Earlier this week, the Kansas City, Kan., Public School District gave away around 2,000 coats to children in need.

The event was part of a metro wide effort to accept coats. The district partnered with NewsRadio 980 KMBZ, area dry cleaners and local businesses to make the donation drive happen.

“This is an incredibly important project,” said Theresa VanGoethem, the KCKPS coordinator for the event. “We have thousands of kids who don’t have proper winter clothing. This partnership with NewsRadio 980 KMBZ has allowed us to give away thousands of new or gently used coats to kids who need them. I am always amazed how generous the public is when it comes to keeping kids warm.”

Over 10,000 coats were expected to be given away across the entire metro area this week.

Photo and story from Susan Enloe

At their meeting on Tuesday, December 8, members of the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education honored (l-r) Richard Porras, carpenter foreman, and Christina Leonard, special education counselor as employees of the month for December 2009.

Porras was nominated by Betty Sutulovich, nurse at Sumner Academy. 

"Richard came to the new nurse's office at Sumner Academy shortly after school started to see if he could help make the space a little bigger.  He and his crew ... listened to what I needed and made their plans accordingly." 

Porras, who is retiring in March, recognized the seven members of his crew.  "I have the easy job," he said.  "I just make up the plans.  They carry them out.  I share this award with them."

Leonard was nominated by special education department staff and by a parent, Mrs. Chele Goul. 

"Chris first and foremost considers the needs of students for whom she is providing services.  She puts much time and effort into developing (work) placements for students that will provide meaningful vocational training."

In presenting her to the board, Goul lauded Leonard for the work that she has put in with her son, making sure that he got a well-rounded job experience at each business he was placed at.  Those businesses are Great Wolf Lodge, MeMa's Bakery, and Longhorn Steakhouse.
 

After cutting $15 million from its current fiscal year budget, the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District will likely have to make more tough decisions as another cut is looming.

The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education met today to discuss budget issues during a special meeting.

Under the worst case scenario, KCK Public Schools could cut an additional $14 million in funding, according to assistant superintendent Cynthia Lane.

"It is not just the economy," she said. "It's the choices our Legislature have made. Neighboring states have new money to spend on education."

In cuts made alone this year so far, nearly 150 jobs have been cut from the district, including 103 teaching positions. With the job cuts, the average class size in the district has increased significantly.

Among some early decisions could come in the form of outsourcing positions.

The idea of outsourcing custodial, security or transportation positions is bittersweet for board members. Outsourcing would save money. But it would also put some current KCK Public Schools employees out of work.

"Most of the employees we're talking about worked for us and live in our community," board member George Breidenthal said. "What would happen to those who liver here?"

"It would be horrible for the local community," board vice president Linda Pendleton said. "There are no jobs out there."

"Some of these custodians and security members have bonds with the students in the school," said Brenda Jones. "The students don't have that bond elsewhere."

Still, board members told Lane and other administration members to press on with researching the possibility.

Along with the discussion on outsourcing, the board examined possible cuts in all areas, as they were handed packets of line-item budget items.

Lane told board members to prepare to cut $14 million at the end of the meeting.

No final decisions were made.

The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education will hold a special meeting today at 11 a.m. on the third floor of the Kansas City, Kan., Public Library.

During the meeting, the board may recess to executive session under the Attorney Client Exception.

Kansas City, Kan., assistant superintendent Cynthia Lane has been announced as the next superintendent of the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District.

The KCK Board of Education voted unanimously tonight to name Lane as the replacement for outgoing superintendent Jill Shackelford. 

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to follow Dr. Shackelford,” Lane said. “She is an amazing and inspirational leader, and I have been fortunate to get the opportunity to work closely with her over the last five years, and to learn from her leadership. She has set a sterling example for what it means to put children first, and I look forward to following in her footsteps.

Lane is just the 12th superintendent in the district's 123-year-old history.

She joined the district 22 years ago.

During her time, she's been a special education teacher, a principal, director of the Wyandotte Comprehensive Special Education Cooperative and most recently served as the district's assistant superintendent of instruction and business.

Lane earned her bachelor's degree in elementary education and a master's in behavior disorders, both from Pittsburg State University.

In 1999, she earned her doctorate in special education from the University of Kansas.

Recently, she was one of the strongest voices behind implementing the district's "Laptops for Learning" program that placed a laptop in the hands of every high school student in the district.

She's also expected to actively fight for funding from the State of Kansas.

Board President Gloria Willis said Lane was one of four internal candidates the board discussed. She said over 400 members of the community provided the board and district feedback on the hiring process.

"You'll do a good job for us," she told Lane at tonight's board meeting. "I'm so pleased with the way you've worked for us. We expect to have you hear for the next 20 years."

Board members said the choice was easy.

"She displays a passion for kids and learning," said board vice president Linda Pendleton.

