Jarius Jones, mathematics instructional coach, presented the Math Relays Hall of Fame Plaque to Board of Education President Gloria Willis at Tuesday’s board meeting at Sumner Academy.

Members of the Math Relays Hall of Fame are individuals who earned at least four medals in various individual events throughout their years of competing in the relays.

They are guaranteed a one-time $200 scholarship award.  This year there were four student inductees. They are: Darius Johnson and Salvador Jurado, both seniors at J.C. Harmon High School; Daniel Martinez, a ninth grade student at J.C. Harmon High School; and Sean Kerr, a junior at Sumner Academy of Arts and Science.

The sixth annual Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools Math Relays was held on Saturday, February 13.  1350 sixth through twelfth grade students from KCKPS 8 middle schools and 5 high schools competed in various math competitions.

Sumner Academy of Arts and Science 8th graders won the overall competition trophy for the middle school division, while Sumner 9th-12th graders won the high school trophy.

Participation trophies were won by Arrowhead Middle School and J.C. Harmon High School.

Jocelyn Quiroz, Darrell Walker, and Tevin Newton were recognized on Tuesday evening by  members of the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education as March 2010 Students of the Month.

Joceyln Quiroz is a fourth grader at Quindaro Elementary school.   She was nominated by her teacher Amy Long, who says that Jocelyn is “the definition of an all around exemplary student.” 

Her math and reading skills are above grade level, in spite of a language barrier. When she was ill this year, she completed every assignment and even logged extra reading pages.  She is thoughtful of her teachers and fellow students, often offering her assistance without being asked. 

In the conclusion of Long’s nomination letter, she said of Quiroz, “When faced with an obstacle or struggle in life, Jocelyn takes it in stride and even assists others in handling it.  Her caring and helpful spirit carry over into her home life as well.  She has faced many challenges in her personal life that a girl of her young age should not have to deal with. Yet, most people who encounter her would never know what she is going through.”

Tevin Newton is an eighth grade student at Eisenhower Middle School.  Laura Butner, his art teacher and advocate described him as “a teacher’s dream student” in her nomination letter.  With a 4.0 grade point average, Tevin is very focused and determined to do his very best.

He is in the advanced art class, and has had creative input in t he mural being planned for the entrance to the school.  When presenting him, Butner told members of the Board of Education that Tevin is the kind of young man that she hopes that her son will grow up to be like.

Darrell Walker is a senior at Washington High School.  He was nominated by Micheal Schmieding, teacher and advocate. 

Schmieding wrote of Walker, “Being respected by your peers as the most courteous and polite student they know is an attribute worth more than words.  But best of all, those descriptors are used when mentioning his name – no soliciting necessary.” Darrell is a leader, he interacts well with students and staff, and takes his classwork seriously.

Schmieding concluded his presentation saying that while he’s proud of Walker and will miss him greatly when he graduates and goes on to Fort Scott Community College next year, but he knows that the relationship that he and Walker have is one that will stand the test of time.

It turns out Sumner Academy has another good team.

Members of the Sumner Academy forensics and debate team spoke and performed for board members at the Tuesday, March 9 meeting of the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education. 

Coach Jamelle Brown told a little bit about forensics and debate and then introduced her students.

Their names and topics are:

Rachel Marshall - What the National Forensics League Board Offers

Candace Villanueva – Original Oration Mini Performance

Khrystal Johnson – Prose Interpretation Mini Performance

Sedgwick Weaver – Highlights of the 8th Grade Debate Team’s Success

David Hutchinson – Highlights of the Forensics Team’s Success

Marcus Banks and Robert Coppage – Duo Interpretation, Mini Performance

Candace Villanueva

David Hutchinson

Jamelle Brown

Khrystal Johnson

Marcus Banks and Robert Coppage

Mia Richardson

Rachel Marshall

Sedgwick Weaver

Students at New Stanley Elementary School recently collected $500 for a Haiti relief fund.

The American Red Cross honored the school last month for the accomplishment. Students from across the school donated to the fund.

(Photo and information courtesy of SUSAN ENLOE)

Three Kansas City, Kansas middle school students recently visited the state capitol.

The young ladies served as House of Representatives pages in the service of Rep. Louis Ruiz. 

Their visit was sponsored by Young Women on the Move, in an effort to provide real life experiences in government.  Belen Banuelos enjoyed her visit so much that she wrote a thank-you note to Rep. Ruiz. 

