Lawrence Public School's financial situation still uncertain
When it comes to maintaining Lawrence elementary schools the to-do list is a long one. Several buildings are in need of repairs while others have had maintenance projects put on hold because of budget issues. Closing two or three schools could have helped pay for some of the projects, but so far a plan the district and community can both agree has yet to surface. For now, it appears Lawrence voters will have to decide if they're willing to fill in the funding gap through a bond issue. A slim majority of the consolidation group believes a bond can pass, but what if it fails?
"There would not be enough money with our current capital outlay mill levy and capital outlay budget to sufficiently address all those issues, said the district’s chief financial officer Kyle Hayden.
Also throwing a wrench in the district's financial plans is the uncertainty surrounding the Governor’s plan for the school finance formula. Hayden says the numbers are still fluid but he's certain that maintaining the status quo in the district won’t be sustainable.
"There's no new dollars coming our way,” said Hayden. “To get those new programs, to get the full-time counselor, the full-time nurse, the full-time library services in our elementary schools, that's going to be difficult to achieve keeping all of our schools open.”