photo by: Journal-World

Lawrence Public Schools district offices pictured in April 2021.

Amid the Lawrence school district’s budget shortfall and millions in cuts, 128 teachers and other certified staff members have resigned from the district so far this school year, representing a significant increase over the number of resignations last school year.

According to data the district provided the Journal-World, there were 101 resignations last school year among teachers and other certified district staff, compared to the 128 resignations the district had received as of Wednesday, representing a 27% increase so far. District spokesperson Julie Boyle said that number may still rise, as the district could receive additional resignations in the next few days ahead of the June 3 deadline to submit resignations.

In addition to teachers, certified staff members include nurses, counselors, librarians, learning coaches, psychologists and other positions that require a certification, according to Boyle. Boyle said the district conducts exit interviews, and responses indicate that the district’s budget issues have been a factor in resignations this school year.

The Lawrence school board recently approved more than $6 million in budget cuts, which so far has resulted in the elimination of 90 positions, including 72 teachers, 6.5 district level administrator positions and 11.5 classified staff positions, according to a district report this week. The school board took school closures for the upcoming school year off the table toward the beginning of budget discussions, but indicated they could be discussed again next year.

Kristen Ryan, executive director of human resources, told the board Monday that the uncertainties surrounding budget cuts to staffing positions contributed to an increase in staff exits, but did not say how many. She said other reasons given for resignations were salary, job satisfaction, workload, leadership and relocation.

Ryan also told the board on Monday that though the district was able to offset some of the staff cuts through retirements and resignations, two-thirds had to come from current staffing. She said teachers whose positions were cut were given the opportunity to transfer to open positions before those positions were opened to external applicants.

The Journal-World asked the district how many of the 128 teachers and other certified staff had chosen to resign after being offered a transfer, and will update this report if that information is provided. The newspaper also asked how many of the 128 resigning teachers and other certified staff said uncertainties surrounding budget cuts to staffing positions contributed to their resignation.

The Lawrence school board receives personnel changes as part of its consent agenda. This week’s personnel report included 22 certified resignations, including elementary teachers, secondary teachers, a school psychologist and a school social worker, among others.

The Lawrence school board approved $6.4 million in budget cuts earlier this spring, including reductions due to enrollment declines and others meant to free up funding for raises for certified and classified staff. Specifically, the district estimates $3.62 million to $4.27 million is needed to address a budget shortfall, due mostly to enrollment declines, and the remaining funding can be available for staff raises.