Finishing the School Year Strong!
May 2021 NEWSLETTER
#AllStudentsOneTeam Lawrence Journal-World Advertising supplement sponsored by:
LAWRENCE BOARD OF EDUCATION
SUPERINTENDENT’S MESSAGE
Kelly Jones President
School Board Meetings
Term: 2018-2021 785-764-1465 kelly.jones@usd497.org
The Lawrence Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. May 24 and June 14 and 28, unless otherwise announced.
Erica Hill Vice President
• Review agendas at www.usd497.org/SchoolBoard.
Term: 2020-2023 620-727-5355 ehill@usd497.org
Carole Cadue-Blackwood Term: 2020-2023 785-550-7620 ccaduebl@usd497.org
GR Gordon-Ross Term: 2018-2021 785-813-1769 gr.gordon-ross@usd497.org
Melissa Johnson Term: 2018-2021 913-940-1730 mjohnson@usd497.org
• Write to the school board at SchoolBoard@usd497.org.
On the cover and inside these pages, Lawrence Public School students from Pre-K to high school measure, relax, read, play, experiment, create, learn … and persevere! When I reflect on the past months, I am proud of the way in which we have all learned to work together through the challenges of this truly unique school year. It has been a time filled with a variety of emotions, hopes, concerns, and changes. We made mistakes, and from them found new ways to accomplish our goals. Through it all, our community of learners has shown an unwavering commitment to supporting the success, safety, and well-being of our scholars. For everything that each of you - students,
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Shannon Kimball Term: 2020-2023 785-840-7722 skimball@usd497.org
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Paula Smith Term: 2020-2023 785-979-2899 psmith@usd497.org
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staff, families, board members, and community partners, has endured to ensure our school system found its way to May successfully, I want to say, “Thank you!” And, to the graduates of the Class of 2021, you inspire me. I sincerely believe that you can accomplish anything you set your minds to do by continuing to give your best effort. I cannot wait to see where you go, what you learn next, and how you change our world for the better. I am humbled and grateful to have been a part of your journey and hope that you will keep in touch so I may continue to celebrate with you. Sincerely, Anthony S. Lewis, Ph.D. Superintendent
Contents
Our Community’s Plan for School Progress New Board Policy: Equity Cohesive Curriculum: Cultural Relevancy & Concurrent Credit Student-Centered Learning: Free State High Redesign Safe & Supportive Schools: Restorative Practices Effective Employees
10-11 Data-Informed Decisions: Repurposing Kennedy as Early Childhood Community Center 12-16 Points of Pride: Student & Staff Success Stories 16
Lawrence High Construction Update
• Sign up for Audience Participation at PatronCommentary@usd497.org before 5 p.m. on the date of the meeting. • Watch board meetings at www.usd497.org/Webstream or Midco Channel 26.
Find it at www.usd497.org • • • • •
School Calendar New Student Registration Elementary Supply List Job Openings COVID-19 Health & Safety Information Lawrence Public Schools 110 McDonald Drive Lawrence, KS 66044-1063 785-832-5000 www.usd497.org Facebook.com/LawrencePublicSchools Anthony Lewis, Ph.D. Superintendent of Schools
This newsletter produced by USD 497 Executive Director of Communications Julie Boyle and Multimedia Communications Specialist Emma Fotovich in partnership with the Lawrence Journal-World. Lawrence Public Schools USD 497 is an equal opportunity employer and will not discriminate in its employment practices and policies. Discrimination against any individual on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression is prohibited by Lawrence Board of Education policy.
When Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis arrived in 2018, hundreds flocked to meet him. They shared district strengths and challenges and their creative ideas for school improvement. Dr. Lewis listened and learned. He worked with the school board, staff, and school families to develop a five-year strategic plan. This school year, the district launched year one of a plan that reflects the community’s vision for the future of its public schools.
Lawrence Public Schools will ensure that students of all races, backgrounds, and abilities achieve at high levels, demonstrate proficiency in reading by third grade and in math by eighth grade, and graduate on time prepared for success in college and careers.
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New Equity Policy to Guide Shifts in Mindset and Practice Concerned about achievement disparities between white students and students of color and disproportionalities in participation, discipline, and graduation rates, the Lawrence school district began implementing a systemic equity transformation process during the 2009-10 school year. “It’s important to acknowledge that the district’s achievement gap exists because of gaps in opportunity and access,” said Leah Wisdom, director of equity, instruction, and student services. Wisdom said that through access, representation, meaningful participation, and high outcomes, the district can dismantle systemic inequities and remove barriers. Working with the Pacific Educational Group (PEG), the district began involving the school board, staff, and community partners in Beyond Diversity training. Staff teams began attending and presenting at the PEG National Summit for Courageous Conversations, participating in book studies, and involving students and families in equity discussions using PEG’s Courageous Conversations about Race tools. The district hired an equity facilitator, supported several staff members in earning PEG affiliate practitioner licenses, and created a Staff of Color affinity group. Each school developed an Equity Team. The district also began collaborating with the Midwest and Plains Equity Assistance Center (MAP Center) around the development of a Culturally Sustaining Resource Criteria. Staff use this tool when selecting, reviewing, or adopting instructional resources. It helps to guide staff in ensuring equity-centered curriculum that builds consciousness, reflects students’ cultural repertoires and views them as worthy of sustaining, and stimulates social improvement.
