Your Child Could be Changing Schools

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Thousands of students will be attending new schools in the fall, and it is not by their choice.

The Kansas City School Board approved a $298 million budget plan Wednesday night that calls for six elementary schools to close as part of its consolidation plan.

The affected schools are Bryant Elementary, Graceland, Chick, Blenheim, Pershing and Cook Montessori.

The board based its decision on the school’s yearly progress towards meeting academic standards, technology resources and the condition of the buildings.

In addition to the school closings, the district will close four of its 8th grade centers and move other grades to various buildings.

Meservey Alternative School will also close its doors.

District officials say the consolidation is necessary because they needed to trim the Fiscal 2010 budget by $45 million.

According to a district news release, there is some good news in the new budget.

The district is creating Vocal and Performing Arts programs at three schools and is reinstating the before and after program. District officials are also spending several million dollars to improve science labs and its alternative school model.

The board made the decision after a series of public meetings held in mid-June.

List Of Affected Schools

1) Close four 8th grade centers - Central, Thatcher, East and Westport.

2) Create Visual and Performing Arts strands at Phillips, Longfellow and Gladstone.

3) Central Middle School will house an accelerated program for grades 7-9 and an overage program for other students in grades 7-9.

4) Close Bryant Elementary. Bryant's K-5 students will attend Hartman. Students in grades 6-8 will attend Banneker.

5) Close Graceland and Chick elementary schools. Graceland's students, grades K-8, will attend Carver.

6) Close Blenheim and Pershing. Blenheim's students, grades K-5, will attend Knotts. Students in grades 6-8 will attend Banneker.

7) Close Cook Montessori. Cook's classrooms will be moved to Faxon Montessori. Head Start and Early Childhood classrooms will be moved to other District schools.

8) Close Meservey Elementary. Per the District's Accountability Plan, alternative transition rooms will be developed at other District buildings.

9) Wheatley Elementary's grades 7-8 will be moved to Attucks.

10) Troost Elementary's grades 7-8 will be moved to Pinkerton.

11) The Adult Basic Education program will be moved to the old Anderson High School building.