Lawrence Public Schools

Through rain and shine, our amazing team of staff and community volunteers worked through the early morning to pack and deliver thousands of free meal kits to families and children in our community.

Our district's Nutrition & Wellness and Facilities & Operations teams set up shop at the Douglas County Fairgrounds for this year's Weekly Summer Meal Kit Pickup. There, staff and volunteers weathered the elements, directed traffic, and unloaded trucks full of carrots, apples, oranges, waffles, milk, juice, and all kinds of goodies. The Summer Meals team's turquoise shirts even matched their stylish new meal kit bags!

FREE summer meals for ALL children and youth ages 1-18 are available at our Public Meal Site and Weekly Summer Meal Kit Pickup.

Register for FREE weekly summer meal kits for ages 1-18. Kits contain 5 days of breakfasts and lunches for you to take and prepare at home. Scan the QR code or go to https://www.usd497.org/SMKR2026 to register, then pick up your meal kits from 7:00-9:00 a.m. Tuesdays in June and July, through July 21, at our new location: the Douglas County Fairgrounds Open Air Pavilion (2110 Harper St, Lawrence, KS 66046).

Our Public Meal Site is also open throughout the summer. Stop by Sunset Hill Elementary (901 Schwartz Rd, Lawrence, KS 66049) at noon-12:45 p.m. Monday-Friday from June 1 through July 24 for lunch (with the exception of June 19 and July 3). Adults may purchase a meal for $5.

Visit our website at https://www.usd497.org/summer-meals for menus, meal kit preparation instructions, and more information about FREE meals for ALL children and youth this summer.

Thank you to Douglas County Fairgrounds for generously allowing us to use their facility!

In case you missed our bus... welcome, Team Algeria, to Lawrence!

Lawrence Public Schools is proud to be part of a community that is hosting world-class competitors right here in our own backyard.

As we're watching and cheering for Team USA, we will also be rooting for our new Algerian neighbors! We are thrilled that our students and families get to witness this kind of learning opportunity and global excitement up close, and we join all of Lawrence in extending a warm welcome to the players, staff, and fans who have made our city their temporary home. We love our home, and we are so happy to share it with you.

Team Algeria kicks off their World Cup campaign tonight, June 16, against defending champions Argentina at Kansas City Stadium. Lawrence will be cheering you on!

Welcome to our city, and best of luck, Team Algeria!

The Lawrence Schools Foundation, district leaders, and special guests joined together on June 10, designated annually as "Julie Boyle Day," to honor another legendary Lawrencian and long-time educator, Chuck Law, as the second-ever recipient of the Julie Boyle Heart & Spirit Award.

Established one year ago by the Foundation, the Julie Boyle Heart and Spirit Award was created in honor of the district's former communications director, who served in Lawrence Public Schools for over 27 years. The award recognizes an individual who exemplifies the same big heart, unwavering dedication, and passionate commitment to children, schools, and the broader community that Julie demonstrated throughout her remarkable career.

Chuck Law, too, has been the personification of heart and spirit during his time as a teacher and coach at Lawrence Free State High School for the past 26 years. His love for education and unwavering support for each student earned him the district's recognition as Lawrence Master Teacher for the 2008-09 school year. Coach Law was given a heartfelt surprise send-off at the Educational Support Center in front of district leaders, fellow Firebirds, and his mother and brother. Of course, the iconic Julie Boyle herself was there to help present the award and personally congratulate the winner on this much-deserved honor.

"To be mentioned in the same breath as you for an award like this is truly very, very meaningful," said Law to Boyle. "Thank you very much."

Congratulations and thank you, Chuck Law, for everything you've done for our students, Free State, our district, and the entire Lawrence community. We all wish you a wonderful retirement, Coach.

Forever a Firebird! 💚🖤

Archaeological evidence suggests that humans have potentially been creating and playing musical instruments as far back as 60,000 years. In fact, evidence of instruments even predates the earliest known pair of pants!

But you already knew that if you were one of the musical maestros who attended our 2026 Summer Novice Music Camp. Last week, an ensemble of over 100 fifth and sixth graders gathered at Lawrence High School to continue this ancient human tradition and learn the fundamentals from our district's stellar instrumental music faculty.

Students explored a variety of brass, wind, and string instruments throughout the week-long experience. Flutists learned how to properly assemble and disassemble their instruments. Violinists practiced their bow skills in the "cup challenge," passing a small cup around the room using only pencils. And cellists channeled their best zombie impressions during an exercise designed to sharpen the speed and accuracy of their hand placement.

