Kansas City Star: A divided Kansas City board votes 5-4 to close 26 district schools
A divided Kansas City school board voted Wednesday night to move ahead with a historic plan to close 26 schools.
Hundreds of people in an overflow crowd — sometimes shouting out in dismay — watched with national media as the board ushered in Superintendent John Covington’s “Right Sizing Plan.”
While the nation may be watching to see whether Covington can carry out his sweeping plan, the superintendent and his board will tend to the task of working together in the weighty days ahead, board President Marilyn Simmons said.
“I do not think this is something for celebration,” she said after the 5-4 vote. “This is a somber moment.”
The school closings will reduce the number of district buildings by more than 40 percent and underpin Covington’s drive to cut $50 million from the shrunken district’s budget. …
I was watching Morning Joe this morning, and this was one of the lead stories. One commentator used this as an example of underfunded school districts and the sign of a looming crisis. The fact is that Kansas City, Missouri School District's population has been in decline for years. For some time now, school space has been overcapacity and all the overhead that goes with keeping each location open. Past superintendents have tried to close schools in recent years and failed. This time Covington succeeded. Hats off to him. This is not a sign of a collapsing school system but the emergence of fiscal responsibility that should improve the plight of KCMO students.
Also, don't get me started on three reporters I've already heard who talk about "the unfolding story in Kansas." Guess the geography classes didn't take too well with many in the national media. 🙂
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