This year the district engaged the MAP Center in an Equity Context Analysis Process (ECAP). The ECAP involved several data collection activities, including staff, student, and parent/guardian questionnaires; school site visits, and staff interviews. The MAP Center will develop from the data a district summary of elements of educational equity that are currently evident and areas that may be opportunities for growth. At the request of Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis, the board’s Policy Committee has developed an equity policy. The Committee researched policies from other districts and sought feedback from the board’s Equity Advisory Council, and Parents of Color and Native American Student Services Parent Advisory Committees; building leaders and staff who serve in leadership roles supporting the district’s ongoing equity work, and the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council.
Board President Kelly Jones calls the result an umbrella policy to provide direction for the development, implementation, continuous improvement, and board monitoring of systemwide equity and justice strategies. The policy directs the board and staff to work together to “aggressively and efficiently eliminate inequitable practices, systems, and structures that create advantages for some students and families while disadvantaging others.” It states, “Lawrence Public School employee behaviors shall contribute to a school district 1) where students’ educational outcomes cannot be predicted by race, socioeconomic status and/or other historically marginalized identities; and 2) where all students and staff are engaged in a positive and academically rigorous environment where educational equity is woven into every single department or division.” “I think it is a strong policy. We’ve looked at a lot of examples of equity polices from school districts across the country. I’m excited with the direction we’ve taken,” said board member Shannon Kimball, who serves on the Policy Committee. The board approved the policy May 10, 2021. The public may review the new policy at www. usd497.org/SchoolBoard. “I appreciate the board bringing this policy forward and taking it from the boardroom to the classroom. If we choose to leverage this policy, not just as another sheet of paper, we really can ensure that, as the policy indicates, some of those predictable reasons that students underperform are no longer a concern. Really putting this policy in action can truly be part of our legacy work,” said Dr. Lewis.
Baker Partnership Expands Virtual Options Through a new partnership, Baker University will provide dual credit opportunities for Lawrence Virtual School (LVS) students in eight college history, science, English, and math online courses next year. The district began offering inperson concurrent credit courses to Free State and Lawrence High School students last year through its Jayhawk Blueprint partnership with the University of Kansas. LVS students cannot access those courses online. Dr. Lanie Fasulo, Baker’s concurrent credit coordinator, said that a goal of the new partnership 4
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is to provide opportunities for students opting for virtual or homeschool education to receive college credit in high school and to benefit from the rigor of college courses. LVS students can take the courses at a reduced college tuition of $113/credit hour. Dr. Fasulo adds that Baker offers a $50,000 scholarship to any student earning concurrent credit who then enrolls at Baker. “We’re really excited that Baker can offer a lot of options so we’ve talked about what it might look like for year two as we work with our LVS teachers, students, and families to expand the partnership,”
said Dr. Jennifer Bessolo, USD 497’s director of curriculum and federal programs. LVS is the first virtual school in the state to offer concurrent credit courses. “There is a vision for expanding virtual education opportunities districtwide so there are a lot of exciting conversations and partnerships on the horizon,” Dr. Bessolo said. She continues to work with Haskell Indian Nations University on building a third partnership to offer dualenrollment opportunities for the district’s Native American high school students.
Ensuring Cultural Relevancy and College and Career Readiness The Latinx Youth Council saw a gap in the high school social studies curriculum. Noting that Lawrence high schools offer Native American, African American, and East Asian History courses, the Council proposed adding a Latin American History course. The district’s Curriculum and Instruction Team reviewed and recommended the proposal to the school board, which approved the course addition for the 2021-2022 school year. “That is part of our work in all curriculum areas: that our students see cultural relevancy in all of the courses they take,” said Patrick Kelly, executive director of curriculum and instruction. The new course will examine the history, politics, economics, society, and culture of Latin American groups in the United States. It will also include the study of contemporary issues affecting Latin Americans.
Last year the board approved adding a Heritage Spanish course to the high school curriculum. Building on the heritage language base that some students already possess, the course aims to help students develop reading and writing skills in Spanish. The district will celebrate this month its first graduates to earn the Kansas Seal of Biliteracy. This accomplishment requires students to demonstrate proficiency in two languages on a year-end exam. Recognition for attaining biliteracy becomes part of the student’s high school transcript and recognizes their readiness for college, careers, and engagement as a global citizen.
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Free State High Plans Redesign The pandemic delayed this year’s launch of four Lawrence schools’ Kansans Can School Redesign Projects. Broken Arrow, Deerfield, and Hillcrest Elementary Schools continue to work on redesign planning. Free State High piloted some changes this year and wants to begin providing more flexibility in how students spend their school days next year. “We want different results so we know we have to do something different,” said Free State High fine arts teacher Michelle Salmans, a school redesign co-pilot. “In a weird way the pandemic set us up to try out things that we were already talking and thinking about doing.” Salmans said that the team’s plans began with a desire to build a community and culture to meet the needs of all students. Its redesign goals: balance, relevance, and habits of success. Staff asked students about their needs. Salmans said that feedback included students wanting more breaks, less homework, and more choice and focus. Students said that they wanted more time to do homework or study, and additional career exploration, work credits, projectbased learning, and cross-curricular activities. “Wanting more choice in how their class time is spent is what students really kept coming back to,” she said. Free State piloted this year what it called Super Flex Wednesdays, giving students options of additional homework and study time, tutoring and academic support, enrichment, and a choice in activities. Each week students set a goal and make a plan to achieve it. Salmans said that staff now want to 6
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incorporate these benefits into every school day through flexible modular (flex mod) scheduling. She explained that instructional needs drive the flex mod schedule. Salmans cites among its benefits: small, medium, and large classes; breaks and study time, blocks of time for community and work experiences, longer classes for lab work, and time to make connections with others. “Teachers can design activities based on what kind of instruction we need to provide. We get to spend more time with smaller groups of students, which is fantastic. Teachers have built-in collaboration time within the school day, so every single week we could have PLC (Professional Learning Communities), not just every other week,” said Salmans. Principal Myron Graber added that the staff looked at different models for flexing class periods. “Students would still take seven classes and teachers would still teach six of seven periods, but the schedule creates flexibility. Students would have flex time for independent learning, where they could choose what they need to do; and structured learning time, when students are assigned to a specific teacher, lab, or area,” said Graber. After the district ensures the schedule meets required parameters, the school will seek state approval of the plan. “If you really look at this, it comes down to students becoming the CEOs of their own learning. That’s when learning happens, and they feel that sense of self-efficacy,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis of Free State’s redesign.
