Twitter use hashtag #kcmsdforums
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In this section are comments received after the conclusion of the forums:
ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Covington unable to answer many of the sch. Board's questions re plan details. Stressed? Yes. Prepared? No. #'s inflated? Yep.

crossroadskcmo reality clarifying @pitchplog School closings and job losses coming ... just don't call it 'right-sizing' http://bit.ly/aCODo4 #kcmsdforums

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Covington's list includes shrinking only school with substantial scores and a national reputation rather than beef enrollment.

mizzouatheart RT @crossroadskcmo: read the @KCStar "Covington revises list of schools to be closed to 26" http://bit.ly/bSVDle #kcmsdforums #kcstarvoices

crossroadskcmo read the @KCStar "Covington revises list of schools to be closed to 26" http://bit.ly/bSVDle #kcmsdforums #kcstarvoices

crossroadskcmo "Tough audit needed of KC School District" http://bit.ly/95jBfQ @kcstarvoices by the Kansas City Star Editorial Board #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart RT @KCStar: State audit of KC school district has started http://bit.ly/93RgYC #kcmsdforums #KCMSD

kcmsdparent KCMSD Board = well-meaning folks, but arrogant in the belief they can govern the district better than appointed professionals.#kcmsdforums

crossroadskcmo The school board could adopt a phased school closure plan as the human and fiscal costs of closure appear on the balance sheet #kcmsdforums

crossroadskcmo there are the decisions and then there is the actual work #kcmsdforums after the decisions, who will do the work? who will stall the work?

mizzouatheart I will be attending tonight's Board candidate forum. #KCMSDforums I will be voting for candidates who support Covington's efforts.

mizzouatheart Hang tough, board members, and make the tough but needed choices! http://bit.ly/baqB3D #kcmsdforums @airickwest

kcmsdparent Disappointed that our School Board, once again, seems so lame. Appoint the Board! http://bit.ly/baqB3D #kcmsdforums

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/default.aspx Scroll down to find: "Superintendent defends bold statements."

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums: Found raw footage of Covington on KSHB's website. 13 minute unedited interview in local section. We're on the same page. :-)

Kcmsdforums you are wrong to close all these schools have a heart for these kids keep carver open

VictoriaRum #kcmsdforums there r over 1000 individual who voiced Save Northeast High School http://bit.ly/91p7kn

buckfever If test scores are good enough for kids, test the teachers and administration on basic skills. #kcmsdforums

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums I agree. There are many good teachers in KCMSD. But some that aren't. Every time we get perf stds in place the admin changes.




Saturday February 19, 2010
Forum Comments
Twitter:
ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Student gets standing ovation for saying what adults don't have the guts to say: http://tinyurl.com/yc6vr35 (I'm so proud!)

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Sat. forum passionate but more civil than others. Covington seems to be listening. Closing Lincoln MS will destroy the program

airickwest went to the last right-sizng forum at rogers. smaller audience but good convo. #kcmsdforums


Friday February 18, 2010
Forum Comments
Twitter:
mizzouatheart RT @KrisKetz Re:Covington/closing schools. Says he has board support now. Later-won't say. Points finger @ prev. boards/supers. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart RT @KrisKetz: KCMSD's John Covington on closing schools/taking the heat First News Sunday 7am on KMBC Channel 9. #kcmsdforums

airickwest is listening to the forum at foreign language academy. hundreds sitting. hundreds standing. It'll be a long night! #kcmsdforums

Comments received during the day:
Twitter:
kcmsdparent #kcmsdforums #kcmsdforums Lawsuit brewing over finance inequities among schools in the KCMSD? ACE school 28k per pupil vs. 13k avg. Unjust.

aishareneej @aishareneej #kcmsdforums Will the budget cuts allow for an enhancement in the core curriculum of kcmsd schools?

aishareneej @airickwest #kcmsdforums I am concerned with what happens to the neighborhoods especially the 3rd and 5th districts with vacant buildings.

Thursday February 17, 2010
Forum Comments:
Text messages:
Kcmsdforums i was just wondering about the fundings for closing and merging schools together. Will it have an effect on the education for the students or not?

KCMSDFORUMS Knotts made AYP. Our buliding is in excellent condition. Why close a buliding that is making progress?

Twitter:
MsK07 #kcmsdforums is hoping these forums don't split the district. After the decision is made we've got to make it work for us not against us!!

airickwest is listening to public comments at paseo concerning right-sizing. very large audience. great energy. #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 School utilization needs major improvement #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 These schools in KCMSD are far too old. They're not energy efficient at all #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 The slides are too small. The could have made larger info with more slides and sectioning each slide and blowing it up #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 When they mentioned there was a team that was assigned to BKCMSD'sdeci decisions it would have been nice to here which cities #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 There is a nice size attendance here at Paseo #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 They've shared that the amount of the spending is surpassing the income #kcmsdforums

Comments received today:
Text messages:
kcmsdforums Im extremely disappointed that ACECC may be changed. My son has attended since the opening. Im 100% against re-sizing! Keep ACECC as it is!

