Geoffrey Canada was the keynote speaker recently at a benefit luncheon for Kansas City Freedom Schools, “Saving Kansas City’s Sixth Child – a Recommitment to Reaching and Teaching the Children Left Behind.” A nationally known advocate for education reform, Mr. Canada is founder of The Harlem Children’s Zone. He is also a poet whose poems particularly speak to us in Kansas City to the responsibility of each of us to all of our children.

http://voices.kansascity.com/entries/heres-what-might-work-kansas-city-public-schools/

http://www.kcaerc.org/about/

I certainly agree that the Legislature and Governor need to quit the grown-up wrangling and get the school district’s status clarified. The wrangling, of course, isn’t limited to Jefferson City. The cartel of groups that have fed off the District for years is hard at work protecting the current system while repeating the same failed mantra about being for the kids. Slogans this time include: ” We have a plan.” “Keep local control.” “Only we know what’s best for our kids.” I don’t see any evidence of promise in any of those.

It’s standard to assert that the takeover in St. Louis hasn’t gone as well as expected. The Commissioner says it’s making progress. The takeover wasn’t on her watch. It may be that the State Board has learned some things, including the difficulties that arise when your leave the old school board in place. And nobody looks at what the St. Louis situation might be if there hadn’t been a take-over.

The other commonly expressed concern, the one about members of an appointed board not having the interests of the children, parents and community in mind, is interesting. Isn’t that what most people think about the past boards? How could it get worse? With one or two possible exceptions I can’t imagine any panel of leaders appointing the current board members. The major advantage of the State coming in is that contracts would be voided; teachers and administrators would have to qualify for their jobs.

In regard to dissolving the District, I agree that it would be best if citizens in both districts voted—even though that would be around 5% of the folks in the KC District. But it seems a little unfair to lay the problem off on the real estate industry. How about the citizens who are sick of paying school taxes while sending their kids to private schools? Do their interests count? And to accuse the surrounding district of “gobbling up” the attendance areas seems pejorative. Mostly I hear those districts saying they’re willing to help. All are accredited and probably aren’t lusting for kids who come in 2 or 3 years behind.

The specter of KC District kids not being accepted in their new schools is well aimed to tap into parental concerns. However, don’t almost all kids have problems when they move to a new school? I certainly did, and so did the Westport students who were sent to Southwest.
But transferring to one of the surrounding Missouri district isn’t the same as going to the largely white Johnson County burbs. The Missouri districts have demographics that are increasingly like ours.

My greatest concern is the argument that the District is on its way to accreditation. By “gaming” the accreditation system they now may reach five of the 14 criteria. However, at my last count only one of those was for academic achievement. They are now emphasizing 3rd grade math as a possibility for another point. But is that what we’re striving for–a marginally provisionally accredited school system? Plus, my contacts in the District tell me that when State standards go up in 2014 they will lose some of those points. The way I read it, many are still willing to sacrifice the kids’ future to maintain local control and the economic resource of the District–which, by the way, is shrinking and will continue to shrink.

Finally, I strongly agree that there are stellar students in the District. That’s what keeps me involved in this frustrating struggle. In my four years on the school board and subsequent four years working closely with Southwest I am awed by the potential of many of our students and disheartened by the community’s failure to provide them the education they deserve.

Best wishes,
Bill Eddy

The children of our community deserve schools that capably serve all of the residents of its geographical area. That requires a new perspective in leadership. The individuals seeking election as write-in candidates will have other opportunities to serve the children of the district. The children will not have another opportunity to get a decent education.

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/25/3450222/the-stars-editorial-break-with.html

Please modify the following letters as you see fit to make your views known. Thank you!

Sample letter one:

To the Honorable TBD:

As a resident of Kansas City, I have watched with dismay as our school district has fallen farther and farther behind – and we are now faced — again — with loss of accreditation. While it is most certainly a major setback for the whole city, my main concern is the fact we are letting our children down and robbing them of the education they deserve.

I am aware there are a number of legislative initiatives introduced in Jefferson City. I am not writing you on behalf of any one of them at this time, I am simply writing to urge you to give serious attention to this problem and help ensure that there will be a solution during this legislative session. I know there are some from the Kansas City community who are urging the status quo, but the vast majority of us in KC know we must have major change, and a new organization in place to achieve what is needed. We simply cannot endure the current status quo any longer, so I urge you to galvanize your fellow legislators to take the necessary action.

