TKC EXCLUSIVE!!! VOTERS DISGUSTED WITH KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT AND READY TO REPLACE THE SCHOOL BOARD ACCORDING TO POLL!!!

A great many thinks goes out to KICKASS TKC TIPSTERS who are committed to working for better schools in Kansas City and want to share information in order to make that possible . . . It's humbling that they include this blog as part of their effort to distribute information in order to make change.

Now . . . There is a Pat Gray Poll sponsored by the Citizens Association that's currently circulating which clearly illustrates the level of frustration that Kansas City voters have with the KCMSD.

It is simply titled:

VOTERS SAY KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI SCHOOLS ON WRONG TRACK

The information is the beginning of the end for the education status quo in this town and a sign that things are about to change given the horrible voter sentiment that can be easily verified.

I suggest reading the report in its entirety since AWESOME TKC TIPSTERS went to the trouble of handing it over to this blog before anybody else but I've captured just a few of the most important parts that should not be overlooked.



There it is:

69% OF VOTERS POLLED SAY THAT THE KANSAS CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT IS EITHER "BROKEN" OR ON THE WRONG TRACK!!!

Here's what is probably the most important part of the poll:

In evaluating the alternative of an appointed rather than an elected board:

56% say that an appointed board would provide more accountability in managing the District's finances and improving academic achievement.

54% say that an appointed board would reduce the amount of political distractions and patronage in the District

64% say that an appointed board would make it easier for the District to recruit and keep a permanent superintendent

78% support changing from an elected to appointed board if the board were selected from nominees submitted by professionals from higher education, business and community agencies.

This is the worst possible news for those attempting to continue the decades of failure by the School Board. There is a firm rebuke for the people who want "Hands Off" the Kansas City, Missouri School District.

THE MAJORITY OF VOTERS POLLED SEEM TO WANT AN APPOINTED RATHER THAN AN ELECTED BOARD!!!

And that answer to this kind of frustration once relied on cultural stereotypes claiming some unseen support from the Urban core or the East side.

This poll demonstrates that those arguments no longer fly.



That right:

FROM ALL OVER KANSAS CITY AND FROM EVERY ETHNIC AND RACIAL GROUP VOTERS SAY THAT THE KCMSD IS BROKEN AND NOT PROVIDING AN ADEQUATE EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS!!!

And you'll not that most want to change from an elected to an appointed board.



And virtually everyone polled agreed by a margin or more than 70% that they would support a board proposed by leaders in higher education, business and civic affairs.

Methodology: The project was sponsored by the Citizens Association and conducted by Pat Gray . . . Here's a look at the way it was done (by telephone interview):

Methodology: Telephone interviews were conducted with a random sample of 400 voters who live in the Kansas City, Missouri School District. Sampling was stratified so that there was proportional representation from all geographic sectors. Calls took place in August and September, 2008. Statistically, the results for the aggregate sample are accurate within +/-5%. The project was sponsored by the Citizens Association, a non-partisan and diverse civic action organization. It was conducted by pollster and political consultant Patrick Gray and was funded by donations from more than 20 individuals and organizations.

And here's the aftermath . . . It looks like there is a serious legislative move to replace the Kansas City, Missouri School District School Board:

The last part of the information I was given contains a few of the details on a proposal to replace School Board Members with leaders from a number of KC communities and Leaders in local education:

A five member appointed Board of Education. After enabling legislation the plan would be submitted to the voters of Kansas City, Missouri School District for approval before being implemented.

Applicants for the board will be evaluated and 5 to 7 recommended to the State Board of Education by a panel of "local leaders in higher education, business and community organizations" (poll wording). Suggested composition:

Chancellor of UMKC
President of Penn Valley Community College (or Chancellor of the Metropolitan Community College System)
CEO of Truman Medical Center
CEO of Swope Community Enterprises
CEO of Guadalupe Center
CEO's of three major businesses located in the School District with preferences for those that hir, or could hire, graduates of the School District
The President of the District Advisory Council (parent advisory group)

The appointed board shall be diverse and representative of all sectors of the community.

The last line was exceptionally important to me given that the current School Board President has seemingly done her best to work against representation for the more than 25% of students in her district who are part of Kansas City's growing Latino population.

One last thing about this whole groundbreaking move . . . There's word that Mr. Peanut is playing a welcomed part in all of this and he was inspired by some of the silly statements made by School Board Member, Lawyer, and millionaire Arthur Benson regarding the School District.



Remember that Mr. Peanut is rarely (never) on the losing side of local ballot initiatives so his involvement basically means that it's time for The KCSMD School Board to start packing their bags.

It's about time.