Lawrence Journal-World 05-21-14

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Journal-World

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LJWorld.com

WEDNESDAY • MAY 21 • 2014

FREE STATE GRADUATION

CONTRACT TALKS

Evaluations put kink in new system for teachers By Peter Hancock phancock@ljworld.com

John Yong/Journal-World Photos

GRADUATING FREE STATE SENIORS walk to their seats to start Free State’s 17th commencement ceremony Tuesday evening at Free State’s football stadium.

Families, friends travel from afar to see graduates take next steps phancock@ljworld.com

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lva Hall waited patiently in the bleachers of Free State High School’s football stadium to watch her nephew, Frederick Wyatt, pick up his diploma. But she didn’t have to wait alone. Hall had driven to Lawrence from Houston just for the event, while others in Wyatt’s family came from places like Lincoln, Neb.; Atlanta and several points in between. But finally, when the alphabetical graduation line reached the W’s and Wyatt’s name was called out, the star football player’s entire extended family erupted in cheers and applause. “We all drove here just for this graduation,” Hall said. “We’ve been here and we’ve been having a good time.”

and his mother came from San Francisco, to watch his son, Matthew Winfrey, Jr., walk across the stage. “It feels pretty good,” the senior Winfrey said. We all drove here just for this graduation. “I’m very proud of him.” Despite an unusually We’ve been here and we’re having a good warm afternoon for Kantime.” sas in May, those who attended were treated to a picture-perfect evening — Alva Hall, aunt of FSHS graduate Frederick Wyatt as the sun went down and cool breeze lowered the temperature to the Wyatt, who plans on List of 2014 mid 70s. attending Northwestern graduates, page 7A. Lawrence school board University next fall, was president Rick Ingram gave one of 347 graduating a lighthearted keynote by seniors who received di- only one whose family passing along some “seplomas Tuesday night traveled long distances crets” to adult life. during Free State’s 17th for the event. commencement cereMatthew Winfrey said Please see FSHS, page 7A mony. But he wasn’t the he traveled from Alaska,

INSIDE

Sunny, warm Business Classified Comics Crave

High: 87

Low: 65

Today’s forecast, page 10A

Please see TEACHERS, page 2A

GRADUATING FREE STATE SENIOR LORI BARNES points and waves after spotting family in the stands while waiting in line for the start of Free State’s commencement ceremony Tuesday evening at FSHS.

By Peter Hancock

2A 1C-10C 8B 1B-2B, 7B

Deaths Events listings Horoscope Opinion

2A Puzzles 6A, 2C Sports 9D Television 9A

9D 1C-6C 10A, 2C

Fine arts and PE teachers in Lawrence may soon be evaluated based in part on how well their students perform on reading and math tests. And teachers who instruct kindergarten, first and second grade could be graded on the basis of how third-grade students perform on state assessSCHOOLS ments. Those are just some of the aspects of a new teacher evaluation system that could become a major sticking point in contract talks between the Lawrence school district and the local teachers union.

Inquiring minds inspired retiring leader at extension By Giles Bruce Twitter: @GilesBruce

Bill Wood has answered all kinds of questions over the years. Our family has been ill recently — can we pass it on to our pet rat? Are microwave towers causing the drought? What should I feed my cat? “There are no stupid questions is the way I look at it,” Wood said. “Some questions, you get a pretty good laugh out of them.” The ability to find answers to a wide variety Wood of queries might be the top job requirement for a county extension agent. It’s a role Wood has handled since he first joined Kansas Please see WOOD, page 2A

Hall gift to KU Med The Hall Family Foundation gives a $25 million gift to the KU Med education facility expansion. Page 3A

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Day 52 – Gearing up for my mastectomy tomorrow. Is it normal to grieve when you lose a part of your body? Read more about Megan’s surgical care. www.lmh.org/megansjournal

Vol.156/No.139 56 pages


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