Save Our Schools 497

04/04/2024

The community is invited to River Rat Skateshop for a fundraiser for Woodlawn Elementary's 100th year party! Please share and come by Sat. 4/20/24 5 - 8 PM. Over 20 vendors, live music, drinks food and more!

02/06/2024

Please contact your legislators TODAY and let them know that a Flat Tax plan would harm public school children. Share a personal story about the students and schools in your lives and how adequate funding is a necessity for student success. Please share and encourage your friends to do the same!

Lawrence legislators:
Rep. Mike Amyx -- [email protected]
Rep. Barbara Ballard -- [email protected]
Rep. Christina Haswood -- [email protected]
Rep. Boog Highberger -- [email protected]
Rep. Lance Neelly -- [email protected]
Rep. Carrie Barth -- [email protected]
Rep. Adam Turk -- [email protected]

Look up other Kansas legislators at https://pluralpolicy.com/open/

02/02/2024

From USD497:
Another opportunity for your input — complete the Boundary Advisory Committee’s middle school boundaries survey by 11 p.m. Feb. 6. Scan the code or here’s the survey link: https://metroquestsurvey.com/oh4z4v

To view larger versions of the current, Concept A, Concept B, and “Secondary Assignment” boundaries, you’ll find the maps at www.usd497.org/Boundaries

What’s next? The committee meets Feb. 7 to review your feedback and finalize its recommendation to bring to the school board Feb. 26.

Best quote from the Public Input Sessions about STEAM @ LMCMS — “It is everything we already love about LMCMS, but better!” ❤️ Yes! That’s the plan! Learn more or ask a question about it at www.usd497.org/LMCMSsteam

02/02/2024

From USD497 Another opportunity for your input — complete the Boundary Advisory Committee’s middle school boundaries survey by 11 p.m. Feb. 6. Scan the code or here’s the survey link: https://metroquestsurvey.com/oh4z4v

To view larger versions of the current, Concept A, Concept B, and “Secondary Assignment” boundaries, you’ll find the maps at www.usd497.org/Boundaries

What’s next? The committee meets Feb. 7 to review your feedback and finalize its recommendation to bring to the school board Feb. 26.

Best quote from the Public Input Sessions about STEAM @ LMCMS — “It is everything we already love about LMCMS, but better!” ❤️ Yes! That’s the plan!

02/01/2024

TONIGHT! From USD 497:
The Boundary Advisory Committee invites students, staff, families, and community members to learn more about its work and provide feedback. Public input sessions will be held tonight from 6:00-7:30 at Lawrence High, and tomorrow night, same time, at Free State High. Members of the committee will share boundary concepts intended to better balance middle school enrollments. One concept would move some of the West MS attendance area into Southwest MS, affecting approx. 5% of current West students. A second concept would shift the boundaries of all four middle schools, targeting 70-75% capacity use. It would affect about 7% of current MS students. The BAC also requests feedback on a concept to create “secondary boundary assignments” for Liberty Memorial Central MS.

Both sessions also are opportunities to hear more about plans for launching a STEAM focus at LMCMS in the fall. Staff will share how STEAM learning projects will connect English, math, science, and social studies concepts. Collaborative, hands-on experimentation will empower LMCMS students to ask questions, learn by doing, and solve practical challenges that combine their educational goals with the resources and needs of the community. Bring your questions about the specialized STEAM program available to all LMCMS students and open to transfer requests.

01/05/2024

Watch the Kansas Special Education and Related Services Funding Task Force 01/05/2024 live now or watch the recording later.

Subscribe to See Your Government at Work—Live!Agenda: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2023_24/committees/ctte_tf_special_education_and_related_services_f_1/...

01/02/2024

Action Alert! The Kansas legislature is meeting this Friday for a Special Education Taskforce and our lawmakers across Kansas need to hear from you. Email Matthew Willis at [email protected] BEFORE 10:00am January 3rd.

The Legislature is statutorily required to fund 92% of the excess costs for special education not funded by the Federal Govt., but the current statewide reimbursement is approximately 69%. This leaves districts to fill in the gap. For USD 497, $8.4 million dollars will be transferred from the General Fund to the Special Education Fund.

All students are harmed when SPED isn't fully funded. Students deserve better, Kansas students deserve better. Please submit testimony or consider giving oral testimony. Time is of the essence, please don't delay, and please spread the word to friends and family across the state and encourage them to submit testimony too.