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Unified School District 497, KS

Unified School District 497   KS average (US Census ACS)
Population99,611
Per-capita income$38,909
Median home value$280,600

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Reuniones recientes

Mon Mar 23, 2026

Board Business Meeting

La Junta aprueba contrato de $42K de visión arquitectónica para la planificación de instalaciones

La Junta de Educación de Lawrence Public Schools aprobó una agenda de consentimiento que incluyó un acuerdo inicial de $42,000 con ACI Boland Architects y socios para servicios de planificación y visión arquitectónica, y una oferta de $284,105.92 para el mantenimiento de asfalto y concreto en seis sitios escolares. La reunión también incluyó informes del superintendente y del presidente de la junta, así como actualizaciones legislativas. Todos los puntos fueron aprobados unánimemente.

educationschool-boardfacilitiesarchitectureasphaltcontractsplanningpublic-schools
Mon Mar 9, 2026

Board Business Meeting

La Junta aprueba renovación de $3.5M para Centennial Campus

La Junta de Educación llevó a cabo una reunión de negocios el 9 de marzo de 2026, aprobando varios proyectos de capital para el Centennial Campus como parte de su reapertura como Choice Campus. Los puntos de la agenda de consentimiento incluyeron servicios de ingeniería, reemplazo de techo y una renovación mayor, todos aprobados por unanimidad.

educationfacilitiescapital-outlayconstructionroof-replacementrenovationcentennial-campus
Mon Feb 23, 2026

Board Business Meeting

La junta escolar aprueba remodelación de cabina de prensa por $429k y mejoras al teatro por $574k

La junta aprobó los puntos de la agenda de consentimiento, incluyendo un contrato de $429,550 con Mammoth Sports Construction para la remodelación de la cabina de prensa de Free State High School y un contrato de $574,310 con BHS Construction para actualizaciones del teatro de la escuela intermedia. La junta también llevó a cabo dos sesiones ejecutivas: una para negociaciones entre empleador y empleado y otra por litigios potenciales con asesoría legal. El superintendente, el presidente de la junta y los comités presentaron informes.

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✓ Decidido: Board approves $574,310 contract for middle school theater updates

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.

📄 De las actas
Texto extraído del documento oficial de actas (extracción automatizada — puede contener errores).
Board Business Meeting (Monday, February 23, 2026) Generated by Nikki Naumann on Thursday, February 26, 2026     Members present Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, GR Gordon-Ross, Bob Byers, Yolanda Franklin, Matt Lancaster     1. Opening Items   Procedural: 1.1 Call to Order At 6:00 p.m., Board President, GR Gordon-Ross, called to order a meeting of the Board of Education.   Action: 1.2 Approval of Agenda "I move the Board of Education approve the agenda for its February 23, 2026 meeting."   Motion by Bob Byers, second by Matt Lancaster Final Resolution: Motion Passes Yes: Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, GR Gordon-Ross, Bob Byers, Yolanda Franklin, Matt Lancaster     Action, Discussion: 1.3 Executive Session: 20 Minutes At 6:01 p.m. the board of education, along with Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, superintendent, Dr. Larry Englebrick, deputy superintendent, and Kristen Ryan, assistant superintendent, enter into executive session.   "I move the Board of Education recess to executive session to protect the public interest in negotiating a fair and equitable contract to discuss negotiations, pursuant to the exception for employer-employee negotiations under KOMA; with Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, superintendent; Dr. Larry Englebrick, deputy superintendent; and Kristen Ryan, assistant superintendent; invited to be prese [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]
Mon Feb 9, 2026

Board Business Meeting

La junta aprueba el reemplazo de un enfriador de $387K en Lawrence High School

La junta aprobó una agenda de consentimiento que incluye el reemplazo de un enfriador por $387,283 en Lawrence High School, el reemplazo de un generador de emergencia por $155,400 en el Educational Support Center, y un acuerdo de alquiler de tres años para un pintor de líneas robótico Turf Tank con un costo de $17,700 en el primer año y $16,000 anualmente a partir de entonces. Estos artículos fueron adoptados mediante una sola moción sin discusión separada.

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✓ Decidido: Board approves generator, chiller, and talent software contracts

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.