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Middle Schools Lead Implementation of Restorative Practices Caring and equitable school communities provide conditions conducive to learning. This is a simplified way to describe the goal of restorative practices in education. Schools use this set of principles and practices, inspired by indigenous values, to build community, respond to conflict, and provide circles of support for students. “After reviewing our discipline data, we determined that we would implement restorative practices at our middle schools first. Due to the cost, training time, and support needed to implement the initiative with fidelity, we have to be strategic in determining the number of staff we train each year,” said Dr. Anna Stubblefield, deputy superintendent. All middle school staff have received training complement the district’s ongoing work with socialin restorative practices. The district will train emotional learning, Positive Behavior Intervention high school staff in the fall. Restorative practices and Supports, and culturally responsive teaching.
“By building, maintaining, and restoring relationships across our school communities, we create environments that support the achievement and success of all students,” said Dr. Stubblefield. Middle school parents had opportunities this spring to participate in a virtual restorative practices seminar. Parents learned how schools prioritize relationships, not just rules; and participated in a restorative talking circle. Heartland Mediators Association (HMA) presented Liberty Memorial Central MS with its Scholastic Conflict Resolution Award for utilizing conflict resolution and peer mediation skills to provide an alternative dispute resolution experience for students. Principal Dr. Anne Hawks, teachers Cari Davis and Laura Leonard, and Assistant Principal Mike Gillman are pictured with HMA’s Volunteer of the Year Nancy Kelly and Jim Donovan, HMA president.
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Lawrence Public Schools bids a fond farewell to six administrators this year with appreciation for their years of dedication, commitment, and service to our schools. • David Cunningham, executive director of human resources and chief legal counsel, 14 years • Tony Barron, executive director of facilities and operations, 7.5 years • Darcy Kraus, director of elementary schools, 8 years • Shannon Harrelson, Prairie Park Elementary principal, 2 years • Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Lawrence High interim principal, 2 years • Dr. Anna Stubblefield, deputy superintendent, 13 years
The district welcomes new leadership and congratulates administrators in new positions. • Human Resources Director Samrie Devin, now executive director of human resources • Dr. Larry Englebrick, executive director of facilities and operations • Southwest MS Principal Kristen Ryan, now director of elementary schools • Kennedy Elementary Principal Chalita Middleton, now Prairie Park principal • Jessica Bassett, Lawrence High principal • Billy Mills MS Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Dr. Carissa Miles, now Southwest MS principal
Substitute Teacher Awards
Substitute teaching can be a difficult assignment without the added challenges of a pandemic. The district appreciates all of its substitute teachers for being ready, willing, and able to jump in when needed and support the continuation of student learning and success. Congratulations to Morgan Hunter Education District Substitute Teacher of the Year Mike Nevels, New York Elementary; and to each of the 2020-2021 Building Substitute Teachers of the Year: Pam Mitchell, Broken Arrow; Mary Barke, Cordley; Barb Dreger, Deerfield; Kim Krannawitter, Hillcrest; Anna Davies, Early Childhood; Lauren Jennings, Kennedy; Staci Prawl, Langston Hughes;
State Honors Lawrence Educator 8
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Eileen Phelps, Pinckney; Lori Kemme, Prairie Park; Amy Stramberg, Quail Run; Jessica Walker, Schwegler; Sean Kellerman, Sunflower; Paulette Breithaupt, Sunset Hill; Erin Wood, Woodlawn; Karen Crowe, Billy Mills MS; Adam Hegemann, Liberty Memorial Central MS; Will Fernandez, Southwest MS; Henry Johns, West MS; Dana Tieperman, Free State HS; Linda Zohner, Lawrence HS; and Tim Cragg, Lawrence College & Career Center.
During its virtual Region 2 Kansas Teacher of the Year ceremony, the Kansas State Department of Education recognized Shari Flakus, Billy Mills Middle School AVID teacher, as a semifinalist in the statewide program. Lawrence’s 2020 Lawrence Secondary Teacher of the Year, Flakus will complete her 25th year serving students in the district in June.
Classified Staff Recognition Colleagues say that Emily Cates is the “hardest working secretary in high school athletics” and “the heartbeat of the athletic department” at Lawrence High. The superintendent recognized Cates’ outstanding service with a Class Act Award. Coaches praised Cates’ organization and communication skills, kindness, and generosity. “Emily is the glue that holds the athletic department together,” wrote nominators. Truity Credit Union presented Cates with $400. Payroll and Benefits Coordinator John Hays also earned a Class Act Award. It honors outstanding classified staff for fostering cooperation and open communication, working as an effective team member, successfully accomplishing professional tasks and goals, promoting trust and respect, and demonstrating leadership, accountability, a positive attitude, and a strong work ethic. His nomination read that John is, without a doubt, one of the biggest professional assets to the district. “We are lucky to have such an experienced person working on our team. John dedicates himself to his work wholeheartedly, and his attention to detail makes him exceptional.” According to his nomination, John has been in the office day in and day out during the hardest times of the pandemic, making payroll seamless for employees.
