photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Lawrence school board members met on Monday, April 13, 2026.

The Lawrence school district’s new Family Engagement Center is aiming to open on the same day as the district’s annual Kids Expo in the summer.

The Family Engagement Center will be opening ahead of the 2026-2027 school year at the district’s Education Support Center, 110 McDonald Drive, according to an update shared at the Lawrence school board’s meeting on Monday. The center will provide a variety of supports for children and families, including resources for students who are new to the district, health and wellness resources, connections to community services and more. The entrance will be on the side of the building closest to the city bus stop.

“The goal of this center is just to create and align and be more cohesive for family engagement across all of our schools,” Kristen Ryan, assistant superintendent of student support services, said. “It is not to replace anything that is currently happening in our buildings.”

While discussion surrounding how the center will operate is still in the early stages, Ryan said it’s meant to provide additional opportunities to support families. She added that while there is already an enrollment center in the district that serves new families, this center will provide services for all families.

Ryan said the district has thought about potentially holding classes open to families on topics such as children’s developmental stages and what parents can do to help their child succeed academically. She said it could also be a place for cultural connections.

Board member Bob Byers asked about how the center would engage with families who might want to use its programs. Ryan told board members there is a long-term goal to launch a van to make these resources at the Family Engagement Center mobile. And Superintendent Jeanice Swift said that would give the district the chance to meet families where they are and ask them what resources they need.

photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

From left to right, Tina Mitchell, director of equity, family communication and engagement; Kiley Luckett, director of mental health; and Kristen Ryan, assistant superintendent of student support services are pictured on Monday, April 13, 2026.

“We’ll go to them,” Swift said. “So that van could be in a park, it could be at an apartment complex, it could be anywhere. (It’s) just this idea that we want to partner and connect with our families and we’ll go to them if they can’t get to us.”

Board member Kelly Jones said another idea for programs at the center would be support groups for parents of children with mental health conditions. She said the groups could help inform families about learning strategies to keep their children engaged at school and other resources that could help.

Monday’s presentation was part of a series of discussions about the district’s priorities for the 2026-2027 school year. Previous presentations have focused on teaching and learning as well as how the district will strengthen existing programs.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, BOARD MEMBERS:

• Approved a contract with Lankford Fendler and Associates Consulting Engineers Inc. in the amount of $26,750 to provide engineering services for new boilers at Lawrence High School. One of the three boilers has been permanently decommissioned, and the other two boilers are experiencing failures with increasing maintenance demands. District staff said a replacement was necessary as a continued reliance on the current system could result in in-season failures and expensive repairs.

• Renewed Xello, a college and career readiness platform, from Southeast Kansas Education Center in the amount of $25,610. This tool helps students plan their high school courses around post-secondary careers and academic goals. The cost will be covered by a federal grant.

• Renewed Imagine Learning Edgenuity Licenses for grades 6-12 for the amount of $55,000 for the 2026-2027 school year. The district has used this platform to provide flexible learning options for students who need credit recovery or alternative course options outside of the traditional classroom.

• Held an executive session for the purpose of discussing employee contract negotiations. The board took no action following the discussion.