Kansas City school board approves plan to close nearly half its schools to avoid bankruptcy

[heli]

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5itXI7J7kJ7Eka6sEx9IofeKycRqgD9EC6O680

Mass school closures approved in Kansas City, Mo.
By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH (AP) – 56 minutes ago

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City school board narrowly approved a plan Wednesday night to close nearly half the district's schools in a desperate bid to avoid a potential bankruptcy. The board voted 5-4 after parents and community leaders made final pleas to spare the schools even as the beleaguered district seeks to erase a projected $50 million budget shortfall. The approved plan calls for shuttering 29 of 61 schools — a striking amount even as public school closures rise nationwide while the recession eats away at academic budgets.

"The urban core has suffered white flight post-the 1954 U.S. Supreme Court decision Brown v. the Board of Education, blockbusting by the real estate industry, redlining by banks and other financial institutions, retail and grocery store abandonment," Kansas City Councilwoman Sharon Sanders Brooks said to applause from a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 people.

"And now the public education system is aiding and abetting in the economic demise of our school district," she said. "It is shameful and sinful." Many school board members said the vote was difficult. An emotional Duane Kelly called it "the most painful vote" he has cast in 10 years on the board.

Under the approved plan, buildings will be shuttered before the next school year. Teachers at six other low-performing schools will be required to reapply for their jobs, and the district will sell its downtown central office. About 700 of the district's 3,000 jobs — including 285 teachers — also are expected to be cut...

[midnight armadillo]

1. And on the other side of the world...

the Obama surge in Afghanistan is going to cost $1 million per soldier per year...

Our priorities are all kinds of fucked up in this country.

[OmahaBlueDog]

5. Delete

nt

[OmahaBlueDog]

2. So class size rises, school performance falls, and family flight continues

...and it'll be hard to attract business, because the quality of the schools is bad and you won't be able to find an educated workforce.

I'm not saying I think they had any good options -- I just don't see any way this ends well.

[thecrow]

3. Terrible news. How sad.

Maybe they can use the buildings for the homeless then?

[flyarm]

4. and here goes public schools nationwide..more of the RI firings..moving west!

privatization here it comes

[HowHasItComeToThis]

6. the obscenities continue

IT IS A BANKERS WORLD

[The Midway Rebel]

7. This district was once one of the best public school systems in the country.

At its peak in the 70's it had an enrollment of 74,000 students.

It is now only partially state accredited and enrollment is at 18,000 and declining.

[Hekate]

8. Note that she is blaming this on Brown vs Board of Ed, which was 56 years ago...

That is one of the most absurd statements I have ever read in my life. "Shameful and sinful" is right.

Hekate

[REP]

9. She's blaming it on "white flight" and school levies that don't pass

Of course, she forgot to mention the TOTALLY CORRUPT KC school board and their complicity in wrecking the district. "White flight" isn't the only reason people left the district; the "strategic plan" of the 80s to improve test scores by lowering requirements and cutting AP classes (a move which caused mass teacher resignations the day it was announced - they literally walked out the schools) is but one example of their fucking the schools. Their carribean cruise on taxpayer money is one reason perhaps voters were hestitant to pass levies...

[Hekate]

11. I know--of all the disgusting and absurd--shit-- it's everyone's fault but theirs, right?

:argh:

[apocalypsehow]

10. Bullshit. I grew up in Overland Park - KC's school problems are of their own making. n/t.

[maryf]

12. The federal budget for education is between 3 and 5 per cent...

For the military? between 50 and 55 per cent, hmmmm, we just need these kids for cannon fodder, what do they need to know?? :sarcasm:
Sad K&R for info