000. According to the agenda, this recommendation is based upon the statutory guidelines. Since the proposed amount exceeds $20,000, approval from the school board is necessary. The administration seeks permission to negotiate with the employee to resolve this case.

• Consider the approval of the Employee Assistance Program with New Directions Behavioral Health for $47,550.72. Since September 2011, Lawrence Public Schools has provided this confidential, work-based program, offering employees free support for personal issues like stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, and work-life balance.

According to the agenda, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas will fully fund the EAP program as part of their wellness benefit. As a result, the district will have no costs associated with the program this year.

There will also be two executive sessions during the meeting to discuss personnel matters with Jeanice Swift, interim superintendent; Larry Englebrick, deputy superintendent; Kristen Ryan, executive director of human resources; and Ron May, director of human resources and safety, invited to be present. There may be action to follow one of those sessions.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. on Monday at the district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. The meeting will also be available via the school district’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. Monday and may participate in person or via Webex video/phone conferencing.