📄 De las actas
Texto extraído del documento oficial de actas (extracción automatizada — puede contener errores).
Board Business Meeting (Monday, February 9, 2026) Generated by Nikki Naumann on Wednesday, February 11, 2026   Members present Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, GR Gordon-Ross, Bob Byers, Matt Lancaster, Yolanda Franklin (virtual)     1. Opening Items   Procedural: 1.1 Call to Order At 6:00 p.m., Board President, GR Gordon-Ross, called to order a meeting of the Board of Education.   Note: Member Cadue-Blackwood did not join the meeting until 6:04 due to traffic issues.  Member Franklin did not join the meeting until approximately 6:05 due to technical issues.    Action: 1.2 Approval of Agenda "I move the Board of Education approve the agenda for its February 9, 2026 meeting."   Motion by Shannon Kimball, second by Bob Byers Final Resolution: Motion Passes Yes: Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, GR Gordon-Ross, Bob Byers, Matt Lancaster Not Present at Vote: Carole Cadue-Blackwood, Yolanda Franklin      Information: 1.3 Report of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, superintendent, gives a report and shows a presentation.     Information: 1.4 Report of Board of Education President GR Gordon-Ross, board president, gives a report.     Information: 1.5 Public Education Legislative and State Board of Education Updates Member Shannon Kimball gave an update.   &nb [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]
Tue Jan 27, 2026

Board Report(s) Meeting

El consejo aprueba nuevo corredor de seguros de salud y servicios de ingeniería de instalaciones

El Consejo de Educación aprobó un nuevo contrato de tarifa plana para la agencia de seguros de beneficios marginales para abordar el aumento de los costos de los seguros de salud. El consejo también autorizó servicios de ingeniería para el Campus Choice en Centennial y renovó un sistema de alerta de pánico portátil a nivel del distrito.

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✓ Decidido: Board approves engineering services, safety renewals, and preschool tuition

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.

📄 De las actas
Texto extraído del documento oficial de actas (extracción automatizada — puede contener errores).
Board Report(s) Meeting (Tuesday, January 27, 2026) Generated by Nikki Naumann on Friday, January 30, 2026   Members present Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, GR Gordon-Ross, Bob Byers, Matt Lancaster     1. Opening Items Procedural: 1.1 Call to Order At 6:00 p.m., Board President, GR Gordon-Ross, called to order a meeting of the Board of Education.   Action: 1.2 Approval of Agenda "I move the Board of Education approve the agenda for the January 27, 2026 meeting."   Motion by Bob Byers, second by Matt Lancaster Final Resolution: Motion Passes Yes: Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, GR Gordon-Ross, Bob Byers, Matt Lancaster Information: 1.3 Report of Superintendent of Schools Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift, superintendent, gives a report and shows a presentation.     Information: 1.4 Report of Board of Education President GR Gordon-Ross, board president, gives a report.     Discussion, Information: 1.5 Board Committee Reports Multiple board members give reports of the committee's that they attended. Discussion continues.     Information: 1.6 Legislative Update Information is given.     Discussion, Information: 1.7 Board Commentary Multiple board members give commentary. Discussion continues.         2. Consent Agenda   [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]
Mon Jan 12, 2026

Board Report(s) Meeting

La Junta nombra a Bob Byers para cubrir vacante y toma juramento a nuevos miembros

La Junta de Educación de las Escuelas Públicas de Lawrence llevará a cabo una reunión de informe de la junta que es mayormente procedimental, incluyendo la toma de juramento de miembros nuevos y reelegidos, el nombramiento de Bob Byers para cubrir una vacante en la junta y su posterior nombramiento como vicepresidente. La junta también considerará una agenda de consentimiento que incluye un acuerdo de servicio de internet por cinco años con Midco para el sitio de Wakarusa Valley por un costo total de $35,500.

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✓ Decidido: Board appoints Byers as vice-president and approves consent agenda items

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.

📄 De las actas
Texto extraído del documento oficial de actas (extracción automatizada — puede contener errores).
Board Report(s) Meeting (Monday, January 12, 2026) Generated by Nikki Naumann on Thursday, January 15, 2026   Members present Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, GR Gordon-Ross, Bob Byers, Yolanda Franklin, Matt Lancaster     Note: Bob Byers does not take the podium until 6:12 p.m., after item 1.4.   1. Opening Items   Procedural: 1.1 Call to Order At 6:03 p.m., Board President, GR Gordon-Ross, called to order a meeting of the Board of Education.   Procedural: 1.2 Board Member Initiation New and Re-elected Board Members - Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, and Matt Lancaster sworn in by the Deputy County Clerk, Jamie Shew. Board members Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, and Matt Lancaster take the podium immediately following their initiation.     Action, Procedural: 1.3 Board Member Appointment "I move the Board of Education to appoint Bob Byers, the fourth-place finisher from the November 4, 2025, USD 497 general election, to fill the current board vacancy, term to extend through January 2028."   Motion by GR Gordon-Ross, second by Carole Cadue-Blackwood Final Resolution: Motion Passes Yes: Kelly Jones, Shannon Kimball, Carole Cadue-Blackwood, GR Gordon-Ross, Yolanda Franklin, Matt Lancaster Not Present at Vote: Bob Byers     Procedural: 1.4 Board Member Initiation Bob Byers is sworn in by the Deputy County Clerk, Jamie Sh [Excerpt truncated on this listing page; use the official record for the full text.]