After observing Kansas City Public School Board Meetings for nearly four years, spending much time in the schools, and advocating measures to improve the performance of the existing district (including an appointed board) we have concluded that the only viable approach to providing the district’s children the quality of education they deserve is to replace the […]
We are once again changing the focus of our Board Watch project. When we began our evaluations of the Kansas City Missouri School Board meetings nearly four years ago we hoped that our feedback would help bring about a more effective school board, a key element in creating high functioning schools to improve students’ academic performance. Since […]
Because of the Kansas City School District’s loss of state accreditation, Do the Right Thing for Kids is replacing our report card format for school board meetings with narrative comments focusing on the board’s effectiveness in addressing accreditation and related academic achievement matters. We are also using this site to inform the community of possible […]
Warning of the potential for micromanagement, the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City and the Kansas City branch of the NAACP urge the school board to change its recently approved policy and allow the superintendent to operate the entire portfolio of schools. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/11/2943731/rift-between-school-board-and.html
The Kansas City School Board may vote on closing Delano School at its June 22, 2011 meeting. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/09/2939662/delano-schools-future-in-doubt.html
Former Kansas City School Board president Marilyn Simmons resigns from the board after almost eleven years of service. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/08/2937196/marilyn-simmons-resigns-from-kc.html
The Kansas City Star reports that Southwest Early College Campus may return to a signature early college program format. Following with an editorial, The Star urges the Kansas City School Board and its partners at SWECC to make the change in the fall instead of after a year of transition. http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/06/2931718/southwest-likely-to-become-magnet.html http://www.kansascity.com/2011/06/07/2934355/the-stars-editorial-college-prep.html
The following article from Wednesday, May 31 and the editorial in the Thursday, June 2 newspaper illustrate the danger of the KCMSD’s Board recent actions regarding their relationship with Dr. Covington. They need to foster stability in the district by working collaboratively with the superintendent. This bears watching…which is the mission of Do The Right Thing […]
Tonight, the KCMSD School Board narrowly approved the Right Sizing Plan proposed by Dr. Covington. 26 buildings will be closed in an effort to redirect the District’s resources to improving the education of its 17,000 students. The Board voted 5–4 to move forward with the plan to transform the KCMSD. Sadly, Dr. Covington’s victory may be short-lived. After voting unanimously to bring Dr Covington to town to reform the District, four Board members proved that they weren’t willing to support him as he makes the tough decisions. The fractious board now places the implementation of the Right Sizing plan in jeopardy. The community cannot take for granted that Dr Covington will be allowed to dismiss teachers, introduce new curriculum, implement performance standards and revolutionize the quality of education in our District. The administration’s proposals may even be challenged in the coming months by board members who will be elected to serve on April 6th. The fate of our District depends on whether the new board will support the superintendent and his staff as they transform the district. As you attend the school board candidate forums and debates, ask each candidate if they plan to stand by this administration and the Right Sizing Plan that the community endorsed. Can the community afford a school board that is not unified in its vision? Ask each candidate if they intend to Do The Right Thing For Kids.
On April 6, 2010, 5 people will be elected to serve on the Kansas City School Board Of Education. Two incumbent board members will run unopposed. Click on the link above to view a list of all candidates.
