Public hearings to begin on KCPS school closings
Central High School and Northeast High School are among 10 schools the Kansas City Public Schools is recommending closing as part of the Blueprint 2030 plan to shape the future of the district.
In phase four of the Kansas City Public Schools’ Blueprint 2030 plan for the future of the district this month, the district announced recommendations to close two high schools and eight elementary schools.
Now comes the community’s chance to talk about it.
The first public meeting is Wednesday night, Oct. 19, and continues with several more gathering planned through Nov. 9, including a virtual meeting. Many of the meetings will be providing language interpretation in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese.
Food and child care will also be available.
Here is the full schedule:
Oct. 19: Central High School, 3221 Indiana Ave, 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Interpretation services in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese will be available.
Oct. 20: Virtual by Zoom, 5:30 - 7:00 PM, https://zoom.us/j/97534053513, Meeting ID: 975 3405 3513
Oct. 24: Longfellow Elementary School, 2830 Holmes St, 4:00 - 5:30 PM. Interpretation services in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese will be available.
Oct. 25: Northeast Middle School, 4904 Independence Ave, 6:00 - 7:30 PM. Interpretation services in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese will be available.
Oct. 27: Plexpod Westport Commons, 300 E 39th St, RM 1L, 5:30 - 7:00 PM. Interpretation services in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese will be available. (Parking is available in the North Lot (ADA Accessible) on 38th and Warwick or upper surface lot of garage on Warwick nearest 39th Street. Enter the building through the Annex (smallest building) and take the skywalk to Room 1L.)
Nov. 1: KCMO Public Library - Northeast Branch, 6000 Wilson Ave, 5:00 - 6:30 PM. Interpretation services in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese will be available.
Nov. 3: James Elementary School 5810 Scarritt Ave, 4:00 - 5:30 PM. Interpretation services in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese will be available.
Nov. 5: Manual Career & Technical Center, 1215 E Truman Rd, 9:00 - 10:30 AM & 11:30 AM - 1 PM (SPANISH SESSION). Interpretation services in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese will be available for the 9 AM meeting.
Nov. 9: Paseo Academy of Fine & Performing Arts, 4747 Flora Ave, 4:00 - 5:30 PM. Interpretation services in Spanish, Somali, Swahili and Burmese will be available.
The district has been engaged for nearly three years in the long range Blueprint 2030 planning process, working with staff, students, parents and the community in developing a vision to build an enhanced and equitable education experience for all students in the years ahead.
The under-enrolled district needs to reduce its number of schools to provide stronger academic and extra-curricular experiences for all students.
Schools recommended for closing or repurposing are:
Central High School
Northeast High School
Faxon Elementary School
James Elementary School
King Elementary School
Longfellow Elementary School
Melcher Elementary School
Troost Elementary School
Wheatley Elementary School
Whittier Elementary School
The district also proposed new schools: a new south middle school, a new King Elementary School and a new elementary school in the Northeast Kansas City neighborhood.
The new King would draw students from current King, Faxon and Melcher schools.
Read more about the plan and the process here.