KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City, Missouri, School District's Board of Education is faced with a daunting task - closing some schools and repurposing others.
The board met Wednesday night and heard recommendations that included closing Central High School in the fall of 2023. Under the proposal, students would move to Southeast High School.
The Central High School building would be converted for other uses by the district.
Wednesday night's proposal included several other recommendations:
- Longfellow Elementary School would be repurposed in the fall of 2023, with students transitioned to Garcia and Hale Cook Elementary Schools;
- Troost Elementary School would be repurposed in the fall of 2023, with students transitioned to Hartman and Banneker Elementary Schools;
- James Elementary School would be repurposed in the fall of 2023, with students transitioned to Gladstone Elementary School;
- King Elementary School would be converted into KCPS use in the fall of 2024, with students transitioned to Hartman, Faxon/New Construction King and Melcher Elementary Schools;
- Wheatley Elementary School would be repurposed in the fall of 2024, with students transitioned to Phillips and Rogers Elementary Schools;
Other recommendations in the plan include an expansion of foreign language, instrumental music and science labs, as well as an increase in elective courses at the middle and high schools.
Other schools will survive the cuts, according to information provided at Wednesday's meeting.
- South Middle School would open in the fall of 2024
- Paseo becomes Grades 6-12 in the high school building in fall 2024
- Former King Elementary School will become Paseo Middle School Grades 6-8 in the fall of 2024
- Paseo High School becomes Grades 9-12 in fall 2025
Wednesday night's proposals outlined three different scenarios:
- Scenario 1: Change in number of schools operating 37 to 25 for a cost saving of $37.5 million
- Scenario 2: Change in number of schools operating 37 to 27 for a cost saving of $32 million
- Scenario 3: Change in number of schools operating 37 to 30 for a cost saving of $21.5 million
The district says current staff will not be affected by the recommendations.
Implementation is contingent upon redirecting $13.2 million from Operations to the Academic Vision.
KCPS see use plans and possibilities for Central High as a professional learning center, possible swing site for building relocations during renovation/construction.
Northeast High would also serve as a swing site for relocation during renovation/construction.
In addition, the board heard that Faxon Elementary as a possible relocation for Success Academy K-5 Possible Parent Empowerment Center and King Elementary as a new home of Paseo Middle School.
KCPS says many of these are contingent upon bond passage
In a video previewing the event, Collier invited families to watch the livestream and continue to interact with the district.
"Your ideas, your input, your feedback, have guided us to this moment," Collier said. "I hope that you'll continue to engage with us as we continue to fine tune these recommendations over the next two months."
The district is planning eight public discussions through mid-November for the public to learn more about the recommendations and to provide feedback.
The first feedback session is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 17 at the Southeast Community Center, 3400 E. 63rd St.
Information about the remaining sessions is available on the school district's website.