LHS Athletic Director Nick Wood congratulates Cates.
Tim Mock, Truity Credit Union business development officer, presents Hays with $400.
Horizon Awards Celebrate Promise Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis presented Lawrence Horizon Awards to Alexandra Smith, a Quail Run Elementary teacher in the school’s specialized Autism program, and Allyson Gilmore, a Free State High agriculture education teacher. The awards honor exemplary novice educators in their second year of teaching. Truity Credit Union supports the district’s staff recognition program and presented $250 to each educator.
ALEX SMITH “Alex is extremely dedicated to going above and beyond for her students. She received dozens of donations this year, as well as district resources to provide at-home kits for her students. The kits were amazing and all included personal items for students to be successful from home,” said James Polk, principal. “Alex is dedicated to doing whatever is necessary for her students and her team to be successful. She is a tremendous team player and is highly respected by all.” Smith earned her bachelor’s degree at KU and master’s at Rockhurst College. “Alex advocates for her students and is the voice for them to ensure they are considered for inclusion. She works well with her families and is always looking for ways to improve on her practice. It’s teachers like Alex who make me proud to say that I was a teacher,” said Elaina Honas, special education coordinator.
ALLYSON GILMORE A graduate of K-State University, Gilmore teaches career and technical education classes, including Animal and Plant Science, Veterinary Science, and Floriculture and Greenhouse Management. “Mrs. Gilmore has created a culture for learning in her classroom and has set high expectations. Students know the work is important and act accordingly. They also take pride in doing well, which is evident from the questions they ask in class as well as their attentiveness to the tasks at hand,” said Amy McAnarney, associate principal. “She really pumps up her students… This encouragement and praise makes for a healthy classroom environment, and students know Mrs. Gilmore truly cares for them as a student and as a person and will go out of her way to help them,” McAnarney said. KSDE honored Gilmore as a Kansas Horizon Award winner.
District Honors Lawrence High Educator as 2020-2021 Master Teacher After collaborating on a nomination campaign, staff and students past and present gathered in the LHS media commons to surprise Barbara Tholen, the 2020-2021 Lawrence Master Teacher, in front of her family. Tim Mock, Truity Credit Union’s business development officer, presented her with $2,500. “When I look back at my time in high school, I don’t remember many of the things I did, but I will always remember Barb and her classes. I made lifelong friends, I learned how to handle huge amounts of responsibility, and I became the person I am today, because of Barbara Tholen. I know that Barb changes the lives of every student that walks into her class, because she changed mine,” wrote Emily Kruse, an LHS alumna. Now in her 11th year with LHS, Tholen has
taught 21st Century Journalism, Digital Media/ Imaging, and Graphic Design. She advises the school newspaper, The Budget; and the Red & Black yearbook. She earned her bachelor’s degree at K-State and her master’s at Baker University. “There have been very few teachers I have had in my academic career that have been able to come close to leaving the impression on me that Ms. Tholen has. The accolades and honors that Lawrence High School publications have been awarded under Ms. Tholen says everything you need to know about the quality of teacher she is… She leads the class as if we are a professional publication and expects no less than a professional quality product,” wrote LHS alumnus Henry DeWitt. The district will nominate Tholen to Emporia
State’s Kansas Master Teacher program. “She has been my longest supporter in journalism. I would not be where I am today in this field without her and everything she has done for me,” wrote LHS alumna Cortlynn Stark, a Kansas City Star reporter.
Quail Run Library Media Specialist Named Elementary Teacher of the Year With family watching online, Jenny Gorup entered the Quail Run library to the cheers of colleagues celebrating her selection as Elementary Teacher of the Year. District partner Truity Credit Union presented her with $1,000. “Jenny is an outstanding educator… who has successfully made our library a place where every student, staff, and parent feels welcome. She is constantly seeking new and innovative ideas and resources to bring to the library and to share with her colleagues. She plays an active role in
supporting curriculum development with different grade-level teams and works collaboratively with teachers to bring unique learning experiences to students,” wrote colleagues Mandy Sikes and Christina Smith in their nomination. Gorup taught for six years at Sunflower Elementary before joining Quail Run in 2006. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Washburn and her master’s at Pittsburg State. The district will nominate her to the Kansas Teacher of the Year program. MAY 2021
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Board to Repurpose Kennedy Elementary as Early Childhood Community Center Amid rising operational costs and declining enrollment, the school board faces difficult choices to find efficiencies. Executive Director of Finance Kathy Johnson estimates a $1.87 million shortfall in the current budget year, ending June 30. This stems from a decrease in the district’s weighted full-time equivalency (FTE) this fall, an unaudited student enrollment of 9,977 students or a loss of 647.9 FTE. The Kansas school finance system funds schools based on enrollment FTE. Johnson projects permanent budget reductions of $1.2 million in 2021-22 and an additional $500,000 in 2022-23. Johnson began meeting with the board’s Budget and Program Evaluation Committee (BPEC) to look for ways to bridge the gap. The BPEC reviewed budget requests, additions, reductions, and reallocations. Johnson presented to the board this spring a preliminary list of approximately $803,224 in budget cuts to elementary and middle school staffing, corresponding to lower enrollment; and staff and program cuts to board and district departmental budgets. The BPEC also reviewed budget and enrollment projections and building capacities. Consultant Rob Schwarz, chief operating officer of RSP and Associates, reported to the board in October that he looks at community development, demographics, Census, city and county data sets, income and unemployment, birth rates, and in- and out-migration, etc. to forecast enrollment. Schwarz said that among findings of note, the district enrolled fewer students in 2019-20: a loss of 300 elementary students and 168 middle school students, and its smallest kindergarten class since 2005-06. He added that in relationship to building capacity, facility usage is lower than recommended for efficient operations in 11 of the district’s 14 elementary schools. 10
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The BPEC discussed proposals related to lowenrollment schools, including introducing multiage elementary classrooms or making Kennedy and New York schools a primary and an intermediate center. The committee discussed changing current staffing thresholds that cap elementary class sizes. The BPEC voted to forward to the Boundary Committee a proposal to repurpose Kennedy as an early childhood community center and transition its K-4 students next year to neighboring schools with room to grow.
