The Real Victims of Kansas City Massive Schools Closing

By: Charles S. Mombo

Students from F. L. Schlagle High School at the annual Kansas Public Schools Marching Band Festival

Despite the anger and frustration expressed by parents, students and teachers; Kansas City’s school board has decided to go ahead and close 29 of the district’s 61 public schools, according to them, “to try to prevent bankruptcy”. According to the school board, the closure will go ahead to help in efforts to cut $50 million from the district's budget.

The real question here is, who are the real victims from the massive closing of these public schools? As I reflect on the answer to my question, I could not help but look back at the 1984 lawsuit in which a federal court ruled that the district and state were liable for illegal segregation in Kansas City schools. The state agreed in 1996 to send $320 million to the district to help it desegregate.

Some Facts From The Kansas City Missouri School District Website:

History Of The District:
"The Kansas City Missouri School District was organized in 1867, and originally served 2,150 children. Today, the district educates more than 17,400 children, and employs nearly 3,300 teachers and administrators. The urban district offers a rich multi-ethnic, multi-cultural mix of students throughout the city."

Facilities:
Thirty-Seven Elementary Schools
Three Middle Schools
Nine High Schools
Six Alternative Schools
Four Early Childhood Centers
The Afrikan-Centered Education Collegium Campus
Manual Career Technical Center

Demograpics (2009):
African-American- 64.4 Percent
Hispanic- 19.3 Percent
White- 14.1 Percent
Asian/Pacific Islander- 1.9 Percent
American Indian/Alaskan Native 0.3 Percent
Free/Reduced Lunch- 79.9 Percent

The Census Bureau lists Kansas City as 64.5% White; 30.6% African-American; 8.8% Hispanic; 2.4% Asian; 1.2% American Indian and Alaskan Native. and 0.2% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander.)