The Lawrence Board of Education will meet at 6:00 p.m. Monday. As part of its consent agenda, the board will consider several software renewals: FMX, the district's facilities and operations management platform, and Microsoft licenses for all students and staff. The board will also consider a three-year renewal of ParentSquare, the district's family communication platform.

Other consent items include approval of the district's facility rental fee structure and guide for 2026-27; the sale or auction of outdated athletic and activity uniforms and equipment as a fundraiser for school programs; disposal of surplus district items through online auction and charitable donation; SIOP Capacity Builder professional development for multilingual learner instruction; Responsive Classroom pilot training at Prairie Park and Deerfield Elementary Schools; a Family Engagement summer institute at Harvard Graduate School of Education; workers compensation insurance renewal; and year-end fund transfers to close out the fiscal year.

Under old business, the board will vote on 2026-2027 meal prices, which include a $0.15 increase to paid student lunch prices and a $0.10 increase to paid student breakfast prices. The board will also receive an update on the Centennial Choice Campus, which is set to open in August as a personalized, nontraditional learning environment for students seeking flexible pathways toward graduation.

Review the board's agenda at www.usd497.org/school-board/agendas. Attend the meeting at 110 McDonald Drive or watch it live at youtube.com/ or Midco Ch. 26.

Our district's Native American Student Services team celebrated new beginnings for 2026-2027 last week, hosting a coronation ceremony to introduce Haven Rain Littlehead (Northern Cheyenne & Navajo) as the 2026-27 Jr. Miss Indian Youth of Lawrence.

Among those in attendance for the ceremony were Littlehead's family, NASS team members, Executive Director of Finance Cynde Frick, and Lawrence Board of Education Vice President Bob Byers. Haven, a Liberty Memorial Central Middle School student, was also honored by two fellow Lawrence Public Schools students in a special moment of passing the torch. Outgoing 2025-26 Miss Indian Youth of Lawrence NaFehna Farve and 2025-26 Jr. Miss Indian Youth of Lawrence Riley Alva joined in adorning Littlehead with her new crown and sash.

Congratulations, Haven Rain Littlehead! We are so excited to see what this year will have in store!

We would also like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to our outgoing 2025-26 royalty, NaFehna Farve and Riley Alva. They have done an outstanding job representing NASS, Lawrence Public Schools, their peers, their communities, their families, and themselves throughout their reigns. Their dedication has made an impact on so many. We wish them both well on their future endeavors.

Lawrence Public Schools is proud to announce Ashley Vance, Office Manager for the Deputy Superintendent, as our spring semester recipient for the 2025-26 Class Act Award.

Deputy Superintendent Dr. Larry Englebrick shared the news in front of the Facilities & Operations team and spoke about Vance's unique journey and impact on the district. "Ashley is a Lawrence Public Schools success story," said Dr. Englebrick. Vance started at the district in a part-time role and grew into several full-time positions, serving across a variety of divisions and departments along the way. "All of those roles focused on service," noted Dr. Englebrick.

Superintendent Dr. Swift also lauded Vance and all of Facilities & Operations for their exceptional teamwork and continued support throughout the summer. "10,000 children are counting on us to have every classroom ready, and we're able to do that because you continue to show up every day," said Dr. Swift.

Much of Ashley's work happens behind the scenes — coordinating with contractors, vendors, and organizations throughout Lawrence — but its impact is felt each day across our schools and community. Whether navigating internal challenges or supporting needs of buildings at opposite ends of the district, Vance brings calm, grace, and a consistently positive attitude to everything she does. Her ability to improvise and adapt, according to Dr. Englebrick, "allows our organization to run smoothly and efficiently."

"She makes a lot of us look good," he added.

The Class Act Award honors one outstanding classified staff member each semester whose actions, character, and teamwork exemplify the best qualities of a teammate. LEAP partner Truity Credit Union also provides winners with a $500 prize.

Class Acts don't just represent themselves; they represent the dedicated efforts of their entire team. Ashley strengthens and elevates everyone around her, much like Facilities & Operations does for our district, and we are grateful to call her our teammate. Thank you and congratulations, Ashley Vance!

