Hogan Prep ordered to temporarily close high school due to safety concerns
Update: Why was Hogan Prep ordered to shut down? Here’s what police reports say
A Kansas City charter high school will be temporarily closed for at least the next two weeks due to safety concerns, according to a letter sent Friday by the Missouri Charter Public School Commission.
Hogan Preparatory Academy students in ninth through 12th grade cannot be on campus before Nov. 28 because of multiple incidents that the commission said impact the safety of students and staff. Online instruction can be provided this week, and students are on Thanksgiving break the week of Nov. 21.
“Unfortunately, these incidents are not a recent aberration,” the letter said. “Instead, they are indicative of an environment that has resulted in high rates of student suspension, and which has been consistently understaffed.”
Commission staff witnessed several incidents when members were on campus last week as part of their regular oversight of sponsored schools. During the visits, they spoke with school staff, many of whom said they were considering resignation or may not renew their contracts due to safety concerns.
While students on the elementary campus can continue attending school, Hogan Prep must provide two extra security guards beginning Monday to allow middle school students to return.
Administrators must also submit a safety plan by Thursday for each of Hogan Prep’s campuses that addresses how the school will ensure safety for students and staff, make sure construction does not affect physical safety and show how they will communicate the plan to staff and families.
Additionally, for high school students to return, administrators must provide a plan that shows how they will address the unsafe environment, limited capacity, student achievement issues and staff turnover for the remainder of the current semester. A plan for the second semester must be submitted by Jan. 9 and include the board’s assessment of leadership and plans to put resources towards the effort.
If the plans are not submitted in a timely manner, the commission could take additional actions, including closing the school.
This story was originally published November 14, 2022 at 7:50 AM.
