By Samantha Belcourt

Editorial Intern

Northeast News

March 13, 2015

Kansas City, MO. – On March 10, 2015, the Academie Lafayette Board of Directors and Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) agreed to step back from the negotiations regarding the proposed partnerships for a high school at the Southwest Early College Campus (SWECC). Academie Lafayette is a high performing educational institution that has consistently educated children from kindergarten through eighth grade.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) was pleased to see the Kansas City Public Schools reach out to other educational agencies to improve educational outcomes in the district. However the NAACP had misgivings about Academie Lafayette’s abilities to serve the low income and minority students of Kansas City. They want the school district to work with a more established organization to set up new secondary schools.

“We agreed to take a step back from the plan” said KCPS spokesperson Eileen Houston-Stewart. “They had concerns [Academie Lafayette] and we were having trouble reaching a consensus. This is what is best for now”.

During their discussions, KCPS has been engaged in developing the District’s master plan. Details of that plan have raised questions on the efficient use of facilities and funds by KCPS. Until the plan is fully completed and approved Houston-Stewart said, it would be hard for KCPS to make definitive decision about a specific school.

“This was a long and difficult decision,” said Chad Philips, President of the Academie Lafayette board of directors. “We truly appreciate the deliberate and inclusive manner in which KCPS is going about the serious process of weighing the needs of the present and future generations of Kansas City children. We are in the same position. We must carefully consider what is in the best interest of our current and future students and their families.”

Despite what appears to be a setback, Academie Lafayette intends to continue seeking a location for an International Baccalaureate High school facility in the Kansas City area.