Sincerely,

Sample letter two:

To the Honorable TBD:

I am concerned about the current emergency facing the Kansas City School District – one that has been 30 years in the making. We are failing the students in the district, and such a failure is unacceptable. Various school boards have tried and failed to remedy this sad situation, and I now believe it is time for a drastic change. I know there are various bills pending in the legislature now, and while I believe the best solutions are those that enable surrounding accredited districts to take on the job of educating the students, I am not writing on behalf of any particular one at this time. I am writing to urge you to recognize the dire circumstances here and ensure that action is taken in this legislative session. Though there are some members of the Kansas City community lobbying for the status quo, most of us recognize the need for immediate and major changes. We cannot endure the status quo any longer – we are wasting the lives of our students and this must not continue.

Sincerely,

• Creates a turnaround culture
• Brings about a new governance system
• Requires teachers and administrative staff to go through a rigorous screening process
• Assures accountability to the community

 
The problems go beyond the current board and administration.  The system is caught in a decades-old spiral of dysfunction and a culture of mediocrity. A bold turnaround initiative is required to equip the district’s children to function in a complex society. 
 
The solution must focus on providing children in this district a good education.

If you’re not sure which district you’re in, use the following links to Kansas City area maps:

Missouri State Senators

Missouri State Representatives (large file)

You can also find your Senators and Representatives by putting your zip code to the following tools:

Missouri State Senators

Missouri State Representatives (bottom right)

For your convenience, we’ve provided two sample letters to help get you started.

Missouri State Senators

Missouri State Representatives

Rather than attempting to grade the school board’s performance, we will be keeping our followers informed about developments inside and outside the organization that affect students.  The Kansas City school system is “in play.”  Its fate will impact students, families, economic development, community image and many other factors.  A number of proposals are on the table.  Mayor Sly James proposes to take over the school system and appoint a small board led by a CEO.  This idea has worked well in some cities and less well in others. (See Dave Helling’s article in the January 16, 2012 Kansas City Star.)  A proposal in the State Legislature, offered by Senator Victor Callahan, would allow surrounding accredited districts to annex portions of the Kansas City District.  An addendum to that might create a new small urban core district.  (See Barbara Shelly’s column in the January 6, 2012 Kansas City Star.)  A Missouri statute empowers the State Board of Education to take over an unaccredited district two years after it loses accreditation, and it is being proposed that the two-year waiting period be eliminated. The State takeover in St. Louis is commonly described as problematic, but there is now beginning to be progress.

Do the Right Thing for Kids has not yet endorsed any of these initiatives.  However, we have become convinced, sadly, that the current District is extremely unlikely to regain full accreditation, that the current dysfunctional culture at all levels would take many years to overcome, and that drastic steps are necessary to avoid wasting the lives of more young people.  A new organization is needed to achieve what is necessary.  We will let you know when and why we decide to support one of the current options or some combination.  In the meantime, we hope you will stay informed and let local and state officials know your views.

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The first Kansas City Public School Board meeting of the month is devoted to a workshop format in which the Board listens to staff members give progress reports and updates on important projects.  It is not a board meeting in the usual sense, and board performance can only be evaluated by the questions board members raise.

At the January 11, 2012 meeting the Superintendent and his staff reported on a proposed $45 million Truman Career Academy, a new website and the preliminary FY 13 budget.  Discussions were peppered with references to “accreditation” and “student achievement.”  We heard little about what is happening to improve teaching.  There was a rather surreal quality to the meeting as a badly failing district talked about spending $45 million on a facility that could serve 5% of the students by 2019, especially when there are so many empty buildings.  The first question from the board asked about protection of minority contractors rather than the efficacy of the project. As one observer pointed out, “As a taxpayer and volunteer in a district school, I am much more concerned with teaching the 4,000+ K-3 level children how to read well. This will take more quality teachers, smaller class sizes and dedication from administrators.  The children are there, they have the ability, and it is not happening.”

The rather expensive new website looks good and will improve communication with the various constituencies.  Again, we wonder about priorities at this stage of the district’s history.  Better communication is always helpful, but is it as helpful as more good reading teachers?

The DTRTFK observers felt that the budget draft discussed by the interim chief financial officer was well presented and understandable.  It may not have adequately accounted for the shrinkage in enrollment and funding that is likely to occur nor the costs that would be involved if the transition plan is fully implemented.

We will continue to observe the school board and administrators and report on evidence of concrete, measurable progress or the lack of it.    We would like to hear your views.