The Lawrence Public Schools committee voted May 14 to send a FY2026 budget of $307,026,144 to the city council, after a presentation by district CFO Jason Cabrera that emphasized staffing, federal grants and a surge of new students.

Cabrera told the board the budget funds all current positions, anticipates contract obligations across about 10 unions, and includes targeted increases for curriculum, early childhood expansion, visual and performing arts, facilities and a $3.2 million expansion in services for multilingual learners. He said federal grants provide roughly $14–$17 million annually, of which about $6 million directly fund salaries; Title I funding of roughly $7 million requires about 85% of funds spent by Sept. 30 under grant rules.

Why it matters: the budget funds core staff and services for roughly 14,000 students and 2,600 employees, and the administration said rapid enrollment — the district recorded 569 new students after Oct. 1 in the prior year — contributed to higher per‑pupil spending and program needs.

Key points from the presentation and discussion
- Total appropriation proposed: $307,026,144. The version sent to city council was described as a compromise between higher and lower proposals the district considered.
- Staffing and salary increases: the district projects an increase of about $8–9 million in salaries from FY25 to FY26; Cabrera said one percent on the largest union (teachers) would cost roughly $1.5 million.
- Grants: the district receives $14–$17 million in federal grants (Cabrera cited a Title I component near $7 million); about $6 million of the grant money pays salaries. Grants are on differing cycles from local budgets and are generally reimbursed; the district said it is working to maximize grant usage and prepare for federal‑cycle timing risks.
- Per‑pupil spending: Cabrera gave ballpark per‑pupil figures: roughly $21,900 for students without special services, $28,000–$30,000 for multilingual learners depending on grade, and about $31,320 for special‑education students. He said a rough blended figure is approximately $24,000 per student.
- Enrollment growth: Cabrera and the superintendent said 569 students arrived after Oct. 1; that growth was cited as a major driver of budget increases and staffing needs.

Board action and next steps
The board voted to approve the FY26 budget (version 2) as discussed at the May 14 meeting and to forward it to the city council; the motion passed on a recorded roll call. The administration said principals have been filling vacancies and that further personnel adjustments would be handled by HR consistent with the approved total. The district also said it will seek clarity with city finance and the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on municipal allocations and a memorandum of understanding that details municipal costs.

Quotes from the meeting
“we have budgeted for every position that we have today,” CFO Jason Cabrera said, adding that the budget “is the best budget that we can present for the benefit of the children of our schools.” Superintendent Ralph Guerrero and the board urged public review and attendance at the city council hearing scheduled for May 28.

No specific changes to negotiated contracts were adopted at the meeting; the budget presentation noted the district has settled three of roughly ten bargaining units and is budgeting to meet remaining obligations.