Lawrence School Board to hold public hearing to make 2024-25 budget decisions

photo by: World Journal

The Lawrence School Board will meet Monday at the school district offices at 110 McDonald Dr.

The Lawrence school board will hold a public hearing Monday as it considers adopting the 2024-25 budget, which proposes a slight increase from last year.

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

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

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

While the proposed levy for the budget is the maximum levy, board members will have the opportunity to consider a decrease in the property tax rate. School districts typically set their maximum budget authority high to allow flexibility to meet the needs of the district and to obtain as much state aid as possible. These maximums do not represent projected spending.

The board will also consider authorizing a local option budget — which is a supplemental budget that allows Kansas school districts to add funds to their operating expenses on top of the state aid they receive — of 33% for the 2024-25 budget. According to the agenda, an annual resolution must be adopted each year to specify the percentage the board will use for its budget.

In other matters, school board members:

• Consider authorizing the administration to enter into settlement negotiations on a workers’ compensation claim, with the settlement amount not to exceed $30,000. According to the agenda, this recommendation is based on statutory guidelines. Given that the proposed amount exceeds $20,000, school board approval is required. The administration is requesting authorization to negotiate with the employee to resolve this claim.

• Consider approval of the New Directions Behavioral Health Employee Assistance Program in the amount of $47,550.72. Since September 2011, Lawrence Public Schools has offered this confidential, work-based program, providing employees with free support for personal issues such as 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 its wellness benefits. Therefore, the district will have no costs associated with the program this year.

There will also be two closed sessions during the meeting to discuss personnel matters with Jeanice Swift, interim superintendent; Larry Englebrick, assistant superintendent; Kristen Ryan, executive director of human resources; and Ron May, director of human resources and safety, invited to attend. Action may be taken as a result of one of these sessions.

The board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at the district offices, 110 McDonald Drive. The meeting will also be available on the school district’s YouTube channel. Residents who would like to share their comments with the board can register in advance by emailing [email protected] by 6 p.m. Monday and can participate in person or via Webex video/teleconference.