‼️𝑰𝑻'𝑺 𝑮𝑨𝑴𝑬𝑫𝑨𝒀‼️
Washburn Rural HS v. Free State HS | High School Baseball
2026 Class 6A State Boys Baseball (Finals)
🗓️ Saturday, May 30, 2026
⏳ 25 min. after prev. game
📍 WSU-Eck Stadium
📺 Watch Live Stream ⚾👉: https://bit.ly/4sludKS
💬 Pro Tip: Tag your friends to make predictions!

Lawrence Adult Education Center graduate Genevieve Sloan took to the podium to speak to her peers in the Adult Education Class of 2026, reflecting on the decision that changed her path: "If I had not taken a chance and enrolled in this program, I would not be standing before you today."

After thanking the educators, friends, and families who made the moment possible, Sloan left fellow graduates with a powerful truth from their time at the Adult Education Center: "Knowledge is the only thing someone cannot take away from you." Sloan urged everyone in the room to carry that lesson forward and embrace every opportunity to keep learning. "There is so much to learn and a lifetime to do it. That is why I consider myself a life learner, and the universe is my school."

With our final commencement ceremony of the 2025-26 school year, Lawrence Public Schools honored 54 members of the Adult Education Class of 2026. 25 Lawrence Diploma Completion Program graduates earned diplomas from Lawrence High School (12) and Lawrence Free State High School (13), and 29 Lawrence Adult Education Center graduates completed their GED.

Superintendent Dr. Jeanice Kerr Swift had a clear message for the graduates: they were ready. "Every experience that you've had up to this point has prepared you for just this very moment," she told the graduates, expressing deep admiration for the resolve and fortitude they demonstrated throughout their journeys. "In overcoming those challenges, you've already demonstrated exactly what you need as you move out into the world to face the next set of challenges."

Adult Education Services Coordinator Ashley Eicholtz framed the evening in terms that went beyond credentials. "Tonight is about more than GEDs and diplomas. Tonight is about courage — the courage to start over, the courage to keep going when life gets hard, and the courage to believe your story is not finished yet." Eicholtz knows that courage firsthand. Herself an alumna of the Lawrence Adult Education Center, Eicholtz recounted walking through the same doors as this year's graduates to earn her GED as an 16-year-old mother. Now, Eicholtz holds an associate's degree in pre-law and leads that very same program she enrolled in back in 2004. "There is no expiration date on becoming who you are meant to be," she told the class.

Joined by board colleagues, district leaders, and Adult Education staff, Board of Education President GR Gordon-Ross closed with a charge to the graduates to own and celebrate what they had accomplished. "Regardless of the path you took to get here, you are here today because you have finished. Regardless of the trials, regardless of the roadblocks, regardless of what is put ahead of you — you can overcome and you can get through it. Congratulations, we are proud of you, Class of 2026."

Congratulations, Adult Education Class of 2026!

While seniors across the district closed the chapter on high school last week, eighth graders in Lawrence were marking a milestone of their own: celebrating the end of middle school and the start of their high school journeys.

A herd of Mustangs packed the auditorium at Liberty Memorial Central Middle School for a ceremony honoring the eighth grade class with awards and musical performances. Among the highlights was the LMCMS Excalibur Choir's performance of "All That They Had They Gave," a musical interpretation of the Rudyard Kipling stanzas inscribed above the school's stage — words that have watched over generations of Mustangs since the opening of Liberty Memorial High School in 1923.

Principal Phillip Mitchell closed out the ceremony with a charge to the 103rd class of Central. "Support each other. Help each other through this next step, just as you have helped each other through these last three years," he said. Mitchell left them with one final reflection: "I want you to think about one time where you impressed yourself. I want you to picture that moment. Every time you walk by this building...that's the moment I want you to think about."

Cougar Country showed up in full force for the Billy Mills Middle School eighth grade recognition ceremony, with staff, students, and families lining the hallways and gym to cheer on the class of 2030 as they processed through the building for the final time as middle schoolers. Surrounded by classmates and loved ones, eighth graders heard speeches from peers and educators reflecting on their years at BMMS and offering words of encouragement to the soon-to-be freshmen. Student speaker Abhirup drew on the words of the school's namesake himself, leaving his fellow eighth graders with this reminder from Billy Mills:

"Every morning you are handed twenty-four golden hours. They are one of the few things in this world that you get free of charge. If you had all the money in the world, you couldn't buy an extra hour. What will you do with your priceless treasure? Remember, you must use it, as it is given only once. Once wasted, you cannot get it back."