Join us next Friday as Lawson students in grades 5–12 and staff honor our veterans and active-duty military members.
Date: Friday, November 6, 2026
Breakfast: 8:30 a.m.
Honor Assembly: 9:30 a.m. in the high school gymnasium
Veterans, active-duty military members, and their special guests are invited to enjoy breakfast and heartfelt tributes prepared by our students and staff in appreciation of their service and sacrifices.
Please help spread the word and invite a local veteran to join us for this special morning.
We look forward to coming together to say thank you.
The Lawson School District has an immediate opening for an additional paraprofessional to support students in our Early Childhood Preschool program.
Help our youngest learners grow, build confidence, and get a strong start in school!
Interested candidates should complete the Classified Staff Application, available under the Employment tab on the district website. The position will remain open until filled.
Click to access: https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/page/employment-page
The position will remain open until filled.
Our students’ future guides the decisions we make today. The final installment of our Financial Outlook series focuses on thoughtful planning, responsible stewardship, and preserving the quality education and opportunities our community expects.
Read Installment 6: https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/article/3192953
View the infographic: https://aptg.co/h8v5th
In the coming days, we’ll share all six installments together with a link to offer feedback and ask questions. Your perspective will help inform our planning for Lawson’s future.
Thank you for taking time to learn more about your schools.
We Are Lawson, Where Proud Traditions Meet Endless Possibilities.
Lawson R-XIV is bringing neighboring districts together for Rural Schools, Missouri’s Future — A Community Conversation
Tuesday, October 27, from 6:00–7:30 p.m.
Sellers Performing Arts Center at Lawson High School. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
Featured presenter Duane Martin, rural education advocate and school law attorney with EdCounsel, will discuss how public education funding and state policy decisions affect rural schools, students, and the communities they serve.
The evening will include a panel of area superintendents and an audience Q&A using submitted questions.
We are pleased to host this event in partnership with Excelsior Springs, Richmond, Orrick, Hardin-Central, and Polo.
Families, educators, support staff, and community residents are invited to attend. Together, we can build a clearer understanding of the decisions shaping public education and what they mean for Lawson.
Join your neighbors. Bring your questions. Help us spread the word by sharing this invitation.
Lawson families are invited to **Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age**, a **free event** featuring a meal, film screening, and discussion about screen time, social media, video games, and practical strategies for families.
📅 **Monday, November 9 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.**
📍 **Lawson High School Commons, 600 Bob Gill Drive**
Open to Lawson School District parents, caregivers, and students ages 13 and older. Limited childcare for ages 0–12 is available **by registration only**.
**Register by October 30:**
https://tinyurl.com/LawsonScreenagers
Questions? Contact your building’s counselor:
- **Elementary:** Marissa Schmidt — schmidtm@lawsoncardinals.org
- **Middle School:** Whitney Stock — stockw@lawsoncardinals.org
- **High School:** Laura McClard — mcclardl@lawsoncardinals.org
Join us to learn, connect, and help our kids navigate the digital age!
Lawson remains financially stable, but reduced state funding and rising operating costs require careful planning. This week’s installment explains the pressures on our budget, what our long-range forecast shows, and how we are working to protect opportunities for students.
Read Installment 5: https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/article/3179166
View the infographic: https://aptg.co/7NQFf6
We Are Lawson: Where Proud Traditions Meet Endless Possibilities.
Lawson R-XIV’s Financial Outlook series continues with Installment 4: Different Funds, Different Purposes.
This installment explains how the district accounts for and uses taxpayer dollars, why school funding is divided among separate funds, and why dollars designated for one purpose cannot always be redirected to another.
We have also updated the presentation to make the information easier to read and understand. You can review the full installment or use the infographic for a quick overview of the key points.
Read Installment 4:
https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/article/3155462
View this week’s infographic:
https://aptg.co/SHdLmP
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about Lawson’s finances and the strategic planning that guides the responsible use of every available dollar.
#WeAreLawson
Financial Outlook Series | Installment 3
Where does Lawson’s school funding come from, and why can’t every dollar be used for every need?
This week’s installment provides a clear breakdown of the district’s $14.25 million in budgeted operating revenue. It explains the roles of local taxes and state funding, why some revenue is connected to specific programs, and how Lawson’s total tax rate remains unchanged even as the operating and debt-service levies shift.
Understanding where the money comes from prepares us for Installment 4, when we’ll explain why school districts keep money in separate funds.
📄 Read Installment 3: https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/article/3149825
📊 View this week’s infographic: https://aptg.co/hsgDMh
The Lawson R-XIV Board of Education held its monthly meeting on September 16. Click the link below for a recap of the Board’s discussions, decisions, and district updates.
🔗https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/article/3145749
Financial Outlook Series—Installment 2
The second installment of the Lawson R-XIV Financial Outlook Series, How Lawson’s Financial Position Is Changing, is now available.
Lawson has built a strong financial foundation through years of responsible planning. This installment highlights the investments we have made in our students, staff, programs, and facilities, and explains how changes in state support and rising costs are beginning to affect the district’s long-range financial outlook.
Understanding these changes is an important step in preparing responsibly for the future while continuing to protect the programs and opportunities our students deserve.
I encourage you to take a few minutes to review Installment 2: https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/article/3136789 and take a look at the Installment 2 Infographic: https://aptg.co/d-l2KZ
Michael Stephenson
Superintendent of Schools
