photo by: Josie Heimsoth/Journal-World

Superintendent Jeanice Swift and Board President Bob Byers are pictured on Monday, July 13, 2026.

Lawrence school board members on Monday chose Bob Byers as their new board president and Yolanda Franklin as their vice president for the upcoming 2026-2027 school year.

The board held its annual organizational meeting on Monday to elect its officers. Byers was the only board member nominated for the president role, and Franklin and board member Carole Cadue-Blackwood were nominated for the vice president role. Cadue-Blackwood did not accept the nomination, however.

Byers said he welcomed the opportunity to serve as president and shared some things he hoped to further discuss among board members.

Byers said he would be interested in reevaluating how public comment is handled during board meetings. Since December 2025, public comment has not been included on Lawrence school board’s agenda, and Byers wanted to consider allowing it during meetings again.

Byers also said he anticipated further discussion surrounding truancy programming in Douglas County. Byers previously told the Journal-World about some concerns he had with the county’s new in-house truancy program for elementary and middle school students and stepping away from funding nonprofit Center for Supportive Communities’ truancy programming.

The county’s program – dubbed “EveryDay Counts” – has a case management approach, and Byers has said that while case management has a role in truancy cases, his concern is with relying on case management as the primary intervention for truancy.

Franklin thanked the board members for the nomination, adding that she’s learned a lot from the district and the board. “I look forward to continuing to serve the community,” Franklin said.

During 2025-2026, GR Gordon-Ross was the president of the school board, and Byers was vice president.

In addition, board members appointed the clerk of the board, district treasurer, deputy clerk and deputy treasurer for the 2026-2027 school year, as required by state law. Nikki Naumann was named as the clerk of the board; Cynde Frick was named as the district treasurer; Kiley Luckett was named as the deputy clerk; and Pam Fraley was named as the deputy treasurer.

Board members also designated Brad Finkeldei of Stevens & Brand LLP as the school district’s legal counsel for the 2026-2027 school year at the rate of $150 per hour.

IN OTHER BUSINESS, BOARD MEMBERS:

• Renewed the Kansas Association of School Boards annual membership access at a cost of $15,281 and purchased a season pass for $1,750, for a total cost of $17,031. KASB provides lobbying during the legislative session, information about current educational issues and educational programs for board members. The additional purchase of the annual season pass will provide unlimited access to KASB’s online workshops, seminars and training courses.

• Authorized the continued participation in the KASB Legal Assistance Fund, which supports school boards needing legal services. The fee for the current year is $3,100 and covers services from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.

• Approved a furniture quote from Circadia for the Choice Campus at Centennial in the amount of $45,590. The Choice Campus is the district’s new personalized, flexible and nontraditional high school option. This is the first phase of furnishings for the building and will include furniture for classrooms, instructional support spaces and makerspaces. A second phase of furnishings for open collaboration and commons areas is currently in the design process and will be presented for board approval at a later date.

• Approved the annual cost of maintenance and supplies for printing, including click charges and related expenses from SumnerONE Inc., with an estimated cost of up to $215,000.

• Approved interim financial reports, including a cash summary, budget to actual summary, summary for donations, grants, athletics and activities and petty cash reports for the periods ending May 31, 2026.

• Held an executive session for the purposes of discussing personnel matters of nonelected personnel.