Twitter:
kcmsdparent #kcmsdforums Per pupil expense at many schools over $13k according to rt. sizing report. KCMSD scholars could go to Pembroke Hill for that.

jqhile #kcmsdforums these aren't optional closings. Without them, there is no KCMSD in 3 years. Not about making choices...it's about surviving.

kcmsdparent #kcmsdforums Afrikan Centered program per pupil cost: $15,602 - Elementary $28,642 - 6th grade center absurd! Source: http://bit.ly/cuNo4V

elBryan Dr. Covington needs strong board members' patience and support. There is no short term fix. District needs some consistency. #kcmsdforums

boringgirls This is the only answer to KC's corrupt education spanning over a 100yr history: RADICAL CHANGE: the first step to revolution. #kcmsdforums

Wed. February 16, 2010
From tonight's forum:

Twitter:
mizzouatheart Constance Norton, Oak Park neighborhood leader, praised Covington for focus on saving higher performing schls, offered support. #kcmsdforums

ryankath Teachers tears up at podium, pleas for job. At the end of his speech, he gets standing ovation and hug from Covington #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Constance Norton, Oak Park neighborhood leader, says she's more concerned about improving school performance & offered support. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart ...says the reason other council members are not here is because they don't care, their constituents don't send kids there. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Hon. Sharon Sanders Brooks points out that 3rd District will be even further devastated by this plan. Other council members...#kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart 3rd year teacher in district in tears says he's afraid for his job when he knows other teachers are not doing their job. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart A Faxon Elementary alum who is now a teacher in local charter school suggests using the empty buildings for community use. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart An involved parent commends Covington for making tough choices that past leaders did not make when needed in past. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart An involved parent commends Covington for making the tough choices that others in past did not make when money was plentiful. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Same teacher also worries she won't be able to communicate well w/ her students's previous teachers due to splits of K-2 & 3-6 #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart A 4th grade teacher in district expresses concern about moving young students and jarring impact on their education. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Another citizen discussing impact of "redlining" poor black neighborhoods & concern about public $ drained by charter schools. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Citizen claims problem is not $ but district's relationship w/ comm. which will only worsen if schools close in poorest areas. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Citizen very mad about how $ was spent to attract white suburbanite kids in past & now relationship w/ ppl in the city suffers. #kcmsdforums

ryankath Parent gets loud applause with "Problem with district is not money. It's relationship with community" #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart This parent asks what she should do right now. She is considering charter schools. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart ...of the district's middle & high schools are performing well enough academically for her to send her daughter to them. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Heartfelt question from a parent of a 6th grader who is performing well academically & well-behaved. Worried that none...#kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Now moving to question-answer session. Lots of folks with questioners lined up. #kcmsdforums

mograndpa RT @mizzouatheart: None of the schools slated for closure have student bodies with greater than 25% proficiency on #MO standardized tests. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart None of the schools slated for closure have student bodies with greater than 25% proficiency on #MO standardized tests. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Bottom line: the district needs to cut $50M to survive. Now Covington is wrapping up. "If I could do it any other way I would." #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart District identified 3 criteria for evaluating schools: 1) academic performance; 2) facility; 3) other (student/neighborhood) #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart District staff now going through census data re: density of school-aged kids & specific schools' academic performance. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart The two elem. schools in our proposed charter school's neighborhood are to be closed w/ one program moving to another bldg. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Re: concerns abt combining middle/high schoolers, staff notes measures like school within school & separate passing times. #kcmsdforums

ryankath District buildings have capacity for 34,000, but enrollment is only about half that. Spending $ on utilities #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart District now addressing shift to 7-12 schools & predicted benefits: increase early opportunities for college prep & other prgms #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Now district is making the case for consolidating schools as enabling the district to better focus $ on intensive instruction. #kcmsdforums

ryankath Another big crowd RT @mizzouatheart: Covington promises to take unanswered written ?s & post answers on district's website #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart If the district continues along current track, the fund balance will be $1.7M in the red with nowhere to turn to get more $. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Covington promises to either answer all ?s at #kcmsdforums or take unanswered written ?s & post answers on district's website online.

mizzouatheart Sup't Covington speaking about the magnitude of problem. Comparing district enrollment #s & # of schools to other districts. #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart I'm at MLKing Elementary for one of several "Right Sizing the District" forums re: severe budget constraints. Packed house. #kcmsdforums

Here are comments that have come in during the day:
Schools prob need to close, but I'm concerned abt class size & mid/high grade interaction. I should prob attend #KCMSDForums to learn more

KCMSD should lease the newly closed school buildings out to businesses to raise revenue to support the district #kcmsdforums

