​REPORT ON MEETING HELD SATURDAY 2-24-18

Thanks to a good friend, to follow the developments on the KCK school board, you can go to https://www.effectivekckschoolboard.com/
 
The KCKPS board of education had a special meeting on Saturday, 2-24-2018.
SUPERINTENDENT SEARCH.  This meeting was called to open and review responses to their request for proposal for firms to assist with the superintendent search.  They did open the 5 proposals that were received and discussed their next steps.  At the regular board meeting at 5 pmon Tuesday, 2-27-2018, they plan to decide which of the 5 they will interview.  Interviews are scheduled for March 17.  These companies applied:
·      Grafton Staffing Company, Overland Park, KS.  graftoncompanies.com (woman owned, small business enterprise and disadvantaged business enterprise)
·      HYA Signature Search Process, Schaumburg, IL.  https://ecragroup.com/leadership/
·      Ray and Associates, Cedar Rapids, Iowa.  rayassoc.com (woman owned business; Shawnee Mission District used this one)
·      Springsted/Waters, Kansas City, MO.  springsted.com  (nationwide with local office)
·      Kansas Association of School Boards, Topeka, KS.   https://kasb.org/leadership/searches/
(emporia used them)
 
COMMUNITY MEETINGS.  The board spent most of the meeting discussing and planning a series of public events to listen to the KCK community.  Dr. Winn’s thoughts are to hear from parents and students to make sure the board is in tune with their priorities and concerns. She suggested the board members facilitate the discussions at locations around the city.  She emphasized that the comments should not come from people who live in Missouri or Piper or Bonner Springs, just parents in the district.  By the end of the discussion, it seemed the plan was to have meetings in various parts of the city to take the temperature of the community, to have a neutral facilitator like PTA or David Smith, to promote the events by as many means as possible after the board approves the content of the promotional materials.  Tentative plans were to have these meetings:
March 10, 1-3pm at South Branch Library
March 19, 6-8pm at Wyandotte High School
March 31, 1-3pm at Washington High School
April 3, 10am-noon at the District Central Offices
 
SALLY’S THOUGHTS.  These are just my thoughts, so please add your own, and talk about this with other parents and community members. Even if you can’t attend meetings or write emails, we have an ongoing obligation to be knowledgeable and involved.  Conversations in the parking lot before or after a game are valuable.  You could mention the school board at parent meetings or the chamber of commerce.  If you work in KCK, talk about it at the office.  See what others think. Just make the activity at the board of education part of your conversation.
 
Community Meetings.  An effective board of education has a collaborative relationship with the community and the staff.  This is a time for the community to do its part.  Watch for the official publicity on the community meetings, think about what needs to be said, and work to get people there.
 
 These listening meetings are a great opportunity, but only if a lot of people show up and express their priorities for education in Kansas City, Kansas.  The final meeting-plans should be announced at the regular board meeting on Tuesday, February 27.  At each of the Community Meetings, I’m hoping there are parents and taxpayers and business owners from every economic level, from every cultural background, from every neighborhood in KCK.  I’m hoping there are people who will tell the board what they see as hopeful signs in our district, what is working, as well as what their dreams are for improving our schools.  Do you want the building improvements promised by the school bond?  Do you hope there is another bond in the future to address the other half of our facilities’ needs?  Do you appreciate Diploma+?  Has your student had a meaningful internship or considered a career they didn’t know about before?  What have you appreciated about Dr. Lane’s leadership?  What are you looking for in the new superintendent?