TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! AIRICK L. WEST PLEDGES TO SUPPORT THE LATINO COMMUNITY IN SEARCH OF REPRESENTATION ON THE KANSAS CITY SCHOOL BOARD!!!

Despite an array of empty promises for change on the Kansas City School Board, local Latinos have often been shut out when it comes to public education in this city.

Last night I attended a regular meeting of the local chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) at which School Board Member Airick L. West spoke and answered questions. Obviously, the major topic of discussion was the recent resignation of School Board member Ingrid Burnett and the subsequent impact on the Board.

It was the first time I was able to see Mr. West in action and more than being impressed by his obvious verbal ability, it was his formidable command of facts, figures and the rules of the District that stood out most.

Two facts revealed in the meeting stood out to me:

KANSAS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT ENROLLMENT IS NOW 25% LATINO

THERE IS CURRENTLY NO LATINO REPRESENTATIVE ON THE SCHOOL BOARD.

I knew the second fact, but in light of the first it seems even more unacceptable.

Through the course of the meeting Mr. West explained how the selection process for a new School Board Member would be carried out and provided instruction as to how the Latino community could be most effective in promoting a Latino representative. Even better . . .

MR. WEST MADE A BOLD STATEMENT BY OFFERING HIS SUPPORT OF A QUALIFIED LATINO CANDIDATE TO FILL THE CURRENT VACANCY ON THE SCHOOL BOARD!!!

I'm not sure if everyone in the room understood the gravity of what he was doing but in a town as racially divided as Kansas City . . . Advocating for more Latino representation is a big step and something few politicos are willing to publicly endorse.

I'd never heard the term before but at the meeting they spoke of a "cross-cultural coalition" and it seemed like something that just might be the first step in changing a district that has been driven by identity politics for more than a generation.

Mr. West made it clear that what happens now is up the Latino Community and realistically noted that the selection of a replacement is made long before the public meeting to review candidates.

Here's how it might go down and what needs to happen for Latino leaders in KC to get any kind of direct representation in the next 18 months:

Currently, Latino leaders in Kansas City are developing a list of names to present to Mr. West and the School Board in preparation of the selection.

There's also an effort to rally community support behind one or more people on this list and to make it clear to other school board members that there is large concern that wants Burnett's replacement to be a qualified Latino representative.

There's also a need to reach out to members of other communities and rally support behind a list of Latino candidates.

What wasn't noted aloud and only hinted at . . . Leaders in the Latino Community know that School Board President Marilyn Simmons wants this spot reserved for one of her cronies. Simmons is rumored to have run Burnett off the board. If Simmons secures a vote that she can control, it will make her role as School Board President almost untouchable.

I'm not sure Latino Leaders will be able to rally the kind of support they need to challenge the obvious power grab by Simmons. I don't like the tactic of using a list of candidates and would prefer if they just went ahead and nominated front runner Dolores Arzola who nearly won as a write-in candidate and already has a well-respected reputation of involvement with the KC Schools. Or, sending Enrique Chaurand back to the School District in a governance role is also a great idea.

However, in the final analysis, what was really inspiring was to see Latinos in Kansas City committed to a specific cause that will benefit the education of our community. The fact that Mr. West offered his help in this endeavor was exceptionally encouraging and probably one of the very few signs of hope for a School District that is usually regarded as a sinking ship.