The Boundary Committee then looked at scenarios for accommodating Kennedy’s 172 K-4 students. It recommended shifting boundaries to transition 78 Kennedy students to Prairie Park, 19 to New York, and 72 to Cordley in the fall. The number of class sections would remain the same at New York. Cordley and Prairie Park, both with capacities to
add five sections, would need to add one and four sections, respectively. Since the district provides busing only to students living 2.5 miles from school, per the state of Kansas reimbursement, no Kennedy students would qualify for transportation. Johnson estimated that combining student enrollments across the three schools would save $722,214 through a reduction of 11.113 FTE in staff positions, accomplished through resignations and retirements. The district will place current Kennedy staff in open district positions. Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis met with staff and parents during two virtual Kennedy Conversations to discuss the change. He collected additional input through a Thought Exchange survey. “As I shared with the school community two years ago at staff convocation, Kennedy had the highest academic gains of all of our schools,” said Dr. Lewis, acknowledging the work of Kennedy’s staff and the school community’s feelings of loss about repurposing of the building. He thanked the staff and parents who shared concerns, including transportation, Kennedy’s high-risk population, and the importance of small class sizes. The board approved on April 12, 2021, the recommendation to repurpose Kennedy into an early childhood community center. “We will continue to make student-centered decisions and support our students from an academic, behavioral, social, and emotional standpoint,” said Dr. Lewis, adding that the three receiving schools would immediately begin planning activities to welcome Kennedy families.
Community Members Discuss Possibilities for an Early Childhood Community Center Research shows that high-quality preschool experiences benefit children’s cognitive and social development and their success in school and life. Still, many children enter kindergarten without the benefit of preschool. Douglas County has recognized this gap. The Douglas County Health Plan, including the Anti-Poverty Coalition’s plan, focuses on early childhood education as critical to public health, anti-poverty efforts, employment, and economic development. The school district began providing its early childhood readiness program in 1993 with private donations. A combination of state “four year old, at-risk” funds, community grants, and private donations now support the program, housed at Kennedy since 2009. The district provides the program free to families meeting eligibility requirements. It currently serves 150 children. The district also operates Parents as Teachers and tiny-k Early Intervention Services, serving families of children from birth to age three. These services reach about 600 children in the county. In addition, Head Start offers a community preschool classroom at Kennedy. “If we want to see our enrollment increase, this can be our pipeline. When families experience Parents as Teachers, Pre-K, and other early childhood services, they are more likely to stay in our district,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis. “What excites and energizes me is thinking about what’s possible.” Community partners shared ideas for what might be possible with community services for families of young children and support for early childhood providers expanded at one location, Kennedy. Kim Polson, executive director of Community Children’s Center, shared key findings of a state
needs assessment and the goals of “All in for Kansas Kids 2020-2024.” They cite the need to eliminate barriers to giving young children a solid foundation from birth, including inequitable access to high quality early childhood programs, a lack of continuity, and a disconnected system that creates significant navigational challenges for families. Community Children’s Center seeks to build connections to build resilient children and families. Assistant Douglas County Administrator Jill Jolicouer highlighted local community health goals, including policy, system, and environmental changes that result in an environment in which the percentage of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) children living in poverty does not increase. “This is a community priority, and we need to have some forward momentum,” Jolicouer said. Marie Treichel, provider services manager of Child Care Aware of Eastern Kansas, called access to affordable, high-quality childcare essential and especially hard to come by for families of infants and toddlers. “We would be happy to support efforts to add infant and toddler classrooms to the site,” Treichel said of a community center. Referring to a familiar line, “It takes a village…,” from an African proverb, Anna Jenny, executive director of Positive Bright Start, said that she envisions a one-stop shop for essential services. “The closing of Kennedy school is an invitation to address the need to make early childhood services more accessible,” she said. The Chamber’s vice president of external affairs, Hugh Carter, added, “There’s an acute shortage (of affordable, high quality childcare) in Douglas County – too few slots to meet the needs of working parents. That was already very limiting in our local economy and the
pandemic has exacerbated the problem.” He said that transportation and childcare are the top two reasons individuals give for leaving the workforce. “We have some really hard budget issues that we are going to have to deal with, and we are going to have to deal with those regardless of whether we participate in these partnerships to expand early childhood opportunities,” said school board member Shannon Kimball. “I see this (the repurposing of Kennedy school) as an opportunity for us to turn what would only be a negative into something that will also be a positive.” Kimball asked the administration to return to the school board with updates about the planning for an early childhood community center, as well as a progress report from New York, Cordley, and Prairie Park as they welcome Kennedy families. “This is a huge opportunity to come together and do some great work. If you think about it, this is our equity work,” said Dr. Lewis. “To provide opportunities to work and/or continue school, I am just excited about that,” said board member Melissa Johnson, who said she benefited in that way by her son attending the early childhood program.
