News KC closing half its schools--wow - Page 2

oldandslow · 03-11-2010, 05:38 AM

This may need to go into DC...

still, I think this is an amazing and disturbing thing to happen.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/11/mis...html?hpt=T1CNN) -- The superintendent calls it the "Right-Size" plan," but many Kansas City, Missouri, residents say it's plain wrong.

Superintendent John Covington called for the closing or consolidation of almost half of the city's public schools. A divided Kansas City school board voted Wednesday to approve the downsizing.

A packed room of people watched the board make its historic move after weeks of debate and years of declining enrollment. Some parents voiced their anger, while some students cried.

"I have an 8-year-old and a 6-year-old that will be going to school with 12th graders. I find that very inappropriate. I don't feel my children will be safe," Deneicia Williams told CNN affiliate KSHB-TV.

"I feel like I have nothing, I have no high school legacy. I feel like I have nothing, nothing to go back to," said Prince Jones, a senior, who will be part of the final graduating class at Westport High School.

Covington proposed the "Right-Size" plan arguing that the financial future of the entire school district was at stake. The plan shutters 28 of Kansas City's 61 public schools, cuts 700 jobs and saves $50 million to help reduce a burgeoning deficit.

Some called Kansas City's measures draconian but school districts across America, hit hard by budget cuts, have been struggling to make ends meet.

They have had to make tough choices between closures, program cuts, bus route cancellations and layoffs of teachers and staff. Schools in at least 17 states have opted for four-day weeks.

Covington said the closures were the first phase of "right-sizing" a district where enrollments have plummeted from over 35,000 in the 1999-2000 school year to about 17,000 in 2009-10.

"Closing schools is hard - and it is tough on the community," Covington said recently in remarks posted on the superintendent's Web site.

"Closing schools and making the remaining schools much stronger academically is unquestionably the right thing to do for kids," he said. "Keeping all of the schools open with too few children in them is draining the resources we need to improve the education of all students."

But four of the nine board members disagreed with Covington.

"I deserve the right to make a rational decision based on facts, and we were never given facts about student achievement," Cokethea Hill, who voted against the closings, told KHSB.

Some members of the public showed up Wednesday to air their last-minute appeals.

"What I'm asking you today to do is to give our children justice," said Ron Hunt, a community activist.

Others worried that school closures would lead to deterioration of communities and drive residents out of the district.

"The blighting of the urban core is scandalous and shameful," said Sharon Sanders Brooks.

Covington is slated to discuss the school closings at a news conference Thursday morning.

Hootie · 03-11-2010, 08:30 AM

it makes me want to jerk off...I don't come to CP to want to jerk off

Hootie · 03-11-2010, 08:30 AM

well I suppose at least my sex drive is still going strong

JOhn · 03-11-2010, 08:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tylerthigpen!1!

Glad I grew up in the 'burbs

That's the one thing I am so thankful about living here in Cody. The schools here are amazing. The one thing I think is totally awesome is every child from 6th grade on receives a laptop from the school district to use/take home & is replaced every 3 years. 90% of their work is done on them or via the net. But does suck that my 7th grader is so much better at Power Point & Excell than I am

And having a child in the special needs program I can say they are 2nd to no one in the services they provide.

Stinger · 03-11-2010, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmicPal

Whatever happened to money from the state lottery going to support education?

Biggest scam ever..............

13and3 · 03-11-2010, 09:04 AM

Seems that I never hear about the state having problems funding the prisons to keep these low income blacks locked up. Never hear about budjet cuts, prison closing, or staff reductions there. But school budjets for the biggest, and most needy school districts always seem to dwindle.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 03-11-2010, 09:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13and3

Seems that I never hear about the state having problems funding the prisons to keep these low income blacks locked up. Never hear about budjet cuts, prison closing, or staff reductions there. But school budjets for the biggest, and most needy school districts always seem to dwindle.

Cue White Man's Burden in

5...........

4.................

3........................

2...............................

1........................................

Garcia Bronco · 03-11-2010, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stinger

Biggest scam ever..............

This

NewChief · 03-11-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 13and3

Seems that I never hear about the state having problems funding the prisons to keep these low income blacks locked up. Never hear about budjet cuts, prison closing, or staff reductions there. But school budjets for the biggest, and most needy school districts always seem to dwindle.

I'm a teacher, and I agree to some extend. However, when those schools showed zero results after having far, far, far more money spent (and squandered) in that district as outlined in the article I posted... it's hard to feel a lot of sympathy for the morons running the place. Unfortunately, the teachers, taxpayers, and students are the one being punished... not those actually culpable.

HypnotizedMonkey · 03-11-2010, 09:17 AM

[QUOTE=NewPhin;6595109]I'm a teacher, and I agree to some extend. QUOTE]

BIG_DADDY · 03-11-2010, 09:18 AM

Close all of em.

'Hamas' Jenkins · 03-11-2010, 09:21 AM

Actually, the KCMO school district is a right winger's wet dream.

The money was so poorly allocated, so completely pissed away (on things like a swimming pool in an inner city school), so many things were lost to theft, corruption. or poor bookkeeping that one could use it as an excuse against an attempt to fund the underprivileged. It's a ****ing nightmare.

NewChief · 03-11-2010, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Actually, the KCMO school district is a right winger's wet dream.

The money was so poorly allocated, so completely pissed away (on things like a swimming pool in an inner city school), so many things were lost to theft, corruption. or poor bookkeeping that one could use it as an excuse against an attempt to fund the underprivileged. It's a ****ing nightmare.

Exactly. There's a reason the Cato institute wrote up a huge report on this school district and that it constantly comes up in debates about public schooling and public school funding.

