The KCMO School District

[LenexatoKCMO]

Is an under-maintained, poorly staffed, poorly equipped, poorly performing school that continues to churn out poorly educated children really an "asset to the neighborhod" it is located in?

[kcjak]

Why doesn't the Mayor's proposed school finance program put some of the $100 million toward teacher salaries, hiring better instructors and maybe demolishment of empty buildings?

[aknowledgeableperson]

Anyone following what's happening with the proposed closing of either Hickman Mills HS or Ruskin HS who can clue me in as to why everyone is so angry? 

Do you close a school with a long history (Ruskin) that has the football stadium and track along with some other district exclusive athletic facilities or do you close a school that has a newer building (HM) and has a larger student body but is more isolated in the district.  No matter, by closing the district leaders mean as a high school.  The closed high school is to become a middle school with one of the current middle schools closing.  Also, the high school is to become a school for grades 10 through 12 instead of 9 through 12.

[splash]

Do you close a school with a long history (Ruskin) that has the football stadium and track along with some other district exclusive athletic facilities or do you close a school that has a newer building (HM) and has a larger student body but is more isolated in the district.  No matter, by closing the district leaders mean as a high school.  The closed high school is to become a middle school with one of the current middle schools closing.  Also, the high school is to become a school for grades 10 through 12 instead of 9 through 12.

Yeah, I knew they weren't going to completely close one of the schools, but from what little I've heard/read, people seem to be angry about combining the schools because of the athletic rivalry and are afraid that putting the schools together will increase violence.  The other main argument I've heard is that people want their kids to be able to walk to school and don't want them to take the bus. 

My thinking is that if the district is over budget and there aren't enough students to adequately fill all the schools, why not shift the students around in an effort to trim the budget or reallocate the extra money to improving the quality of education?  I've just been surprised that so many of the parents seem to be completely against the idea, so I was wondering if I had missed something in the plan. 

[aknowledgeableperson]

Not sure of what you mean by shifting "the students around in an effort to trim the budget" other than closing schools.  The biggest cost to schools is personnel and by closing one high school the district can eliminate many jobs.

[KCMax]

Yeah, I knew they weren't going to completely close one of the schools, but from what little I've heard/read, people seem to be angry about combining the schools because of the athletic rivalry and are afraid that putting the schools together will increase violence. 

Please tell me you are joking.

[splash]

Please tell me you are joking.

Nope.  Heard that during a piece on the news last week, I think? 

[LenexatoKCMO]

I'll tip my hat to Covington - he's done a better job of selling this to the community and managed to avoid hysteric opposition far, far better than I ever would have thought possible:

http://economy.kansascity.com/?q=node/6345

[KCMax]

I think he's done a tremendous job overall in the face of enormous odds.

[beautyfromashes]

Does anyone have a map of the closing school locations?

[mlind]

The story went out via AP

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.c ... 707S80.DTL

[FangKC]

Finally, the Kansas City Public School District implements a plan to get rid of ineffective tenured teachers.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/09/18 ... o-cut.html

[chrizow]

Four or more candidates for school board will be speaking at the next Hyde Park Neighborhood Association meeting - 7pm on Tuesday, March 16th, at Central Pres. Church, 3501 Campbell.  Should be interesting.

[Zorobabel]

Why doesn't the Mayor's proposed school finance program put some of the $100 million toward teacher salaries, hiring better instructors and maybe demolishment of empty buildings?

This is one of the most fundamental problems facing the school district right now. Entry-level salaries for teachers in KCMO are anywhere from $6000-9000 (for those holding a B.A.) to $20000 (for those holding a PhD) less than they are in JoCo, and you can't improve academic performance and encourage students to pursue higher education without highly qualified teachers, particularly at the secondary level.

[mlind]

The thing that annoys me the most is that the schools get all the blame for underachieving kids who are, unfortunately, often low-income & minority.  Education cannot remedy poverty, bad family situations, and lack of parent involvement.  My kids teachers in elementary school told me that the parents of the kids with the most problems are the ones who never show up for teacher conferences. 

[kucer]

Covington's plan passed 5-4 tonight.

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/10/18 ... close.html

[kucer]

Hopefully Board President Simmons and her cronies can be shown the door next.

[Pork Chop]

Hopefully Board President Simmons and her cronies can be shown the door next.

It will an interesting time next month due to the board of education elections. I agree. All of the positions are up for grabs, correct?

[Stockton]

Anybody else see a problem with 7th graders going to the same schools as much older kids?

[splash]

It wasn't a problem for me when I was in school.