Missouri Commissioner said no options are off the table when it comes to fixing KC schools

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - What’s next for the Kansas City Public Schools is still unclear. But Monday night, Missouri Commissioner of Education Dr. Chris Nicastro set a deadline to hand over a recommendation to her board to figure out how to chart back to accreditation.

Nicastro said she will make a recommendation to the board by Dec. 1, 2011.

“That recommendation will be part of a package of what a state wide system of support looks like. The department of elementary and secondary education is charged with providing support and guidance for 522 school districts in the state,” said Nicastro.

She was directly in front of the School Board Monday night.

"The biggest hurdle is focus. There has to be singular very specific and much targeted focus on classroom instruction and that means each and every conversation, each and every meeting, each and every dollar needs to focus on that work,” said Nicastro.

Two weeks after her last visit, three key members of the administrative team stepped down.

Dr. Rebecca Lee-Gwin, chief financial officer, Dr. MiUndrae Prince, chief academic officer, and Dr. Mary Esselman, assistant superintendent for professional development, assessment and accountability resigned last week. Then one week later, former superintendent Dr. John Covington announced they were part of his team in Detroit to work to fix Michigan’s low performing schools.

Derek Ritchie, a school board member, asked, “It was private then but you made what’s now a public recommendation for the board to step down effective January first. Tonight would you still support that?”

“I would like to correct the record; I requested that you look at each and every option that was there before you. I think up and until that evening that had not been an option that you all had discussed,” corrected Nicastro.

Crispin Rea said he had a better feeling about the future leaving Monday night’s meeting.

“I think moving forward; communication is going to be critical we have to have an understanding between the two of us,” said Rea.

He said after the last visit, the commissioner’s tone changed.

“There has been a significant amount of outcry from our parents and our teachers that such dramatic action might not be the best course of action,” said Rea.

After the hour long meeting, Nicastro said she thinks they will work together.

“I believe that we in Kansas City, all of us in this community, can make a difference and can turn this district around but it's going to take everyone and it's going to take us all going in the same direction,” said Nicastro.