"I'm proud to be the first to vote for her hiring," said George Breidenthal. "I have been able to see the way she cares about our children and our community. There's not a better person that we could have as the superintendent."

Shackelford announced her retirement at the district's convocation event in August. She is expected to return back to her home state of Oklahoma.

Lane, who is now the second female superintendent in the school district's history, begins her run as superintendent on July 1, 2010.

(Photo courtesy of KCK Public Schools) 

The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education will shift their meetings in December and January to different locations.

• For the Dec. 8 meeting, the board will meet at the Education Center at 4601 State Ave.

• For the Jan. 12, 2010 meeting, the new preschool facility at 1708 N. 55th Street will be the host location.

Both meetings begin at 5 p.m.

The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education will meet this Wednesday at 11 a.m. at McAnany, Van Cleave and Phillips, Attorney at Law.

Board members will recess into executive session for Personnel Exception to discuss "senior leadership matters" and the Attorney Client Exception to consult with the board's attorney.

Photo and information courtesy of Susan Enloe, KCKPS

Members of the Kansas City, Kansas  Board of Education recognized (L-R)
Antonio Allen, 7th grade student at Central Middle School; Weah
Landford, 5th grade student at Silver City Elementary School; and Zeidy
Lee, 11th grade student at Wyandotte High School as Students of the
Month for November 2009.

Nominated by instructional coach Heather Hamtil, 5th graderWeah
Landford  translated Hamtil’s nomination speech into his native tongue
for his mother, who speaks limited English.  Landford and his younger
sister joined the students at Silver City this year after moving from
Emerson Elementary when the district changed boundaries.  “Fifth grade
is not an easy time to change schools,” noted Hamtil. “But Weah
still has a large smile and a great big ‘Hello!’  He has great
leadership ability and is very involved in school.”  When he finishes
college, Weah says he would like to be a “guy who works on
computers”.

Seventh grade student Antonio Allen was nominated by his science
teacher,  Jodi Reno.  “Antonio is a student who overcomes his
disability and does not allow that disability to get in the way of his
learning.  He can brighten our day with his sense of humor.  He is very
involved in many areas at school, including sports and extra-curricular
activities.”  Teacher Wanda Paige spoke about Antonio’s zest for
learning and how he finds examples of how to apply his schoolwork to
everyday life at home.  When asked what he wants to be after college,
Antonio said he’d like to be a football player and a math teacher.

Science teacher and women’s soccer coach Katherine Marchin-Tomlin
nominated junior Zeidy Lee, a student in the Visual Arts and Technology
community.  “I have known (Lee) for 3 years,” Tomlin said of Lee.
“I have always been impressed by her sweet personality and desire
to work to her full potential.  She is very active as a Wyandotte
Bulldog and always gives 100%.”  Tomlin  spoke of Zeidy’s always
positive approach to life.  Zeidy plans to study Elementary Education in
college, in preparation for becoming a kindergarten teacher.

Scores on both the reading and math portions of the Measures of Academic Progress have increased from last year in the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District.

District wide, 30.8 percent of the student's are above the 50 percentile level in math, an increase of 27.4 percent in 2008. About 8.5 percent of the district's students are at or above the 80th percentile range, up nearly two points from last year.

In reading, 31.5 percent reached or exceeded the 50th percentile, up from 29.9 last fall. The district saw a slight increase for those who exceeded the 80th percentile mark.

Last year, 8.9 percent hit the mark, while 9.1 percent hit it this year.

"We are making small but very steady progress," said Dan Wright, director of educational research and assessment. "I think this is good news and fits very well with what we're seeing on the Kansas Assessment."

Attached is the school-by-school results:

Representatives from Schools for Fair Funding presented some bad budget news to the Kansas City, Kan. Board of Education.

With another education funding cut announced by Kansas Gov. Mark Parkinson on Monday, the school district has lost about $15 million in state funding from this year's budget.

However, according to attorney John S. Robb, the numbers could be more troublesome in the future.

Next year's fiscal budget faces a $406 million deficit, with a shortfall of $855.5 million coming in 2011-2. The shortfall in that year comes as federal stimulus dollars expire.

While some have pinpointed the recession as the reason for the shortfall, Robb pointed to the Kansas Legislature.

"They projected three years ago they would be $429 million short," he said. "In 2008 they overspent by $400 million. They granted school funding increases greater than their income, spent state's savings account. It was known three and a half years ago. The Legislation did nothing to fix it."

If Robb is correct, the state would decrease its education funding by 32 percent, nearly one-third.

Robb pointed to about $1 billion in tax cuts approved by the state.

KCK Public Schools is one of 62 school districts across the state involved with Schools for Fair Funding.

"This is about advocating for the future of our children," said assistant superintendent Cindy Lane. "If decisions are not made wisely communities with needs will have a greater challenge of providing an education."

Speculation has been rampant that school districts, led by Schools for Fair Funding, would take the state to court again. Three years, the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that state education funding would have to increase.

