Kansas City, Mo., closing nearly half its schools

[IndianaGreen]

Source: MSNBC

Kansas City, Mo., closing nearly half its schools

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.

But many big districts are closing only one or two schools. Detroit closed 29 schools before classes began this fall, but that still left the district with 172 schools.


Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35806883/ns/us_news-education/

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Earlier thread:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=4297250

[goclark]

1. And let me guess ~ Charter Schools are taking their place

Brakes the Back of the Union
Destroys the concept of the Neighborhood Schools

Allows children that are not doing well to return (if they can find it) to their neighborhood school.

It has been in the works since the early 90's and now that have destroyed the Public Schools in America.

Los Angeles has added many new charters.

[rurallib]

2. And let me guess that this does not affect the suburbs.

[leftyladyfrommo]

20. The suburbs around here are in different school districts.

KC schools are mainly urban only.

Our urban core is a mess. So much gang violence and other kinds of violence and drugs that no one in their right mind would want to raise kids there.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. They already did

KC lost half its kids in 10 years. About half of them went to charters.

I was at the board meeting. It was very very sad. One of the board members cried.

[MannyGoldstein]

3. Banker Bonuses Were A Record This Year!

A full 1% of GDP!

Thank you America! Without your sacrifices, this wouldn't be possible.

Now pay your $%&#ing credit card bills, assholes.

Warmest regards,

Larry, Timmy, Rahm, and Barack

[Mudoria]

9. Doesn't really have anything to do with the banksters

The vast majority of school funding comes from state and local governments. Most of what they seem to get from DC is unfunded or underfunded mandates.

[DBoon]

10. people who handle money do very well

people who teach children lose their jobs

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. +1

[MannyGoldstein]

11. What If Bush/Obama Put Up $12 Trillion To Back Schools Instead of Banker Bonuses?

Things would be a bit different.

[ShamelessHussy]

4. so what do the kids do now, stay home?

are they gonna go back to the 'good' ole days were only folks who had money could get an education?

how long before America goes the way of the former soviet union?

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. They are already gone

Enrollment in 1999 was 35,000 and it is 18,000 this year.

[ShamelessHussy]

12. do you mean they stay home now? no truant offices anymore?

or that they switched to these new 'charter' schools?

just like our current health insurance, i am sure it won't be long before these businesses start pricing access to them beyond the reach of many, then what happens?

go to jail, or have your kids taken from you if you can't afford to send them to school?

Are there any complaints about fees yet in your area?

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. They are in charters and they moved out of the district

No fees. No way. People can't afford them.

[goclark]

21. Good question

I can't speak for all Charters but I did supervise beginning teachers in Charters School several years ago.

The schools that I visited were in the urban area and I was shocked!

Lack of quality staff, lack of supplies - including Basic Instructional BOOKS, C+/D facilities and 90/99 percent brand new teachers.

They did not have to meet the same standards as a Public School.

For example, they have the ability to send children back if they are not meeting their "standards."

I am not saying that children can not get a good education at a Charter. A good student can learn in a variety of settings.

I'm expressing my experience as a Consultant for two major universities.

[The Genealogist]

7. How many people were dancing in the streets at the smackdown to gubmint?

More jobs lost...more privatization, with students going to charter schools that have little oversight and then cook the books on the hand-selected students they take. God forbid students actually get a well-rounded education. I guess, though, a good, well rounded education makes people think and teaches them to explore what is good in the world with open minds. Poor fodder for the wage slave mills, those are.

[Common Sense Party]

8. This is AFTER they wasted $2 BILLION from a lawsuit?

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. It wasn't wasted

But thanks for adding a wingnut talking point to the thread.

[leftyladyfrommo]

19. Did you feel like the move was justified?

It kind of looked to me like it was. Trying to keep all of those buildings up and running cost a fortune every year and not nearly enough students to justify the expense.

[proud2BlibKansan]

22. Yes schools have to be closed

The time to prevent this is over. The voters in the KC district have not approved a tax increase to support the schools since 1969.

[leftyladyfrommo]

23. I don't follow the KC school stuff very closely. But it seems like

the school boards have just been a mess for years and years. It's no wonder no one wants to vote for any increases.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Lots of corruption

It's very sad. The kids deserve better.

[Dr.Phool]

13. RIP America.

That's all you can say now.

[mbperrin]

14. Well, God knows that whatever the question, more ignorance is

bound to be the answer! Hardly anything that couldn't be improved with less education, is there?











Jesus wept.

500,000 people. $100 each would solve the whole thing, and no dice.

[Hubert Flottz]

15. The main thing is, that we have money for wall street and wars but

the kids can wait!