This picture was on the front page of the KC Star yesterday and I was so touched by it

[proud2BlibKansan]

After the meeting ended, Nancy Haynes, a teacher at Faxon Montessori, sat alone and cried. Faxon's program will no longer exist, as the students will be split into two different schools and other students will move into the building. JILL TOYOSHIBA/The Kansas City Star 03102010

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/10/1803982/kc-school-board-approves-school.html#ixzz0i14NKVvY

And other interesting pictures:




Board member Duane Kelly, who voted for the recommendation, shed tears near the time of the vote.

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2010/03/10/1803982/kc-school-board-approves-school.html#ixzz0i14cmMJ7


The supt on the left and the board president on the right




This is Ron Hunt, a community activist who has spoken out at every forum and meeting on the Right Sizing plan




In the public comment period, Rasheedah Hazziez (at mic), a district parent, spoke before an overflow audience. Hazziez' mother, Tauheedeh Hazziez (to her right), also spoke, and said that when they were district students, her seven children were bused to seven different schools.

[Catshrink]

1. That sums up the depth of emotion these "reforms" are stirring in teachers.

That's how deeply devoted we are to our profession and why when hacks attempt to destroy it we resent it so much. For them it's just a job or money making scheme, for us it's something so much more.

:grouphug:

[Fire1]

3. No words. n/t

[roguevalley]

7. it's a calling and you don't do it well unless you love. I loved my kids

including all the wild boys I got because I wanted them but it is about the only thing left from the whole rotten process that I miss.

[tonysam]

12. I loved the kids and hated the fuckers who ruined my career

on bogus charges.

[graywarrior]

2. I don't think I can add anything to this

Thanks for posting

[Starry Messenger]

4. I don't have any words either.

You can just feel what was going on in the room.

[Dinger]

5. Not To Tell You What To Do, But

You HAVE to post this in GD or GDP. Pretty please?

[gimama]

6. Wish Obama could see these photos

this is horrible AND insane..
WE *knew* nclb was a disaster..what is THIS???

Thanks for posting, but please DO post in GD!!!

[mzteris]

8. Obama had nothing to do with this.

KC squandered their funds and didn't prepare properly for the future. HTF can you put this on Obama?

[gimama]

9. whoa..back OFF..defensive much?

I would *HOPE*
OUR President Obama
& HIS guy, Arne Duncan
might *CHANGE* this situation
for the BETTER.
HTF yourSELF.

[tabatha]

10. I see, Obama has to be superman.

Fix everything, right now.

[Fire1]

11. I would argue this point but I'm too tired. n/t

[Hannah Bell]

14. He doesn't have to fix it "right now," just refrain from making it *worse*.

all you got is straw.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. No he just needs to understand the reality

He appears not to at this time.

[Catshrink]

20. And he gives every appearance of not caring.

I want my vote back.

[mzteris]

21. yeah - in here you have to be to survive.

sorry if I "jumped on you" in error. . .

But again - the situation is caused by the economy. What do you expect Duncan to do about it? Obama is doing all he can to improve the economy.

[radical noodle]

22. What do we expect Duncan to do?

Stop giving public school money to filthy corporate charter schools who are in it for the money and the real estate.

[mzteris]

23. NO "Corporate" charter schools in MO

edit for format readability and add link.

Did you know that there are NO "Corporate" charter schools in MO?

Charter schools are authorized under the charter schools law,§§ 160.400–160.420, RSMo Supp. 2007. The perceived advantages of charter schools are that they can operate free of many of the technical requirements imposed on public school districts and take unique or imaginative approaches to curriculum development and implementation. State ex rel. Sch. Dist. of Kansas City v. Williamson, 141 S.W.3d 418 (Mo. App. W.D. 2004).

Charter schools are authorized only in a metropolitan school district (i.e., St. Louis City) or an urban school district containing most or all of a city with a population greater than 350,000 inhabitants (i.e., Kansas City). Section 160.400.2. A charter school is an independent public school and a Missouri nonprofit corporation incorporated under Chapter 355, RSMo. Section 160.400.1 and .5.

All charter schools must be sponsored by one of the following entities:

• The school board of the district where the charter school is located

• A community college located in the district

• A college or university with an approved teacher education program


...

Charter schools typically enroll pupils who reside in the district in which it is located. Section 160.410. They are required to have an admissions process that assures all applicants an equal chance of gaining admission, except that a charter school may give a preference for admission to children whose siblings attend the school or whose parents are employed at the school. Id. A charter school may also establish a geographical area around the school whose residents will receive a preference for enrollment, provided that the preferences do not result in the establishment of racially or socioeconomically isolated schools. Id. A charter school may not limit admissions based on race, ethnicity, national origin, disability, gender, income level, proficiency in the English language, or athletic ability but may limit admissions to pupils within a given age group or grade level. Id


Moreover, charter schools are required to comply with state, county, or city health and safety regulations and to meet state minimum educational standards, including participation in the statewide system of pupil assessment. Section 160.405.5(2).

http://www.mobar.org/data/esq08/oct24/school.pdf

also - Charters' existence has nothing to do with the fact that KC squandered nearly TWO BILLION DOLLARS, suffered horrendous "white flight" out of the city, and can't seem to manage nor plan for the future properly. Now, how is that Arne's fault again?

[Hannah Bell]

15. i notice you didn't comment on the charter school abuse thread.

funny how you're johnny-on-the-spot in all the public school threads.

with a vast collection of "expert" opinion on every school in the nation right at your fingertips.

much of it from "charter-skools-r-us" central.

[Hannah Bell]

13. Who is Duane Kelly? He looks like John Brown, or some hillbilly. Is he old money?

If not, how'd he get a seat on the KC board with that hair?

[proud2BlibKansan]

17. He is a retired teacher and an absolutely awesome guy

He ran for school board as soon as he retired. He's one of our best board members. And probably one of the smartest men I have ever known.

Duane said this vote was the hardest he had ever had to make. And he cried. It was very touching.

[BR_Parkway]

18. Should we assume from the audience make up in the photos that the

African American communities are going to be bearing the brunt of this decision?

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. They are a majority

There is also a large Hispanic community but they don't come to board meetings in droves.