By Leslie Collins
Northeast News
September 20, 2011

“Losing our accreditation is a serious matter and a setback for what we want for our community and our scholars. We are disappointed in the decision, but we understand the basis for which it was decided,” said the Kansas City, Missouri School District interim superintendent.

Both Interim Superintendent Dr. Stephen Green and acting Board of Education President Derek Richey led a press conference Sept. 20 to address the Missouri State Board of Education’s decision to classify the school district as “unaccredited,” effective Jan. 1, 2012.

The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is developing an intervention plan, but school officials stressed that doesn’t equal a state takeover. Green said KCMSD will continue to implement its community driven Transformation Plan, but may need to make minor changes.

If KCMSD does not improve test scores and meet certain benchmarks within the next two school years, DESE will either take over the district or dissolve it.

Asked if the district’s accreditation status will affect the validity of its high school diplomas or impact college scholarships and admission, Green said no. Each school still has its North Central Accreditation, he said, and that’s what colleges consider.

“The unaccredited status decision will simply just ask us to dream bigger and ask more and demand more from our staff, of our parents and of our community,” Richey said. “The district has been plowing forward in terms of changing our approach to teaching and learning. This is absolutely not white flag time.

“This is the time to move forward.”

Richey added the community and school district must be resilient and work together to improve academic achievement.

With a “laser focus” KCMSD is addressing the unaccredited status by keeping track of which students are underperforming and implementing individualized intervention plans, Green said.

With a fiscally sound district, the administration and faculty can now turn their focus on improving student achievement, he said.

“I’m very optimistic about our ability, as we move in cycle five, to gain many of the points… to restore accreditation,” Green said. “I think we’re turning the tide. It was too late in this cycle, but I’m very optimistic about what we can do in the future.”

KCMSD launches phone bank, town hall meetings
To answer questions about KCMSD’s accreditation status, the district will operate an “Academic Progress” phone bank from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 21-23. Citizens may call (816) 418-7266. Operators will answer “general and basic” questions about the accreditation process, how it impacts currently enrolled students and the next steps for parents.

Two town hall meetings are scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 21 and 22. During the meetings, Green and other KCMSD staff will give a detailed presentation on KCMSD’s situation, the district’s next steps and how parents can ensure their children will receive a quality education.

The Sept. 21 meeting will be held at Paseo Academy, 4747 Flora, and the Sept. 22 meeting will be held at Manual Career Technical Center, 1215 E. Truman Rd.

A list of frequently asked questions regarding accreditation is posted on the district’s website, www.kcmsd.net.