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Points of Pride: Student and Staff Success Stories The Parents as Teachers National Center honored the PAT program as a Blue Ribbon Affiliate for delivering high-quality services to families of children from birth to age three. Congratulations, Suzy Green, early childhood coordinator, and parent educators Stacie Daniels, Bruce Eggers, Miriah Essman, and Audrey Pool.
Food Service looks forward to continuing to offer free meal service to all children ages 1-18 in the community next year. The district provided three Student Support Centers to assist its frontline workers, classroom teachers, with childcare issues during remote The West MS Team Novaturia earned the award learning. for Best Future City Project Plan at the National USD 497 joined public health partners LawrenceFuture City competition. Douglas County Public Health and LMH Health to facilitate COVID-19 testing and vaccination services for eligible students and staff. The FSHS boys’ cross country team captured the team’s first Kansas State High School Activities Association State Championship.
The district will name an early childhood inclusive playground at Kennedy in memory of Lawrence philanthropist William Dann, a longtime supporter of the Lawrence Schools Foundation and the early childhood program.
The FSHS girls’ gymnastics team earned KSHSAA 6A State Championship honors. Lawrence gymnasts captured all of the gold medals at the state events. FSHS senior Talia Gay won her second consecutive all-around, as well as bars and beam. Lawrence High junior Paris Spotted-Tail won floor exercise and vault. The National School Public Relations Association named Superintendent Dr. Anthony Lewis one of its 2020 Superintendents to Watch. The honor recognized Dr. Lewis’ use of communication technology in innovative and effective ways to engage and inform the school community. NSPRA celebrated these leaders with fewer than five Eleven students earned honors as National years of experience in the superintendent role for possessing dynamic, fast-paced leadership with Merit Commended Scholars: Abdullah Ahmed, Ethan Berkley, Nicholas Dvorske, Isaac Phillips, strong communication skills. Ian Snyder, and Reece Wohlford, LHS; and Rachel In the November General Election, Lawrence Bonnewell, Ryan Duan, Rebecca Feng, Asa Morrison, students continued to practice voting by casting and Hollis Wilkins, of FSHS. The National Merit online ballots in partnership with the Boys and Scholarship Corporation recognized these seniors for exceptional academic promise. Girls Club of Lawrence. 12
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Lawrence teachers used creative ways to teach in empty classrooms or from home during remote learning in the fall. Southwest MS English teacher Keri Lauxman followed the lead of pro sports venues and national awards shows by propping up some cardboard cutouts of famous people in her classroom.
Using a theme of “Never Stop Exploring,” Sunset Hill’s library introduced students to an Amazon series called The World’s Toughest Race. Students received a video greeting from Fletcher Hamel, a former Lawrence resident and a contestant on the adventure reality show. Elementary art teachers used video to introduce themselves to students and provide how-to introductions for their virtual lessons. Each elementary student has had the opportunity to learn from all of the elementary art teachers in the district this year. School librarians used video book parades to highlight authors, recommend titles to students, staff, and families; and to mark special observances, such as Hispanic and Arab American Heritage Months. Local McDonald’s owner-operators launched a new fundraiser, Fries for School Supplies, to support school districts. Marilyn Dobski, and son Kevin, donated $3,500 of proceeds from a la carte fry sales to the district for supplies and tools needed to support students and show appreciation to school staff during this unconventional school year. WMS’s band livestreamed performances from ESPN recognized LHS among 36 schools the classroom, giving family members and others nationwide as Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools. greater access to enjoy their music. The Northeast Library System chose the West MS, Cordley, New York, and Prairie Park libraries to participate in a grant program for up to $5,000 each to offset the purchase of materials and/or technology to help ease the disruption COVID-19.
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Congratulations to eleven musicians selected to the 2021 Kansas John Philip Sousa Honor Band: Elise Rathmel and Murphy Nowak, Billy Mills MS; Elliot Kastens, Luke Rogers, and Julia Kwan, FSHS; Jooseok Oh and Lauren Seybold, LHS; Steven Duan, Jackson Giroux, and Camden Toews, Southwest MS; and Gayla Gao, West MS. FSHS’s FFA Horse Evaluation Team placed fourth in the Southern Illinois University National Horse Judging Contest. The team competed against 272 individuals on 60 teams. Realynn Keefer earned ninth place and Lakyn Roehrich, 15th. Ingrid Loney and Sora Gillman rounded out the team. LHS students Zora Lotton-Barker and Lili Christensen won the Kansas History Day State Championship in Senior Group Documentary and qualified for National History Day.
FSHS won the Class 6A Kansas State Speech Championship. Congratulations to individual state champions: Timothy Huffman, Emily Bial, and Molly Roecker. LHS finished sixth with Gretchen Bannwarth earning the individual state championship in Prose.
Woodlawn Honorary Billy Mills MS alumna Christina Haswood, Kansas Riverhawk 90-year-old House District 10 representative, visited her former Sybil Millar crocheted school to talk to students about public service. hats for students this winter. Millar said that she is sick of television and crocheting keeps her “out of trouble and is more fun than cleaning house.” Thank you, Ms. Millar!
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LHS senior Macala Sisson won The Artistic Discovery Contest for Congressional District 2. The U.S. Capitol will display her work for a year. MAY 2021
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The Lawrence Schools Foundation hosted a donation drive for the district’s Clothing Closet, open to students year-round by working through school staff.
Orchestra. (Front row) Jake Chun and Morgan Kimuri, cello; (Second row) Dingding Ye, viola; Julia Lin, violin; and Terry Mechem, viola. Not Pictured: Isabel Loney, cello.
West MS student Eleanor Roust earned the distinction of becoming only the second student in the history of “Elements of Music: PC/SL” studies to pass Level 3, and the first student to accomplish this online. Roust demonstrated 100% mastery on Level 1, 2, and 3 tests, culminating in a massive comprehensive test, on which she scored 100% on 148 questions.