Here is an excerpt:

“I would like to thank you for the opportunity to serve as a page for you in the House of Representatives. I not only enjoyed it, I learned so much, how a bill is passed into the law or how they are vetoed. That is an experience that most kids will never get. I feel so fortunate to have that opportunity. I will be boasting about this experience to my friends and family and if they don't believe me, I have my certificate from the legislature and Governor Mark Parkinson. Once again, thank you for the opportunity of a lifetime.”

PHOTO: Serving as pages for Rep. Louis E. Ruiz, Wyandotte County, District 32, in the Kansas House of Representatives provided a real life experience in government for students of the Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools and members of Young Women on the Move. Pictured with Governor Mark Parkinson (seated) are from left: Brittany Bell, Schlagle High School; Rep. Ruiz; Belen Banuelos, Central Middle School; and Alissa Stacker, Argentine Middle School.

The Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District will hold a second public forum dedicated to the budget situation Thursday at Wyandotte High School.

The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and will conclude at 7:30 p.m.

A similar meeting was held Monday at Washington High School.

The district is looking at an additional $14.6 million of cuts to next year's budget and is seeking public imput.

"We have a lot of passionate people about their schools and district," said assistant superintendent Cynthia Lane, after the first forum.

View Larger Map

The Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education will meet with members of the Wyandotte County Delegation at noon today in Topeka, Kan.

The Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District's legislative goals are among the items expected to be discussed. The meeting will be held at noon in room 784 of the Docking Building, located at 915 SW Harrison in Topeka.

Tonight's meeting at Sumner Academy will still be held, beginning at 5 p.m.

Some employees in the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District can breath a little easier for at least one more school year.

Outsourcing has been ruled out for the 2010-2011 school year in KCK Public Schools.

However, the district is still exploring the possibility for the future.

In front of at least 400 local residents and district employees in a forum held tonight at Washington High School, the district ruled out outsourcing for the next school year.

"Outsourcing will have no impact on next year's budget," said Cynthia Lane, assistant superintendent of KCK Public Schools.

The district is conducting a salary study of non-teaching employees in the district. The study is expected to conclude later this year.

"We're studying the issue," Lane said. "It'll be a four to six month long process."

The Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District will hold its first of two public forums tonight concerning the district's budget situation.

The meeting will be held tonight from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Washington High School.

Parents, faculty, residents and students are all encouraged to attend. The public will have an opportunity to speak about the budget as well.

A second meeting will be held this Thursday at Wyandotte High School. The meeting at Wyandotte will be held over the same time period.

Over the past hour or so, about eight students and area neighbors of the nine-year-old victim of this morning's bus accident began building a memorial of stuffed animals and flowers.

The memorial lays on the corner of 66th and Parkview, the scene of this morning's accident.

Regarding the incident, there's been no update from the Kansas City, Kan., Police Department. The identification of the victim has not been released.

The Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools Dispatched officials to the victim's school today. She was a third grader in the district.

The Kansas City, Kan., Second Friday ArtWalk will feature the work of students from the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District.

The walk will be held from 5 – 8 p.m. on Friday, March 12.

Over 240 pieces of art design by students in the district will be on display at the Kaw Valley Gallery on 8th and Armstrong; the YWCA Fine Art Gallery on 6th and State Avenue; the Townhouse Gallery on 7th and State Avenue and the downtown branch of the Kansas City, Kan., Public Library at 625 Minnesota Ave.

“This is a great way for our community to see the wonderful talents of our KCKPS kids and art teachers,” said Jean Ney, Coordinator of Fine Arts and Physical Education. “We are so grateful to the downtown galleries for allowing students to show in bona fide art spaces.”

The student gallery is entitled "Beyond the Classroom."

An opening reception is scheduled at all four locations on Thursday, March 11 from 4 – 5:30 p.m.

Next week's Kansas City, Kan., Board of Education meeting will be held at Sumner Academy of Arts and Sciences.

The meeting begins at 5 p.m.

Sumner's located at 1610 N. 8th Street in downtown Kansas City, Kan.

Story and photos by SUSAN ENLOE

The Principals’ Partnership was created, by officials at Union Pacific in 2001, based on national research showing that highly skilled principals are a critical factor in the success of high school students.

However, Union Pacific discovered that despite the tremendous influence principals have on students, teachers, parents and communities, there were few, if any, leadership programs specifically targeted to high school principals.

Education professionals were enlisted by Union Pacific (UP) to design a unique principals’ program that would emphasize leadership development, encourage information sharing and promote innovative strategies to improve public education.

