Unified School District 497, KS

Board Business Meeting

The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education approved a consent agenda that included a $42,000 initial agreement with ACI Boland Architects and partners for architectural visioning and planning services, and a $284,105.92 bid for asphalt and concrete maintenance at six school sites. The meeting also featured reports from the superintendent and board president, as well as legislative updates. All items were approved unanimously.

• Approved $42,000 architectural visioning and planning services contract with ACI Boland Architects, Clark|Huesemann LLC, and Multistudio
• Approved $284,105.92 asphalt and concrete maintenance bid from Phillips Site Work, Inc. for Community Connections at Pinckney and five elementary/middle schools
• Total project budget for asphalt work set at $365,921.81 including contingency and engineering
• Langston Hughes Elementary School to serve as initial study site for concept development
• Consent agenda adopted unanimously by all seven board members

Board Business Meeting

The Board of Education held a business meeting on March 9, 2026, approving several capital projects for the Centennial Campus as part of reopening it as a Choice Campus. Items on the consent agenda included engineering services, roof replacement, and a major renovation, all passed unanimously.

• Approved $28,170 engineering fee to Norton & Schmidt for Centennial Campus construction administration
• Approved $625,828.50 roof replacement contract with Meridian Roofing Solutions at Centennial Campus
• Approved $3,503,603 renovation contract with Centric Projects for Centennial Campus, including contingency and fire alarm/restroom funds
• All projects paid from capital outlay funds, which cannot be used for classroom salaries

Board Business Meeting

The board approved consent agenda items including a $429,550 contract to Mammoth Sports Construction for Free State High School press box remodel and a $574,310 contract to BHS Construction for middle school theater updates. The board also held two executive sessions: one for employer-employee negotiations and another for potential litigation with legal counsel. Reports were given by the superintendent, board president, and committees.

• Free State High School press box remodel: $390,500 base bid plus $39,050 contingency = $429,550 total
• Middle school theater updates: $522,100 base bid plus $52,210 contingency = $574,310 total
• Executive session (20 mins) for contract negotiations with superintendent and deputy
• Executive session (30 mins) for potential litigation with legal counsel
• Public comment rules: signs banned, disruptive behavior results in removal

The Lawrence Public Schools Board approved its agenda and entered two executive sessions. Under the consent agenda, the board accepted bids for a high‑school press‑box remodel ($429,550), a middle‑school theater renovation ($574,310), and purchased playground equipment for two preschool classrooms ($103,967). The board also approved the personnel report, monthly voucher summary, and February 9 meeting minutes before adjourning.

• Approved meeting agenda (unanimous)
• Recessed to executive session for contract negotiations (unanimous)
• Recessed to executive session for potential litigation discussion (unanimous)
• Accepted $390,500 press‑box remodel bid (total $429,550 with contingency) (unanimous)
• Accepted $522,100 theater update bid (total $574,310 with contingency) (unanimous)
• Approved purchase of playground equipment for $103,967 (total $114,363 with contingency) (unanimous)
• Approved February 23 personnel report (unanimous)
• Approved adjournment of the meeting (unanimous)

Board Business Meeting

The board approved a consent agenda including a $387,283 chiller replacement at Lawrence High School, a $155,400 emergency generator replacement at the Educational Support Center, and a three-year Turf Tank robotic line painter rental agreement costing $17,700 in year one and $16,000 annually thereafter. These items were adopted by a single motion without separate discussion.

• Lawrence High School chiller replacement: $387,283 total from capital outlay funds
• Educational Support Center emergency standby generator replacement: $155,400 from capital outlay funds
• Multi-year Turf Tank robotic line painter rental: $17,700 year one, $16,000 years two and three from general fund funds

The Lawrence Public Schools Board approved multiple facility and technology contracts totaling over $500,000, including a generator replacement at the Educational Support Center and a PowerSchool talent solution. The board also approved personnel reports, financial summaries, and the January 27, 2026 meeting minutes.

• Approved $155,400 generator replacement project (7-0)
• Approved $387,283 chiller replacement project (7-0)
• Approved $74,310 PowerSchool Talent Perform Solution (7-0)
• Approved $50,000 Incubator Kitchen grant (7-0)
• Approved staff and community calendars for 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 (7-0)
• Approved January 27, 2026 meeting minutes (7-0)
• Approved monthly vouchers and financial reports (7-0)
• Entered executive session for superintendent evaluation (6-0)

Board Report(s) Meeting

The Board of Education approved a new flat-fee contract for fringe benefit insurance brokerage to address rising health insurance costs. The board also authorized engineering services for the Choice Campus at Centennial and renewed a districtwide wearable panic alert system.

• Approved Holmes Murphy as fringe benefit insurance broker for a flat fee of $175,000
• Approved $143,875 for Lankford | Fendler & Associates LLC for engineering services at Choice Campus at Centennial
• Approved annual renewal of Centegix Wearable Panic Alert System at a cost not to exceed $146,200
• Report of Superintendent of Schools presented
• Legislative Update provided

The Board of Education approved several items via consent agenda, including insurance broker selection and school policy updates. Members also approved $690 monthly tuition for the 2026/27 preschool program and participation in a tax rebate project for Reuter Buildings. Staff and community calendars were tabled for a later date.

• Approved Holmes Murphy as fringe benefit insurance broker (6-0)
• Approved $143,875 for engineering services at Choice Campus at Centennial (6-0)
• Approved Centegix Wearable Panic Alert System renewal up to $146,200 (6-0)
• Approved $92,240 for AVID Site Membership and Professional Learning fees (6-0)
• Approved several board policy second readings via consent agenda (6-0)
• Approved $690 monthly tuition for 2026/27 preschool students (6-0)
• Approved participation in Reuter Building Neighborhood Revitalization tax rebate (5-1)
• Tabled staff and community calendars for a later date

Board Report(s) Meeting

The Lawrence Public Schools Board of Education will hold a board report meeting that is largely procedural, including the swearing-in of new and re-elected members, the appointment of Bob Byers to fill a board vacancy, and his subsequent appointment as vice-president. The board will also consider a consent agenda that includes a five-year internet service agreement with Midco for the Wakarusa Valley site at a total cost of $35,500.

• Appointment of Bob Byers, fourth-place finisher in the November 2025 election, to fill the board vacancy through January 2028
• Swearing-in of Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, Matt Lancaster, and Bob Byers
• Appointment of Bob Byers as board vice-president through July 2026
• Consent agenda item: approval of up to $35,500 five-year internet service agreement with Midco for Wakarusa Valley site (1104 E. 1000 Rd.)
• Recognition of January as School Board Recognition Month

The board appointed Bob Byers to fill a vacancy and serve as vice-president, approved a consent agenda including policy readings and financial reports, and authorized the purchase of choir uniforms and a truck chassis.

• Appointed Bob Byers to fill board vacancy (6-0)
• Appointed Bob Byers as board vice-president (6-0)
• Approved Wakarusa Valley internet service renewal ($35,500)
• Approved middle school choir uniforms ($21,715)
• Approved F-350 chassis purchase ($50,781)
• Approved policy readings for enrollment, adult students, visitors, executive session, and ratification procedures
• Approved personnel report and monthly vouchers
• Approved financial and donation reports for November 2025