K-12 Education

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

The lead-up to the start of classes in the Kansas City School District is especially hectic this year.

School board members are still trying to get a handle on which principals are assigned to which buildings. Knotts School, which serves grades K-8, is having to relocate students due to a mold problem. I've fielded phone calls from teachers complaining that they done yet know their schedules or their school calendars. (That's due to contract negotiations with the teachers union being up in the air.)

Another school year, another reading program.

With classes set to begin Monday, the Kansas City School Board is contemplating throwing out the literacy program that teachers and students have used the last two years. The board’s education committee last week refused to renew a contract for training and materials to continue the “Success for All” program.

Make no mistake about it. School districts are businesses.

Districts that operate without keeping their costs in line cheat taxpayers and will eventually undercut their core product —education.

College graduates with engineering, math and science degrees find jobs more quickly and at higher pay than graduates in most other fields.

But rosy employment prospects haven’t enticed enough students to major in science and math curriculums.

The transfer of seven buildings from the Kansas City School District into the neighboring Independence district was a voter-approved mandate that led to tense legal negotiations.

Eventually, the value of the buildings had to be determined by a state-appointed arbitration panel. That should have settled the matter.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

If the KCMO School District's top two board members -- Marilyn Simmons and Arthur A. Benson II -- are thrown in jail, that might help focus the district on resolving its property dispute with the Independence district.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

The KCMO School District and its allies never fail to disappoint the public in how far they will go to damage the education of mostly minority students. The latest:

The explosive growth in “golden parachutes” for top executives in the private sector continues to rankle the public.

But the Kansas City School District really disappointed taxpayers by promising to continue to pay former Superintendent Anthony Amato $18,000 a month through December — even if he started working for another school district, as now appears likely.

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

Here's how I imagine the discussion among school board members in Stockton, Calif., that led to the hiring of Anthony Amato.

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

I found myself at a baby shower on Saturday with a guest list heavy on women who work as teachers and principals in the Kansas City School District.

By Mary Sanchez, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

One observer who would rather remain undercover made this astute observation about efforts to redistrict the KC School Board's election boundaries post slicing seven schools off for the Independence School District: "There seems to be more interest in the lines than people who ran for the seats."

A ruling is expected soon from an arbitration panel on the transfer of seven schools within the Kansas City School District to the Independence District.

The voters have spoken. They want the schools and the students transferred, part of a boundary change decision approved last November.

Normally, when real estate isn’t properly maintained local officials hold the owner accountable. But if the owner has halted payments and moved out, finding a responsible party can be difficult — especially if the lending institution is dragging its feet on foreclosure.

Phone calls unreturned. Requests for information lost in transit. School visitors and callers rudely treated. Parents told by principals they have no way to resolve an issue with higher administrators.

By Lewis Diuguid, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

On stage at the elevated lectern I could easily see what had just happened in the auditorium at the Grandview High School Honors Program for the Class of 2008.

Telling students they must have no F’s before they represent their school in sports or other extracurricular activities is a solid message.

The Kansas City, Kan., school board approved that requirement recently, setting an example for other school districts to put academics before football, basketball, debate, or music.

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

The Kansas City School Board already has cast a shadow over the prospects for successful K-8 schools.

It's a good concept; many Catholic schools successfuly combine elementary and middle school grades in the same building.

By Christian Dashiell, Midwest Voices Panelist 2008

I was encouraged today by the story on B4 of The Star that explained how the Kanas City, Kan., School District will bolster eligibility requirements for extra curricular activities. While students will have to have at least a 2.0 GPA, they must also make sure they have no F's on their report card as well.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

David Cook is a talented guy, seems friendly and may even become the next American Idol. But let's be honest: His visit to the KC area last week was mostly hokum for TV.

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

A vendor that markets reading software to schools has announced the results of a survey billed as the most comprehensive report ever about what school children are reading.

A big dose of positive thoughts to the teachers, students, board members and administrators of the Kansas City School District this week as they begin an important review process.

The swearing-in of three new Kansas City school board members and the election of a new president give the Kansas City school board the chance for a new beginning.

Rather than inspire continued sighing and head-shaking that so often accompanies discussions about the school district, the board can show cooperation and determination to address district needs.

Ideas for fixing urban education in Kansas City are suddenly as plentiful as tulips.

Groups and task forces are meeting all over town, talking about strategies for changing the Kansas City School District’s chronic dysfunction and sub-par performance.

A thorough investigation is necessary to determine the truth behind allegations of lavish, inappropriate spending by Liberty School District administrators, past and present.

State auditors are best equipped to do that job in an independent manner.

By Barbara Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial board

Arthur Benson kept the infamous deseg case going longer than almost anybody thought necessary. He thinks he has all the answers. Word is out in school district circles that he is likely to support veteran obstructionist Marilyn Simmons for school board president.

Dawn Meisenheimer Lewis, former Midwest Voices Columnist

I once worked in a Kansas City, Kan., school, and I knew there was a big difference in the education children received in Johnson County and Wyandotte County. But people, a 50% difference from the worst graduation rate to the best is amazing and sad!

Tuesday’s election for the Kansas City school board has only one contested race for voters to decide and only through write-in candidates.

This lack of initial interest in drawing the city’s best and brightest to the board is a sad reminder of the apathy that has undermined the district for too long.

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Erika Mandler settled herself into an auditorium seat, fixed her attention on the stage and watched a high school girl flit about in a red skating dress.

On April 8 area voters will choose Missouri school board members, deciding who will represent them on issues of academic progress, state and local funding, and meeting the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind law.

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Here is a link to the column I wrote for Friday's Star about the Kansas City School District. Basically, it's a call to the community and leaders to get involved in reform efforts, and not back off when things get nasty. Which they will.