The result was The Principals’ Partnership. Public high school principals from states served by UP were invited to be a part of the program, and with their membership, they receive year-round self-directed assistance from some of the nation’s top education professionals.

Principals have access to a comprehensive website created to share best practices in education. This website is open to all educators, even if they’re not members of the Principal’s Partnership program.

UP also sponsors an annual Summer Leadership Institute, where principals come together to hear from nationally known speakers and, most importantly, to network with each other.
 

Photo 1:  At Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education, a plaque was presented to Richard Ramsey, of Union Pacific, in appreciation for all of his work and dedication to the KCKPS and Union Pacific's Principals' Partnership.  Ramsey is pictured here with school board president Gloria Willis.

Photo 2:  Ramsey’s award was presented by KCKPS high school principals. Pictured are Wyandotte High School Principal Mary Stewart, Ramsey, J.C. Harmon High School principal Dr. Sylvia Parra, and Fairfax Campus Principal Rufus Black.

The Kansas Department of Education released a list of schools considered "Persistently Lowest-Achieving" that are eligible for federal funding dollars.

Among them are 17 schools from the Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools District.

Earlier this year, the Obama Administration announced a new education funding source that would target schools that are in need of academic improvement. About $3-4 billion would be distributed to states and schools that apply for the funds.

For KCK Public Schools, there are 17 schools, broken down into three tiers based on academic achievement and the number of students who took assessment tests.

• Tier 1: Emerson Elementary, Mark Twain, Northwest Middle School

• Tier 2: Fairfax Learning Campus, Wyandotte High School, J.C. Harmon, F.L. Schlagle and Washington High School.

• Tier 3: Argentine Middle School, Banneker Elementary School, Bertram Caruthers Elementary School, Central Middle School, Chelsea Elementary School, Grant Elementary School, Quindaro Elementary School and Whittier Elementary School.

Even if any of the individual schools made gains in student achievement and test scores, the state department listed them due to "the way of calculating the list of schools, they are considered persistently lowest achieving," a press release states.

The school district has been planning on applying for these funds.

"We must conduct a full needs analysis of each schools that are eligible," said Cynthia Lane, assistant superintendent for KCK Public Schools. "We will expect full approval by May 1 and back from the state department."

Lane said the district or each school that applies could receive from $50,000 to $2 million.

Among the action plans encouraged by the federal government – a longer school year for both students and faculty development. In submitting their plans, individual schools would have the option of replacing 50 percent of its staff, although it would not be mandated. 

"Improving teaching effectiveness is very consistent on what this board and district have always done," Lane said. "They are encouraging districts to take a look at more time developing staff."

Students are released from school early on Wednesdays for the purpose of faculty development.

Photo and information By SUSAN ENLOE, KCKPS

Members of the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education recognized Karen Rogers, psychologist at White Church Elementary School, and Carlos Olivas, Harmon High School girls soccer coach, as February 2010 Employees of the Month.

Karen Rogers was nominated by White Church principal Bruce Haber, but in his introduction, Haber said that he was just the person who compiled the sentiments of his whole staff.  Though this is Rogers’ first yearmserving the students and staff at the school, and she is only at the school one day a week, she is considered a tremendous asset. 

Haber commented, “When teachers ask her for advice or to observe a child, they know that she will be on it as soon as she can.  She gives feedback and communication in a very timely and productive manner… (she) has made such a difference in our building while only being here a short time.”

Teacher Elvira Mendez nominated Carlos Olivas. 

A 2001 Harmon graduate, who was captain of his soccer team and drum major, Olivas returned to Harmon to coach the KCK League Champion Lady Hawks soccer team.

Mendez spoke of Coach Olivas’ dedication to his team, his insistence that his team members not only be physically and mentally for the soccer field, but also mentally prepared for the classroom. 

He monitors the girls' grades, visits their classrooms, and meets with their teachers to make sure that they are keeping up with their obligations. All of this while holding a full-time job outside of the school district, and taking care of his wife and three children. He is a great male role model for his players. 

As proof, Mendez says, “Last year I proof-read several of the young ladies’ scholarship essays. The essay question asked them to name 3 individuals who have had an enormous impact on their life. Every young lady who applied for the scholarship names Coach Olivas as a person who has had an impact on their life. His dedication, patience, expectations and respect for the young ladies are essential qualities that make him more than just a coach, to most of the young ladies he is a mentor and father figure.”