It sucks, but the morons running the place completely screwed the pooch.

BIG_DADDY · 03-11-2010, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 'Hamas' Jenkins

Actually, the KCMO school district is a right winger's wet dream.

The money was so poorly allocated, so completely pissed away (on things like a swimming pool in an inner city school), so many things were lost to theft, corruption. or poor bookkeeping that one could use it as an excuse against an attempt to fund the underprivileged. It's a ****ing nightmare.

Yea, it's them damn right wingers.

Garcia Bronco · 03-11-2010, 09:31 AM

Is it true that most of these schools are half full?

**Bwana** · 03-11-2010, 09:33 AM

More hope and change!

03-11-2010, 05:38 AM
oldandslow Veteran Join Date: Apr 2004 Casino cash: $3773149	KC closing half its schools--wow This may need to go into DC... still, I think this is an amazing and disturbing thing to happen. http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/03/11/mis...html?hpt=T1CNN) -- The superintendent calls it the "Right-Size" plan," but many Kansas City, Missouri, residents say it's plain wrong. Superintendent John Covington called for the closing or consolidation of almost half of the city's public schools. A divided Kansas City school board voted Wednesday to approve the downsizing. A packed room of people watched the board make its historic move after weeks of debate and years of declining enrollment. Some parents voiced their anger, while some students cried. "I have an 8-year-old and a 6-year-old that will be going to school with 12th graders. I find that very inappropriate. I don't feel my children will be safe," Deneicia Williams told CNN affiliate KSHB-TV. "I feel like I have nothing, I have no high school legacy. I feel like I have nothing, nothing to go back to," said Prince Jones, a senior, who will be part of the final graduating class at Westport High School. Covington proposed the "Right-Size" plan arguing that the financial future of the entire school district was at stake. The plan shutters 28 of Kansas City's 61 public schools, cuts 700 jobs and saves $50 million to help reduce a burgeoning deficit. Some called Kansas City's measures draconian but school districts across America, hit hard by budget cuts, have been struggling to make ends meet. They have had to make tough choices between closures, program cuts, bus route cancellations and layoffs of teachers and staff. Schools in at least 17 states have opted for four-day weeks. Covington said the closures were the first phase of "right-sizing" a district where enrollments have plummeted from over 35,000 in the 1999-2000 school year to about 17,000 in 2009-10. "Closing schools is hard - and it is tough on the community," Covington said recently in remarks posted on the superintendent's Web site. "Closing schools and making the remaining schools much stronger academically is unquestionably the right thing to do for kids," he said. "Keeping all of the schools open with too few children in them is draining the resources we need to improve the education of all students." But four of the nine board members disagreed with Covington. "I deserve the right to make a rational decision based on facts, and we were never given facts about student achievement," Cokethea Hill, who voted against the closings, told KHSB. Some members of the public showed up Wednesday to air their last-minute appeals. "What I'm asking you today to do is to give our children justice," said Ron Hunt, a community activist. Others worried that school closures would lead to deterioration of communities and drive residents out of the district. "The blighting of the urban core is scandalous and shameful," said Sharon Sanders Brooks. Covington is slated to discuss the school closings at a news conference Thursday morning.
Posts: 4,621

03-11-2010, 08:30 AM	#16
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	it makes me want to jerk off...I don't come to CP to want to jerk off
Posts: 56,356

03-11-2010, 08:30 AM	#17
Hootie Banned Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Dallas, Texas Casino cash: $10004900	well I suppose at least my sex drive is still going strong
Posts: 56,356

03-11-2010, 09:04 AM	#20
13and3 R8R H8R Join Date: Aug 2005 Casino cash: $9996027	Seems that I never hear about the state having problems funding the prisons to keep these low income blacks locked up. Never hear about budjet cuts, prison closing, or staff reductions there. But school budjets for the biggest, and most needy school districts always seem to dwindle.
Posts: 574

03-11-2010, 09:17 AM	#24
HypnotizedMonkey usually hooplah is involved Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Corpus Christi, TX Casino cash: $10004925	[QUOTE=NewPhin;6595109]I'm a teacher, and I agree to some extend. QUOTE]
Posts: 1,311

03-11-2010, 09:18 AM	#25
BIG_DADDY THE RED MENACE Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Texas Casino cash: $2558410	Close all of em. __________________ The diabolical genius of Marxism-Socialism is that it provides the emotional and intellectual road map for autocrats to persuade millions of people to support their own enslavement to government. ~Mark Levin April 15, 2019
Posts: 32,522

03-11-2010, 09:21 AM	#26
'Hamas' Jenkins Now you've pissed me off! Join Date: Jan 2006 Casino cash: $7229572	Actually, the KCMO school district is a right winger's wet dream. The money was so poorly allocated, so completely pissed away (on things like a swimming pool in an inner city school), so many things were lost to theft, corruption. or poor bookkeeping that one could use it as an excuse against an attempt to fund the underprivileged. It's a ****ing nightmare. __________________ "When the Know-Nothings get control, it will read 'all men are created equal, except negroes, and foreigners, and Catholics.' When it comes to this I should prefer emigrating to some country where they make no pretense of loving liberty – to Russia, for instance, where despotism can be taken pure, and without the base alloy of hypocrisy.”--Abraham Lincoln
Posts: 75,077

03-11-2010, 09:31 AM	#29
Garcia Bronco No Keys, No Problem Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: Denver Casino cash: $1813136	Is it true that most of these schools are half full?
Posts: 32,858

03-11-2010, 09:33 AM	#30
Bwana It's Five O'Clock Somewhere Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Billings, Montana Casino cash: $2135983647	More hope and change! __________________ Adventure is dangerous....but monotony can kill you.
Posts: 70,479