TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! KANSAS CITY SCHOOL BOARD STAND UP MISSOURI OFFICIALS! TAKEOVER TALKS CIRCULATE!!!
One of the most reliable and well-informed TKC Tipsters recently called me in order to provide further evidence that the Kansas City School District teeters on the verge of collapse due to the incompetent leadership of the School Board.
I've confirmed this with another awesome KC School TKC Tipster and it seems that last Friday officals from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education were at the Kansas City, Missouri School District administrative building to go over their 90 day plan to address issues during a Missouri School Improvement Plan (MSIP) review (note: these reviews are part of the accreditation process).
The administration was present, along with the teachers union, community members and parents. Unfortunately . . .
NOT ONE KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER WAS PRESENT!!!
Nope, not a single member.
The blatant show of disrespect made it clear that the Kansas City School Board doesn't really care about the opinion of the State and it also demonstrates that earning full accreditation for Kansas City Schools really isn't a priority. The DESE officals noted the slap in the face but also were simply unable to share information since "3 findings were related board-related" according to the TKC Tipster who was there to see the whole thing.
It gets worse . . .
Folks closely watching the KCMSD note that shortly thereafter Marilyn Simmons had to go to Jefferson City and was confronted with the actions of the School Board and her slight of Missouri State Education officals. Simmons quickly flew off the handle and went into attack mode, "Why the hell did I waste my time coming down here to get yelled at?" she screamed to officals in a semi-public meeting.
Typically, she played the race card and spoke of "systemic deficiencies" and other excuses for her failure as a leader only months into her new job. By all accounts Simmons was pissed and left Jeff City in a tizzy.
Finally, the TKC Tipster concluded the conversation by telling me that dissatisfaction with the KCMSD has reached an all-time high among Kansas City's civic community. There is already support from a few big business people and a growing number of folks in the African-American community to propose a takeover.
IN TURN, TKC ALSO WANTS TO PROVIDE A TIP TO THE TEACHER'S UNION: TAKE A STRONGER BARGAINING POSITION WITH FOLKS FROM THE SCHOOL BOARD BECAUSE THEIR SITUATION HAS BECOME INCREASINGLY TENUOUS!!!
As I've reported earlier, folks at the state level don't really want to work for a KC School takeover HOWEVER given that the idea is beginning to meet with approval and support from Kansas City politicos . . . We might see some progress on this front after all.
Stay tuned.
posted by Tony Permalink
Stop talking. Take over the damn thing already.
doubtful
It is sad when people that stupid are in authority. Even sadder when they don't even realize they are stupid.
There is no way that I can see to fix the situation Tony. I don't know if you have ever dealt with the group that runs the schools Tony but it really is a snake pit. They cry racism at every turn and even when they get their way. They are vindictive and they're only looking out to get their friends and relatives jobs or contracts. Beware Tony, this is a vicious group and already they have a lot at stake if they were to lose those contracts. I hope that people will see their corruption for what it is but I doubt the citizens will be able to make any impact soon.
Well, as long as some members of "the black community" are behind a state takeover, then you know everything's gonna be fine...
whatever.
A state takeover is imperative. No longer am I taken aside by influential civic types when I say that our school district is in need of state intervention. I have not met one person who supports the current school board. There was some hope that Dr. Martin could calm things down enough to hire competent personnel. Not so. I am ashamed for Marilyn. I had some expectations that she could impart some honesty into school district business. There are no legitimate outside agencies willing to partner with this sorry group. Look at he vo-tech screw up. That money and it's backers are now planning with Independence school District to implement a stellar program. Thank God IMSD stepped forward. We need this type of educational training in our region.
Dr. King, Please take over our district now. We are not worried that we will become like St. Louis. We are too far down to have those types of aspirations.
I have not met one person who supports the current school board.
Me neither.
these niggas gots to go ifa i gonna git a education. thos niggas messin up verythang jus to line they pockets. yo no whata i means?????
anon 9/18/2008 11:47:00 AM
shut the fuck up.
Excuse my ignorance, but who appoints the members of the School Board. Are they elected, or appointed by someone? Are there term limits, or not.
Maybe after they get the black vote in the next election the Democrats will support a state takeover. Meanwhile the Republicans don't care.
If you need convincing that politicians absolutely don't care about anyone you need look no further than the KC School District. The next time you vote remember these men and women you are voting for allow kids to grow up illiterate because it might interfere with their election chances.
I don't know how the KC School Board members can live with themselves.
What a mess.
They should be embarrassed to behave like that. To not even show up?!?
they're elected, and from what i understand it's a hard-fought race each time for an unpaid position.
they're power-hungry assholes who don't give a rat's ass about educating our children.
I thought that Airwick had this thing handled.
The term Hot Ghetto Mess comes to mind.
it's not that hard-fought of a race; many school board elections are uncontested.
The problem the Union has is that they have no power to deal with these idiots. Legally the teachers can't strike or they will be arrested. The interim superintendent has been witholding wages from teachers and support staff claiming that they are just clerical errors. They have also ceased accumulation of paid sick time and personal leave with no notification to the staff. You have already read other updates on this site of his tactics to break the union by silencing their communication at school. It's really unfortunate that a district that should be fighting to regain their accreditation is hurting the people that have worked so hard to turn the district around. I just don't see the benefit of pissing off the teachers. The union has negotiated their contracts for 40 years without an incident like this.
Could we get a discount if we got the state to take over the school board AND city hall. That way it won't look racist since the state's going after those bumbling crackers on the 29th floor of city hall too.
The state should take over the District and make every school a charter with a corporate sponsor and dissolve the central administration.
Tony - As a new member of the community, I am interested in finding out the names of the current members of the school board so I am informed at voting time. That page has been "under construction" since I started looking. Please tell us who they are.
Marilyn Simmons, Helen Ragsdale, Duane Kelly, Ingrid Burnett, Joel Pelofsky, Airick Leonard West, Arthur Bensen, Ray Wilson, David Smith
Marilyn Simmons (Board Chair) - msimmons@duboisengrs.com
Arthur Benson (Board Vice-Chair) - abenson@bensonlaw.com
Helen Ragsdale (Board Treasurer) - dnsragsdale@aol.com
Ray Wilson - rayknsscty@aol.com
Joel Pelofsky - jpelofsky@spencerfane.com
Dave Smith - dsmith@helpkckids.org
Ingrid Burnett - ibnkc@ingridburnett.com
Duane Kelly - no email address, send to board services
airick leonard west - kcmsd@airick.com
Aisha Safir (board services staff) - asafir@kcmsd.net
I don't understand why everyone thinks a state takeover is the answer. The state took over St Louis and has done nothing to help so far - and it's been over a year. Nothing has changed. Also the state took over SL for financial reasons, not academic progress or certification.
A state takeover is NOT the answer.
Also to the person who said there is competition for school board seats, no there is not. The last election in April was won by write in candidates running unopposed - no one wanted to run.
The answer is to get rid of all administrators downtown and at the building levels. They live in fear of losing their jobs all the time anyway so it won't be a great shock to them. Fire all of them and start over. That's where the problem is and the board knows it. The teachers are not the problem. Yet, the teachers are the ones who take all the heat AND the district is trying to destroy their union. WRONG answer.
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