Congratulations to FSHS’s Lindsey Hefty, the Lawrence Schools Foundation’s and Lied Center’s 2021 Graham Edmonds Standing Ovation Award recipient.
The Lawrence Schools Foundation presented its $5,000 Dedication to Education Award to Baileigh Faler, Broken Arrow fourth grade teacher. A parent wrote of Faler, “She is kind, loving, and incredibly bright and believes every child should have the opportunity to learn and love learning.” LHS students Connor Jones and Ashton Rapp were selected for the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) 2020 All-National Honor Ensembles Virtual Event in January. Jones is first chair trombone in the NAfME All-National Symphony Orchestra. Rapp is a member of the NAfME AllNational Choir. Rapp will also participate in the Schmidt Vocal Institute, one of the leading summer programs for talented high school singers held in partnership with Miami University of Ohio.
Learning how to tell time on an analog clock found Jess Brown’s first graders at Sunflower using kinesthetic techniques to show what they know. Congratulations to the 2021 ONE DREAM Martin Luther King Jr. Award recipients! Earning the Heart of Service Award: Samantha Saltz, New York teacher; Character Award: Jakobe Davis, Woodlawn student, and Ja’Kiyia Carson, FSHS student; Dreamer’s Award: Yahaira Dominguez, LHS student, and Rosina Aguirre, LHS teacher; and Champion of Equity Award: Hamza Asuku, LHS student. LHS’s Helen Viloria, Cuyler Dunn, Aidan Zimney, and Jake Shew; and Joel Rose and Jenna Riggins alternates; earned third place in 4-speaker debate at the KSHSAA 6A State Tournament. FSHS’s Simon Ruland, Jacob Wilkus, Aiden Basore, and Ethan Harris, captured fifth place. Free State 2-speaker teams of Aaron Persinger and Abbey Hossler, and John Marshall and Serena Rupp, placed fourth. These LHS students achieved honors in the National Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: Journee Matter, two Gold Keys; Nora Walburn, a Gold and a Silver Key; Alice Lubin Meyer, Gold and Silver Keys; Tanner Ashenfelter, Gold Key and an Honorable Mention; Sophia Kaufman, Silver Key; Ryleigh Leon, three Honorable Mentions; Analeesa Shawley, two Honorable Mentions; Cassidy Dunn and Chloe Lemmons, Honorable Mention. LVS student Lilianna Brown also earned an Honorable Mention.
LHS’s A Capella Choir and the FSHS Choir and Orchestra performed for the KMEA Convention in February. Sunflower’s Choir became the first public school to perform for the KMEA virtually. The LHS boys’ bowling team finished first at regionals while the girls’ team placed second.
FSHS Debate Coach Kelly Thompson earned Coach of the Year honors from the Kansas Debate Coaches’ Invitational. The Boys and Girls Club of Lawrence honored Azura Clark, Avion Nelson, both of LHS; and Akosua Danso and Pranav Vogeti, FSHS, in its, FSHS Lady Firebird wrestler Mady Gray (132 Youth of the Year competition. Vogeti earned top FSHS students earned recognition as part of division) earned recognition as a two-time state honors and competed for Kansas Youth of the Year. the Kansas Music Educators Association All-State champion! 14
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Congratulations to Eric Streeter and Nolan LHS advanced more students to the Kansas Bradley, third place; Caleb Streeter and Darius Scholastic Press Association state competition than Shield, fifth; and Alex Allison, for placing sixth at any other school in the region. the 6A Kansas State Boys’ Wrestling Tournament. LHS wrestlers Trey Medina and Kevin Honas placed second, Jack Elsten, fourth; and Andrew Honas, sixth. LHS and FSHS tied for ninth place in the team standings. The Lawrence Schools Foundation received a donation of $50,000 to its ICAN Fund to help fund the immediate and basic needs of students and staff due to the pandemic. Lawrence middle schoolers performed well at Topeka Model United Nations. Students honored as Best Top Delegate: Guilia Ventello, Asher Sikes, Ava Lee, Molly Kelly, Ella Hope, Goldy Stephens, Jonah Frye, Felix McGowan, Kellar Musser, and Eli Cokelet, LMCMS; Kaitlynn Sedich, SWMS; and Anwen Williams, WMS. Students earning Best Speech honors: Ruby Hall, Gus Richardson, Matthew Lui, Stephan Rubin, Sarah Whittaker, Felix McGowan, Julia Velasco, Lola Brown, and Ginny Besson, LMCMS; Julie Kong and Kyle Sikes, SWMS; and Cayman Barnes, Gilliam Sellet, and Drew Harrison, WMS. Students honored for Best Position Papers: Olive Minor, LMCMS; and Julia Kong and Neel Sabarwal, SWMS. Team STEAM Robotics recognized Pranav Vogeti, FSHS junior, as its Dean’s List Award Nominee for the 2021 FIRST at Home competition. FSHS Journalism set a new regional school record with 24 student wins, including five firstplace wins, in the Kansas Scholastic Press Association regional contests. LHS’s 2020 Red & Black yearbook is a national Pacemaker finalist, widely considered the highest honor available in scholastic journalism. Kenna McNally, managing editor, and Sophia Kaufman, co-editor, flank adviser Barb Tholen in the photo at right.
Konrad Pedersen, Quail Run fourth grader, won a catapult competition as part of the KU Engineering Expo.
