Lawrence school board considers allowing district to seek superintendent search firm – The Lawrence Times

The Lawrence School District plans to seek a firm to lead the search for a permanent superintendent and create a committee to support the search.

At Monday’s school board meeting, the board will consider giving the human resources department the green light to begin the interim process, according to the agenda.

It’s not yet clear how much it would cost the district to hire a search firm. In September 2017, during the last search for a permanent superintendent, the board approved a contract with Ray & Associates not to exceed $30,000, according to meeting minutes.

An ad hoc search committee would include Kristen Ryan, executive director of human resources, and one additional HR staff member designated by Ryan; board chair Kelly Jones, board vice chair GR Gordon-Ross and board member Bob Byers; and up to three ranked and certified district union representatives, depending on the agenda.

“The committee’s goal would be to direct the work of the search firm to ensure a participatory decision-making process in which Lawrence Public Schools communities are actively engaged in the selection of the superintendent,” according to the agenda.

At a special meeting on July 2, board members met to discuss their tentative timeline for selecting a permanent superintendent.

They took the first step by voting to hire interim Superintendent Jeanice Swift on Aug. 12. Swift replaces former Superintendent Anthony Lewis and is hired to serve through the 2024-25 school year. Her first day was Aug. 30.

The search firms being considered will go through an interview process. According to the tentative timeline, the board hopes to select one by the end of October. If the district engages a search firm and an ad hoc search committee, they will work together between November and March to find a permanent superintendent who will start next year, in 2025-26.

In other matters

• Performing Arts Facilities Report: At a meeting on Sept. 26, 2023, the board authorized ACI Boland to conduct a study of middle and high school performing arts facilities. A report on the facility’s structure, building code compliance, lighting, acoustics and other factors will be presented to the board on Monday.

View the report documents and the presentation of the item on the meeting agenda.

• Legislative priorities: The council will also hold a discussion on legislative priorities for 2024-25.

Each year, the board reviews and revises the district’s legislative priorities, or the most important issues to advocate for at the state level. Full funding for special education, prioritizing funding for public schools over private schools, repealing laws like Senate Bill 180 and providing universal free meals to students are among the many priorities listed in the bill under discussion.

See the Council’s draft legislative priorities attached to the meeting agenda item.

• Executive sessions: The meeting will include two executive sessions, or closed-door meetings called by the board.

The first 10-minute meeting with Swift, Ryan and Larry Englebrick could result in action, and the second 15-minute meeting with those same trustees is unlikely to result in action. Both meetings are about personnel matters involving non-elected employees, according to the agenda.

The board meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 23, at the district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.

Meetings are open to the public, streamed live on the district’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/@USD497, and broadcast on Midco channel 26. Full meeting agendas are available on BoardDocs, via go.boarddocs.com.

To make public comments during the board meeting, register before the meeting begins, either in person or by emailing [email protected]. Commenters may request to participate via Webex videoconference/teleconference.

Maya Hodison (she/her), an equity reporter, can be reached at [email protected]. For more about her work at the Times, click here. Discover his biography here.

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