Kansas City Public Schools Kill Democracy & Vice Versa

Today's reminder that we're a long way from educating the electorate and, actually, local schools seem to be taking another step backward.

Here's the damage . . .

Though the past year was marked by the hiring of a new superintendent, packed meetings and contentious debates over school closures and the future of Kansas City Public Schools, hardly anyone is running in the April 4 election.

Three incumbents are stepping down from the seven-member board. In two races, newcomers are running unopposed, so they will be automatically seated. In the third race, no one met the qualifications to appear on the ballot. A write-in candidate will win.

“There was quite a bit of interest in 2021. And I think that was also national because of what had gone on with the pandemic and parents having a front row seat to schooling,” said board member Jennifer Wolfsie, who is not seeking reelection. “Having competitive races is always a good thing. With what we’re seeing now, I don’t know if maybe a lot of people have moved on to other things.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

No one on ballot for this Kansas City school board seat. And the other races? Unopposed

The last Kansas City school board election saw big spending and two hard-fought races, including one that unseated a longtime incumbent and board chair. Not this time. Though the past year was marked by the hiring of a new superintendent, packed meetings and contentious debates over school closures and the future of Kansas City Public Schools, hardly anyone is running in the April 4 election.

What happens when there are no KCPS school board candidates on the ballot?

In the race to serve on the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education, only two candidates made it onto the ballot for three seats.

Developing . . .