Kansas City district master plan could lead to more school closings
Officials of Kansas City Public Schools will present their final master plan recommendations to district board members next week and host public sessions explaining the changes, which include the possibility of school closings.
The board will hear plan recommendations that also may include school consolidations and changes to attendance boundaries. Board members will receive the recommendations at a workshop starting at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Board of Education Building, 1211 McGee St.
A focus of the plan “is to expand educational opportunities for our students,” district officials said in a news release Friday. School officials gave no other details about which schools might be subject to closure or consolidation.
The last school closings in Kansas City shuttered 21 buildings as part of then superintendent John Covington’s repurposing plan in 2010. At the time, the district’s enrollment had dropped and its high schools were half empty.
“The goal of the Master Plan is to ensure that we are using our limited resources as effectively and efficiently as possible in order to give our students the best opportunity to succeed in reaching their college and career dreams,” the release said. “Achieving that goal will require some very difficult decisions, including attendance boundary changes and school closures/consolidations that may affect your school.”
District leaders ask that parents and guardians attend one of the meetings. The sessions will be held in an open house format, with presentations and discussion beginning every half hour. Free child care will be provided.
The meeting calendar:
▪ 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11, Northeast Middle, 4904 Independence Ave.
▪ 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 14, Paseo Academy, 4747 Flora Ave.
▪ 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 14, Central Academy, 3221 Indiana Ave.
▪ 5 to 7 p.m. Nov. 16, Rogers Elementary, 6400 E. 23rd St.
A final vote on the master plan is set for January.
Mará Rose Williams: 816-234-4419, @marawilliamskc
This story was originally published October 30, 2015 at 12:27 PM with the headline "Kansas City district master plan could lead to more school closings."