Education

artist's rendering of renovations

KC Charter School Purchases Former Bowling Alley

A Kansas City, Missouri, charter school that teaches core content through the arts plans to make a former bowling alley its new home. The Academy for Integrated Arts (AFIA) said Tuesday that it has purchased a roughly 40,000-square foot building at 7910 Troost Ave., built in 1955 to house King Louie East. AFIA is an…

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Three-time Missouri State Champion Shelby Winslow practicing archery

The Younger Games

When Lee’s Summit West High School’s archery team broke the Missouri state record for highest team score on January 30th, head coach David Winslow looked over to his staff. High-fiving and hugging each other, his assistant coaches reveled in the moment. It was the accumulation of work that had been years in the making. Nearby,…

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Wendell Phillips supporters at school board meeting

Divided Board Approves KC Schools Plan

Over continued citizen opposition, a divided Kansas City school board Wednesday night approved a master plan that shifts students and staff from Wendell Phillips Elementary School to nearby Crispus Attucks Elementary. Under the plan, approved on a 7-2 vote, the district will convert Wendell Phillips, 1619 E. 24th Terrace, into the Kansas City Neighborhood Academy,…

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Wendell Phillips Elementary

Back to the Drawing Board for Kansas City Public Schools

Kansas City Public Schools administrators entered Wednesday evening hoping they were only a couple weeks away from finalizing a master plan after more than two years of work. But after a three-hour school board meeting, dominated by discussions about the future of Wendell Phillips Elementary School and of the African-Centered College Preparatory Academy, it appeared…

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Nick Haines questions a Kansas City councilwoman

KCPT Crime Discussion Yields Many Proposed Solutions

Panelists, audience members say there is no one clear-cut answer; police argue against more cops

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KCPS Chooses Bedell for Superintendent Post

Kansas City Public Schools announced Wednesday that it has selected Mark T. Bedell to be its next superintendent, pending contract negotiations. “The KCPS school board appreciates the thoughtful input we received throughout this process,” Board Chair Jon Hile said in a news release. “The board, like our community, has set high expectations for quality leadership in…

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Audience awaits second candidate to take the stage

Public Quizzes KCPS Superintendent Candidates

Both men vying to be the next superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) stressed Thursday evening how their humble beginnings could help them connect with students in an urban school district. Ronald Gerald Taylor, superintendent of Willingboro (New Jersey) Township Public Schools, noted that his modest upbringing in Detroit and his life experiences make…

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The two finalists: Ronald Taylor and Mark Bedell (Credit: KCPS)

KCPS Names Superintendent Finalists

Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) on Tuesday announced the two men in the running to replace former superintendent Stephen Green, who left last year to lead the DeKalb County School District in Georgia. The two finalists are Ronald Gerald Taylor, superintendent of Willingboro Township Public Schools in Willingboro, New Jersey, and Mark T. Bedell, assistant superintendent for…

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group shot of ribbon cutting

A Healthy (Re)Start for Raytown

Technically, it was a ribbon-cutting for a new health facility, but the christening of a new gym and community center in Raytown was more like removing bandages from an old wound. That’s because the facility, at 10301 E. 350 Highway, is housed in a refurbished building that the YMCA of Greater Kansas City closed three…

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Kids in morning circle

A New Approach To Behavioral Problems In School

One of the first graders in Lori Williams’ classroom is clearly restless during the students’ morning community circle. As the children discuss their weekly goals, how to be a good citizen and what integrity means, the young girl is distracted. She wriggles and shifts, pulls both arms through a shirt sleeve and eventually checks out,…

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