FSHS presented freshman Gracy Garcia-Sanchez with a Gemeinhardt B-foot flute from Band of Angels, a nonprofit devoted to providing support for student success in music. LHS students Audrey Basham tied for second place, Alice Lubin Meyer tied for third place, and FSHS students in Amanda Torbett’s class built Caitlin Mooney earned Honorable Mention at High School Art Day sponsored by Washburn University garden beds for Liberty Memorial Central MS. and the Mulvane Art Museum. Congratulations to LHS Douglas County Youth The Lawrence Entrepreneurship Challenge winners: Alec Murphy, Schools Foundation second place, $750; Bradley Schrock, third, $500; presented district Ayomide Okuson, fourth, $250; and Connor and Cordley Gellender and Charles Elsten, Honorable mention, paraeducator $100 each. Chrystal Hunter with an A.C.E award and a check for $500. A peer wrote of Hunter, “I have never met a bigger heart full of unconditional love for kids out there. She sees the unique specialness in every child and embraces it.” The Foundation also presented an A.C.E. Award and $500 to LHS Assistant Speech and Debate Coach Shane Billig. A peer wrote, “Shane is The LHS IPS inclusive leadership class took the an LHS alum who Plunge for Kansas Special Olympics and raised began coaching for the highest amount of donations ($6,200) and us two years after he assembled the largest team in the Lawrence area graduated. From day for the second consecutive year. Gracie Flanagan one, his work ethic and dependability were of the highest quality. He was the top fundraiser. The LHS baseball team was threw himself into coaching with gusto, and helped a large contributor so IPS students helped them us qualify four teams to the national championship plunge by dumping buckets of cold water on them after their game. tournament in his first five years.” The LHS Speech and Debate program celebrates three National Speech and Debate Association Academic All-Americans: juniors Jake Shew, Jenna Riggins, and Helen Viloria. FSHS congratulates NSDA Academic All-Americans: seniors Audri Gutierrez, Simon Ruland, and Emily Bial; and juniors John Marshall, Abbey Hossler, Ezra Joseph, and Serena Rupp.
USD 497 earned a copper star in the state’s Kansans Can Star Recognition Program for students being academically prepared for postsecondary. KSDE recognized USD 497 for earning the highest level of achievement in providing services to children with disabilities. MAY 2021
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Tanner Ashenfelter won second place in The Art Effect’s International Film and Photo Competition.
Lawrence High Construction Update
LHS senior Zeke Mayo became the first Chesty Lion to win the DiRenna Award for the top basketball player in the Kansas City area. Mayo also achieved All-Sunflower League Boys Basketball Player of the Year honors.
Thirty FSHS juniors participated in the annual Great Green Help, a volunteer opportunity hosted and organized by student council.
LHS Basketball Coach Mike Lewis earned AllSunflower League Coach of the Year honors. LHS senior Connor Jones won first place at the Olathe Northwest High School 2021 eMagine Media Fest Competition for his Animated Story, “The Little H i t c h h i k e r. ” Connor has been accepted into the Animation Mentor program for next year and plans to pursue a career in animation. National History Day® (NHD) announced that the Kansas NHD program has nominated Devin Heath, Liberty Memorial Central MS gifted education facilitator, for the 2021 Patricia Behring Teacher of the Year Award. The Lawrence Education Association presented its Spring 2021 Classified Scholarship to Kamaryn Gibson, a Sunflower special education paraeducator. The Lawrence St. Patrick’s Day Parade raised $48,000 for children’s causes this year and donated $6,000 each to Lawrence Parents as Teachers and tiny-k Early Intervention Services. 16
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Students in Carol Souders’ Advisory class at Liberty Memorial Central MS completed a geometric activity, building towers using toothpicks and marshmallows and seeing whose could stand the tallest while holding its own weight. Sixteen LHS students and four staff participated in a meaningful and empowering training for Sources of Strength. The nationwide, strengthsbased suicide-prevention program empowers peer leaders, alongside adult advisors, to plan and pilot communication campaigns and school activities to help all students find the strengths in their lives that they can use when faced with adversity. LHS Biology and Chemistry students interviewed community members to answer the question, “How can we keep our community safe?” They explored public health topics such as lead poisoning, legionella in drinking water, and the rise of tickborne illnesses and examined the intersection between access to health care, socioeconomic status, and race to determine who is most at-risk for preventable illnesses. LHS swimmers Andrew Augustine, Trenton Snyder, Christopher Oral, and Maximilian Whittaker set a new school record, 1:30.94, in the 200 freestyle relay at the Class 6A State Swim Meet.
Lawrence High School’s transformation nears completion. The heart of the school features an open dining commons and media center, extending the flexibility and function of those areas for any time, everywhere learning. Expanded courtyards provide outdoor learning opportunities and daylight to classrooms. A new wayfinding pattern unifies the buildings to create a single campus with controlled access for improved safety and security. Project goals include supporting personalized learning to optimize student engagement, enlarging undersized classrooms and corridors, and addressing student privacy. Improvements will accommodate growth, address equity across district facilities, and upgrade systems to support a high-performance school. Architectural and construction partners Gould Evans and McCownGordon Construction will complete the project in the fall. Voters approved an $87 million school bond issue in 2017 to fund the improvements. Current Phase 6 construction focuses on east side classrooms on both levels, locker room renovation, and athletic offices and meeting rooms. The final phase of the project begins at the end of May. A highlight of Phase 7 is a mural to represent the rich diversity, values, history, and character of LHS. Muralist Sike Style will collaborate with a committee of students, staff, and alumni to complete the mural. School staff plan to create a walking history museum throughout the building and invite Chesty Lion alumni to donate artifacts to help tell the LHS story. View from the learning stairs.
Courtyard mural preparations.
