TKC EXCLUSIVE AND BREAKING NEWS!!! CANDIDATE JON HILE TALKS ABOUT WHY HE'S RUNNING FOR THE KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD!!!

Right now the struggle for control over Kansas City Public Schools is being decided in Jefferson City, Missouri. Closer to home, there hasn't been much interest in the upcoming School Board election. Jon Hile is one of only two candidates vying for a spot on the Board.

The tenuous circumstances of the office he's running for cause Hile to think for a moment before he offers this insight:

"It's not easy to run for an office that might not exist by the end of the year."

Jon Hile is the chief operating officer of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Kansas City and he's also running for the 1st Subdistrict seat against incumbent Arthur Benson.



Benson can objectively be described as the chief architect of Kansas City Public School failure over the past 25 years.  Hile doesn't share such a high profile.

Still, it's clear from his vocation and career choice that Hile brings a great deal of commitment to his bid for The KCPS Board.

"Education is the most important issue in this city," Mr. Hile proclaimed as he leaned forward in his chair during an early morning interview in the modest offices of Big Brothers and Big Sisters.

When asked why he's running, Mr. Hile offers this:

"I want to run because I don’t believe the district is doing enough to serve the kids and families of the district and that I believe I can be part of making meaningful change to the board and the district that will lead to better results for our students."

What most people might not know is that Big Brothers Big Sisters has undergone a series of changes over the past few years under Hile's leadership. There has been upheaval on the Board of Directors for the organization and very real transformation of the group. Hile only offers that "We now have one of the very best boards in Kansas City."

Regarding how he'll approach somewhat similar upheaval in the KCPS, Hile says:

"Stability is the most important thing the District needs to achieve right now."

Still, there's no question the KCPS is a political hot potato and Kansas City's Mayor Sly James is now one of the lead players in takeover talk.

"Sly's move was courageous," Hile said. "But we're not there yet. Regardless of the politics of the situation, I'm interested in keeping local control of our schools."

If he should succeed in ousting incumbent Arthur Benson. Hile spoke of two things he'd like to accomplish:

"I think there needs to be a change the culture of The District," Hile said.

On this topic Hile noted some of the recent School Board infighting but also spoke of what's happening in classrooms.

"So much of the curriculum is tied to test outcomes," Hile said. "We have a situation where there's really not a lot more than 'teaching for the test' and that kind of system loses focus on the bigger picture."

Talk of classroom environments as a priority in his campaign led the conversation to Hile's rather unique approach that might help to solve the crisis in the KCPS.

Hile's campaign for School Board touts an "an emphasis on site management" for the KCPS Board. This idea runs counter to outgoing School Board prez Airick L. West's focus on governance and a "hands off" approach when it comes to management details. The governance motto West touted was well regarded until former Superintendent John Covington suggested West's involvement in KCPS contracts up for bid during a contentious departure from The District.

Alternatively, Hile says:

"I'd like to work to allow principals more authority and freedom to over their schools."

Hile believes the KCPS should allow principals to select their own teachers. Again, that's an idea that is opposite of the leadership style that marks the current epoch in the KCPS and would change a system where teachers are now placed in schools by the KCPS administration.

What's interesting about Jon Hile as a candidate is that he's focused on improvements to schools and classrooms during a time when politics has taken center-stage.

His campaign is mostly grassroots and has been supported in large part by friends and family helping him go door-to-door in order to meet potential constituents.

"The business and political community haven't shown an active interest in this election," Hile said.

Still, while so much news and political intrigue has been dedicated to the fight for control over the district, voters have the rare opportunity to reject an incumbent who has been integral in the long term KCPS failure and cast their ballot for a new candidate who has dedicated his career to successfully improving the lives of children in Kansas City.