KCPS superintendent among those handing out free backpacks to students

KANSAS CITY, MO - The superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools visited several buildings in the district Monday on the first day of school handing out backpacks to students.

Every student from kindergarten through the sixth grade in the district received a free backpack with school supplies and personal hygiene kits.

Superintendent Dr. Stephen Greene was one of those handing out backpacks.

“ I’ve been to five or six different buildings this morning, and I’ve been very impressed with the order of operation, the precision,” Greene said of the start to the school year. “I commend our staff, our teachers for a very very smooth opening, and we want to carry it through the day.”

Volunteers went from classroom to classroom and passed out the backpacks. The effort is being dubbed, “Back to School, Back to Health for Achievement.”

The school district, Heart to Heart International and other groups worked to put the backpacks together.

Greene said as the district works to regain its accreditation, it aims to improve attendance, which has been an issue at the district. The superintendent says the district has been divided up into four zones. He says there are student support teams in place if there is truancy or drop outs.

“Sometimes a crisis has hit a family, something has happened and we’re able to assist and help move through the crisis,” said Greene.

There is also a new student information system that allows the school to track day-to-day attendance.

To hear more of what Greene had to say, click on the video player above.