KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City School board will meet on Wednesday night to discuss the new transfer police for students. The discussion and possible vote will affect students who would leave the district after it loses state accreditation January first.
Mayor Sly James doesn’t want students to have the option to transfer until the next school year. Parents with students in the KC School district are ready for a change.
“Well, I think somebody needs to take charge,” said parent Marianne Rowse.
Rowse has already taken charge of her child’s education. She moved her son from Gladstone Elementary to Ewing Kauffman Charter School.
“I felt like he needed to be more challenged,” Rowse said.
Kansas City Mayor Sly James is listening to parents and surrounding districts.
“We have a moral obligation to help our children,” said Mayor Sly James.
He met with the Independence School District about the possible influx of students transferring after January first.
“Whatever transfer policies are inacted ought to account for the fact that this needs to be orderly and considered as opposed to a panic driven type of a situation,” Mayor James said.
Independence School Superintendent Jim Hinson hopes everyone is paying attention to what’s most important.
“The bottom line that I hope everyone is trying to figure out is what’s in the best interest of kids,” Hinson said. “Unfortunately, this may play out from a legal perspective, may play out in Jefferson City, and we have to be very focused that this is about kids.”
Rowse supports a school district take over rather than bussing her kids even further.
“I really like the idea of having something that is very close to home,” Rowse said.
The Kansas City School Board will discuss their transfer policy Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Sly James expects to go to Jefferson City early in 2012 to talk to lawmakers about stopping any transfers.