Joseph Dechario

This document outlines the operational plan for the Lawrence Public Schools Adult Learning Center for the 2026-2027 school year. Key areas include professional development activities, the school calendar specifying student and educator days, staff work schedules with daily hours and collaboration times, communication protocols, health and safety guidelines, and expectations for professional attire. The plan also addresses rotation of duties, class size management to support adult learning, and efforts to address the ESOL waitlist and student persistence.

The 2025-2030 Strategic Plan for Escuelas Públicas de Lawrence (Lawrence Public Schools) is a roadmap designed to prepare every student for success in university, career, and life by empowering them to reach their maximum potential. The plan is structured around six key priorities: Urgency to Accelerate Student Learning, Staff Excellence and Effectiveness, Data to Inform Decisions, Holistic Student Well-being, Collaboration with Families, and Responsive Systems Focused Leadership. It aims to achieve transformative teaching and learning, foster high expectations, and build strong family partnerships to enable students to drive positive change in their communities and contribute to a better world.

This document outlines the stakeholder engagement process for the renewal of the Lawrence Public Schools Turnaround Plan. The primary focus areas involve collecting feedback from diverse community groups on existing effective practices, identifying necessary changes, and recognizing missing elements for future strategic direction. The ultimate goal is to integrate community input to shape and refine the district's priorities and strategies, guiding the institution's strategic plan for the period of 2026-2029.

The meeting included a public comment session where community members expressed gratitude toward retiring staff and discussed concerns regarding opportunities for public participation. The committee held a recognition ceremony for 34 retiring staff members, including a moment of silence in memory of a deceased employee. The agenda also included formal recognitions of various retiring personnel from roles such as cafeteria staff, paraprofessionals, teachers, and administrators, acknowledging their years of service and contributions to the school community.

The committee held a public hearing regarding the fiscal year 2027 school budget, followed by a presentation. Key topics discussed included the budget's focus on student needs, strategies for teacher compensation, professional development programs for staff, and the use of earmark funding for initiatives such as ADA accessibility, STEM programs, and arts-based beautification projects. Additionally, the committee addressed questions regarding reductions in educational supplies, increases in administrative staffing to support school leadership, parent training resources, diversity and equity programs, and the redistribution of budgetary funds across departments. An explanation was also provided regarding budget fluctuations at the elementary school level due to the transition of fifth-grade students to middle school.