TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! MARILYN SIMMONS IN ACTION! SCHOOLS RE-OPEN IN HER DISTRICT DESPITE BUDGET SHORTFALL! PROGRESS FOR KANSAS CITY SCHOOLS PULLED BACK!!!
I think The Star fired all of their education reporters so I'm gonna do my best to try to cover some of the sad news that comes out of the School District. Really, the items that make it my way are not about education but more of a reflection of messed up Kansas City politics.
Today's EXCLUSIVE news item regarding KC Schools is a sad story of School Board President Marilyn Simmons derailing recent progress made by KC Schools for the (economic) benefit of her district.
Apparently, the district is opening 8th grade centers this upcoming school year and re-opening schools that they voted to close under former Superintendent Amato’s realignment. That's right, the Kansas City School District has a $17 million shortfall and students are still leaving en mass BUT they're RE-OPENING these odd "centers" in order to make her happy. It's not only an abuse of power but also goes back on a plan that was voted on by the majority of the school board which called for K-8 schools (neighborhood schools) that would save money on transportation and help alleviate the budget mess.
These expensive and inefficient 8th grade centers will not only complicate district plans even more but also pull back any kind of budget realignment at a time when KC teachers could be canned due to a shortfall of funds. Even worse, these schools that Simmons is re-opening have been closed FOR YEARS and there might be additional costs that will be needed to make them inhabitable . . . Interested parties, (reporters that follow up on TKC and concerned parents) might want to notice that the folks involved in this rogue initiative are old Simmons cronies or might now owe Simmons a favor for their new gig that is solely due to her political maneuvering. All things considered, it's yet another unprincipled, foolish and WASTEFUL move to satisfy the leadership of the Kansas City School District that has proven incompetent and untrustworthy at every turn.
Does anybody believe that the school district is getting better?
ReplyDeleteNot anytime soon. But it's not entirely hopeless.
ReplyDeleteGive it a rest Tony. It's Friday.
ReplyDeletekansas city school it the worst system around. when they do find a super that can turn them around the blacks decide that he isnt going to play the kick back game and they get rid of him.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame about the school District. I don't know what will fix it. I don't know if anyone has any good ideas either.
ReplyDeleteThe thing about the KC board is that so FEW people actually care who ends up on it that it would only take a very small group of committed people to take that board over.
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