The new midtown preschool in the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District will be opened beginning Jan. 5 of next year.

The announcement was made at tonight's Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education meeting.  The board will host its Jan. 10, 2010 meeting in the new preschool.

"This would be a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the opening of the building," said assistant superintendent Cindy Lane. "It's a fabulous building you have provided the community."

More soon.

Story and photo by SUSAN ENLOE, KCKPS

The November 10 meeting of the Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education was held at Grant Elementary School. 

At the meeting, members of the Board of Education recognized (l-r) Eugene Rodriguez, head custodian at Douglass Elementary School; Marli Brandt, teacher at Stony Point South Elementary School; and Stephen Brandt, math instructor at Washington High School as November 2009 Employees of the Month. 

Eugene Rodriguez was nominated for Employee of the Month by Douglass principal Marguerite Martinez. 

Recognizing the task of getting a new building ready for the opening of school, Martinez said of Rodriguez, “Mr. Rodriguez worked many days from six in the morning until 11 or 12 at night getting our building ready for occupancy … He was seen many evenings way after the end of his scheduled work time, making sure that staff had what they needed . . .”  Martinez spoke of his commitment to the students and staff at the school, and of the many ways that Rodriguez has been a help to her as the new principal for the school.

“He knows many families and truly considers the whole child. Students look up to him, and for many, he is a positive male role model.”

Washington teacher Joe Graham and instructional coach Scarlett Sherretts-Risley nominated Stephen Brandt.   “ … Master Sergeant Stephen Brandt recently returned from serving a year in Iraq as a medic. He has been employed by the district since 1999, serving as a math teacher, SLC coordinator, cross country and track and field coach. While in Iraq, Stephen served on the Sustainment Brigade, which worked on fostering relationships and communications … Even in Iraq, Stephen continued to demonstrate his commitment to education by reading to the Iraqi children.”

When a soldier serves his country, away from his family and home, the spouse must assume all of the parenting and household duties.  MSgt. Brandt’s wife, Marli, was nominated for her efforts on the “home front”. 

Introducing Mrs. Brandt, David Smith, Assistant to the Superintendent for Communications said, “Marli is a 4th grade teacher at Stony Point South Elementary.

This is her 11th year with KCKPS. She is being recognized for maintaining a positive attitude in her position during the stressful time of having her husband serve in Iraq for the past year. She is commended for maintaining high quality work and managing her household in the absence of her husband.”

The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education formally approved of the public-private partnership fund for a new Argentine Branch Library last night.

Under the plan, the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District would be responsible for 60 percent of the costs, while private fundraising would result in the remaining 40 percent required.

The new library would replace the current library, which is 7,000 square feet in size and has issues with handicap accessibility.

Depending on fundraising efforts, the library will be between 17,000 – 25,000 square feet in size.

"A good library reflects the community its in," said J.D. Rios, an assistant superintendent for the school district. "A library's not just a place to check out books but to help people who are seeking employment. We try to do that on a small scale but now it's about expanding."

So far, without a final construction plan or even a location to publicly announce, fundraising has went well.

Neighborhood leaders have raised $181,578 so far into the campaign. The goal is to raise a total of $2 million from the private sector before May 2010.

"We are very much encouraged by the support we are receiving," said Ramon Murguia, who's leading the efforts on the fundraising. "The library will remove blight from the neighborhood and could serve as a catalyst for further development."

Once fundraising is complete, a schematic design and the finalization of funding for the library will be announced.

The current library, which is a Carnegie Library, will be "repurposed" under the plan and will remain in standing.

The news keeps on getting worse for area school districts regarding state revenue and funding.

Early estimations and speculation from Topeka indicates that school districts will likely be hit with another budget cut within the next two weeks. The cut could range between $150-200 per student.

Should the cut be at its maximum, the per-pupil funding rate would be near $4,000 a student, which would be lower than the rate prior to the Kansas Supreme Court ruling approving over $460 million in new education funding years ago.

Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools would take the toughest hit. Assistant Superintendent Cynthia Lane said the district could lose an addition $5 million in funding.

So far, in order to counteract the expected cuts, the board increased its mill levy, used $2 million in emergency board contingency funds and cut members of its facility and library staff.

Bill Reardon, lobbyist for the school district, said the decision and amount would likely be determined "before Thanksgiving."
 

The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education is expected to name the replacement for outgoing Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools Superintendent Jill Shackelford before the next calendar year.

Board President Gloria Willis made the announcement following this evening's board meeting. There appears to be four candidates.

"The Board received four applications for the Superintendent vacancy," she said. "The application and packets have been distributed and thoroughly reviewed by all board members. The Board has reached concensus regarding the next step and will be conducting personal interviews before the end of the month. The Board anticipates announcing the new superintendent before the winter break."

Shackelford announced her retirement last summer.