Overview

  • organizational chart

    The Lawrence Board of Education on Monday, July 27, 2020, approved an amended 2020-2021 School Calendar. Listening to staff and parent concerns about safety and anticipating a spike in COVID-19 cases with KU entry testing of students of staff returning to campus, the board decided to start the school year September 8, 2020, with six weeks of 100% remote learning. The board schedule an evaluation of the model for September 28.

    On September 28, the board reviewed the remote delivery model and local public health data related to the spread of COVID-19, considered input from the school community, and voted to accept the administrative recommendation to transition to a hybrid learning model, beginning October 19. The hybrid model is a blend of on-site and remote learning. The plan calls for students to attend school on-site two days/week on an alternate day AB/AB schedule and learn remotely three days/week, including on all-remote Wednesdays. Only half of the students will be on-site at a time, allowing for safe distancing. Group A will attend on-site Mondays and Thursdays while Group B attends on-site Tuesdays and Fridays.

    Families have the option for their students to continue 100% remote or distance learning. Family enrollments will drive staffing decisions and AB groupings. Every attempt to keep family members on the same schedule will be made. AB group preferences cannot be honored. Groups will be assigned by the first letter of students' last names. Students may be reassigned to new teachers depending on enrollment.

    On October 12, the school board voted to delay the start of the elementary hybrid until November 9. It will follow recording and reporting of student progress and parent-teacher conferences. On October 16, the superintendent announced that New York and Woodlawn will pilot the elementary hybrid and share their experiences to support a smooth transition for the elementary schools.

    The administration will continue to review Douglas County's Smart and Safe School Reopening Guidance and community COVID-19 data. If the community is in phase orange, schools will return to 100% remote learning. Schools will not proceed to full in-person, on-site learning unless local data tracking COVID-19 spread improves considerably, enabling public health officials to remove gathering and distancing limitations. Please continue to stay home when ill, wash hands, wear a mask, stay 6 ft. apart, and cover coughs/sneezes. 


    Developed during the summer by 200+ teachers and staff serving on the Together Again Fall 2020 Planning Task Force, please review the

     

    July 30, 2020, District Statement About Athletics & Activities

    Lawrence Public Schools will follow KSHSAA and Sunflower League guidance with regard to athletics and activities. The district will apply the same decisions made for the high schools to the middle schools. The administration brought to the school board on August 10 a report about the safety measures schools will use to mitigate the risk of the spread of COVID-19.