Independence voters paid no mind to Lucas, confirming 4-day school week | Opinion
In the days leading up to Tuesday’s election, an unexpected voice — Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas — chimed in on the Independence School District’s proposed four-day school week.
Despite Lucas’ recent social media post decrying the shortened week, voters in Independence overwhelmingly approved keeping its current four-day schedule. At the ballot box, unofficial results showed about 61% voted in favor of the setup, according to The Star.
While not perfect, the proposal keeps intact for now the district’s four-day school week adopted in 2023. As The Star reported, the district was expected to keep the four-day bell schedule in place but has the option to vote on a five-day model anytime between now and 2036.
Tuesday’s results should serve as a reminder: Local school district matters should be left to duly elected school board members and their patrons.
Because of a benign law passed last session by the Republican-controlled Missouri General Assembly, Independence was forced to put the measure before voters. The outcome should also serve as a referendum against state legislators’ desire to meddle with local affairs.
KC mayor weighs in
On Oct. 30, Lucas inexplicably posted a link to an article from The Star about parents and teachers in Independence being divided about the current schedule. In the post, Lucas wrote: “If I lived in the Independence School District, as a number of Kansas Citians do, I would vote ‘NO’ on the four-day school week proposal.”
Good thing you didn’t actually have a say, Mayor Lucas. Next time, try to refrain from encouraging people in neighboring school districts to vote against their own calendar model. It could have swayed voters to go against a measure that is clearly popular with residents there, based on election results.
Not that the four-day week is not without fault. This iteration of the measure will keep the model in place for 10 years — I would have preferred a shorter five-year cycle.
When first approved by the school board, Independence voters were completely shut out of the decision-making process — the shortened school week was implemented without robust community engagement, critics contended.
Then and now, another concern was that low-income families could face additional financial strain with the extra day off related to child care costs and food.
Lucas alluded to this in his social media screed.
“I start by remembering one of the greatest gifts I have had in life — a mother who focused all she could on my education while raising three children on her own without the support of another parent,” Lucas wrote. “She also worked long hours each day. School and its activities were a lifeline. And, school days for me then, and many kids today, were a place of safety, nutrition, educational engagement, and growth. Weekends, breaks, and summers were not.”
Lucas went on to question claims made by Independence school district officials that student academic achievement was on the rise because of the four-day schedule. He also suggested that morale and teacher retention in ISD are largely attributed to the model, and described the district’s one-day child care options on Mondays as “substitute child care.”
“Providing substitute child care one day per week does not substitute the growth available in the educational environment,” he wrote. “It does, however, place an added burden for care on many families and creates more idle time without academic engagement for our children.”
He continued by saying: “The district-provided data suggests increases in retention since implementation. We’ve seen the same at the City and KCPD since then too (which aligned with the end of the pandemic). Kansas City’s solution was not less work for employees; it was instead better pay and more support.”
Lucas concluded the rant — which was met with some resistance in the comment section from many, including former Independence Superintendent Dale Herl and school board member Blake Roberson — by stating the following:
“Teacher retention, respect and pay is important. Lopping off a day of work and declaring it solved falls far short of the cure for our teachers and has the extra negative effect of leaving too many kids behind. I’d vote no.”
ISD interim fires back
A day after Lucas’ social media post, interim Superintendent Cynthia Grant refuted nearly every single point Lucas made. In a video sent to ISD stakeholders, Grant emphasized that several mischaracterizations associated with the four-day school week were false.
“Nothing is perfect. We know that,” Grant said in the video. “There’s pros and cons to every situation.”
To her credit, Grant took a tactful approach in responding to Lucas. What about Herl and Roberson?
Herl, who retired this summer, wrote:
“Mayor Lucas, I don’t believe you live in Independence nor are any Independence schools within the boundaries of Kansas City. I’m not sure why you are weighing in on this topic when there are so many important things that need to be addressed within your city. Your time probably needs to be spent on things you’re responsible for and that need to be improved upon.”
And Roberson added: “You have so much that needs to be done in Kansas City schools, that is why our Independence citizens wanted out of the Kansas City schools!”
In a letter sent Oct. 31 to district patrons, Grant wrote:
“We know there’s been a lot of conversation lately about our four-day school week, and not all of it has been accurate. We want to take a moment to address those inaccuracies and share factual information. Our goal has always been to provide clear communication so families and staff have the full picture, including the positive outcomes we’re already seeing for students, teachers, and our community. We also recognize that no model is perfect, and there is not a single approach that meets every need or perspective.”
She then laid out some key factors important to voters before they headed to the polls this week including student structure, safety, and nutrition.
“Student safety and well-being remain top priorities,” Grant wrote. “On Mondays, our fifth day, our open sites continue offering meals, tutoring, and enrichment through the fifth-day programs, ensuring students have access to safe spaces, healthy food, and continued learning opportunities. The district also provides deeply discounted full-day childcare at some of the most affordable rates available anywhere.”
Grant concluded her message by writing:
“The ISD will continue to evaluate our progress each year to ensure the four-day week serves students and staff. What we’re seeing so far is encouraging: stronger teacher retention, higher attendance, improved literacy outcomes, and positive feedback from families and employees. The four-day school week is part of a larger, thoughtful strategy to support balance, quality, and results across the ISD. We appreciate your continued partnership, your trust, and your shared commitment to helping every student thrive.”
On Tuesday, a majority of voters in Independence ignored the outside noise.
