500 signatures reached
To: Lawrence School Board
Save our Schools, Lawrence KS USD 497
We want the Board to submit a letter of interest for the ARPA funds immediately so we do not miss the deadline of 1/31/22. Using grant funds for the budget shortfall for the next 1-2 years gives the board and community a year to work together for true long-term solutions.
Why is this important?
The current proposals to close East side schools provides an inequitable solution to the budget problem with unintended consequences. Closing neighborhood schools has been shown to increase truancy and negatively affect the academics of students from low SES and with learning disabilities. In addition, neighborhoods where schools are closed see an average decrease of 13% on home values (which then further affects the funding of local schools).
Using ARPA funds to give the district more time to work with the community to come up with a better solution that doesn't involve closing schools is an important step in the process of creating a solid and inclusive school district in Lawrence.