RT @PaulaMarieKC: KCMSD should lease the newly closed school buildings out to businesses to raise revenue to support the district #kcmsdforums

mizzouatheart Me, too! RT @KCJeffro: listened to discussion of kcmsd's right-sizing on KCUR uptodate #kcmsdforums Hopeful with Dr. Covington and his plan

mizzouatheart I look forward to attending a Right Sizing the Distict meeting tonight to show my support for Covington's plan. #kcmsdforums #education

Darrelle1 As the district gets smaller due to the competition of Charter Schools, the reality is there are not a need that many schools #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 I would like to see the superintendent find federal funds to tear down dilapidated schools to build homes on the land #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 All districts are facing tough financial decisions, KCMSD is not excluded from these difficult times. I am a Central High grad #kcmsdforums

crossroadskcmo engage the business community in this discussion, Chamber of Commerce? @kcchamberGOV #kcmsdforums ask for time, talent, treasure, ideas

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums What happened to previous closing plan the community agreed on after hundreds of hours of meetings? Why was that thrown out?

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Schools need to close - agreed. But final approval should wait until after the election when the new board is seated.

ChristineTB @ crossroadskcmo: Biz community WAS involved in prev closing mtg 2 yrs ago. KCMSD ignored committee recs. R U surprised? #kcmsdforums

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Unfortunately - KC charter school performance is as bad or worse than district performance. Not a good alternative for parents.

TonysKansasCity Can we cut to the chase and just close the entire Kansas City, Missouri School District? #kcmsdforums

Tuesday, February 16, 2010

The first KCMO School District Forum on the "Right-Sizing" the District was held this evening. KCU4EA has offered all who are interested the chance to have their comments captured and shared as part of the experience of attending the forums. All text message and Twitter comments will be shared here.

Text Messages text to 95495 Start the message with KCMSDFORUMS

Kcmsdforums this is an important step for the KCMSD. If we don't right-size, we won't be able to adequately provide for our scholars.

KCMSDFORUMS Consider more academic options, broader extracurricular activities, parent support/connection programs, more teachers assist in classrooms to

Kcmsdforums are awesome

this was actually 8 text messages...
KCMSDFORUMS as a student in the kcmsd, I think that the plan is wrong all around. Perhaps its time to focus on the schools that arent working and leave fla and lincoln alone. What is the point of messing with a school that is doing what it needs to and doing it right. There is no room at lincoln high for for the middle school to move in. Longan should not move into fla because fla is a school that has established itself and perfected its program. It would be wise of the board to start running its other schools like its successful ones. Also, if we had better academic materials, it would help out your district students. I'm a senior at lincoln and some people ask why all this is important to me since I will not be here. I am involved and concerned because I still have family and friends that are in these schools and who will be joining these schools. Everybody deserves to have an excelent educational opportunity like the one I had. Please show some compassion and listen to your students and perhaps you will see that it helps. Who knows what the students need better than the students, no one. Take it from me, a student of the kcmsd since kindergarten. Rita Lopez

Twitter "tweets" Use hashtag: #KCMSDFORUMS

KCJeffro listened to discussion of kcmsd's right-sizing on KCUR uptodate #kcmsdforums Hopeful with Dr. Covington and his plan

airickwest spoke about kcmsd's right-sizing efforts on kraske's show this morning. i appreciated the calls and conversation. thoughts? #kcmsdforums

airickwest is inviting community to comment on the right-sizing via twitter and text message. more at http://www.kcu4ea.org/kcmsdforums #kcmsdforums

crossroadskcmo consider professionals like urban planners, architects, and artists...while you think size, design may help to achieve goals #kcmsdforums

lboogie80 I dont hv enough hours in the day or tweet characters to say how ashamed I am of the #kc & #lawrence school districts. #kcmsdforums!

airickwest covington, in response to community requests, scheduled another forum on saturday. print & pass out: www.kcu4ea.org/kcmsdforums #kcmsdforums

lboogie80 Dear #Lawrence & #kcmsdforums quit worrying about who has the biggest football field and educate those minds!! Keep the schools alive #ljw

airickwest is listening to the right-sizing forum at ne k-8. so far same presentation as saturday. nearly full. translation available. #kcmsdforums

airickwest is moved by the testimony of our scholars. parent comments are valuable as well, but the words of our scholars are powerful! #kcmsdforums

airickwest heard a great quote from a scholar that got applause from the audience: "closing ne high would be like closing the whitehouse!" #kcmsdforums

Darrelle1 I look forward to attending the session at Paseo to learn more about KCMSD decision #kcmsdforums

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Previous school closing committee recs ignored: "Close Brookside, DO NOT open SW". Example of white neighborhood preference?

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Lincoln Prep is underutilized BECAUSE K-5 programs not preparing them for the work. Need to fix problem, not close the school.

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Why force ACE program to go to K-12, but not combine Brookside with Southwest? Political favoritism?

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums Hyde Park/Midtown already littered with vacant school bldgs. Shutting Westport AND Longan will force parents to charter schools

ChristineTB #kcmsdforums What criterian will be used to fire 285 teachers? Will there be community input and forums? Incentives for best to stay?