By Paul Thompson

Northeast News

American Jazz Museum Executive Director Cheptoo Kositany-Buckner and the majority of the museum’s Board of Directors are expected to step down before May 15.

AJM leadership faced pressure to resign following a tumultuous 2017-2018 fiscal year that included a disappointing spring festival, an emergency October bailout by the City of Kansas City, Missouri, and a sweeping organizational review – conducted by Museum Management Consultants (MMC) – that was delivered to the City Council on April 9.

The MMC report included 26 recommendations; chief among them was a directive to replace the staff and board leadership of the Museum.

On April 25, Kositany-Buckner was joined by AJM Board of Directors Chair Anita Maltbia to speak at the Finance and Governance committee meeting. Both women indicated that they wouldn’t fight what’s being called a “refresh” of the 22-member Board of Directors.

Kositany-Buckner made clear that she intended to step down from her role as Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum.

“I’m not going to be the leader moving forward,” Kositany-Buckner said.

Though the AJM Board of Directors has until May 15 to deliver a response to the MMC report, Maltbia said that the board’s intention is to deliver the response “well in advance” of the deadline. Maltbia also told the Council that while the vast majority of the board is planning to step down, Missouri state statutes require that at least three members remain while new board members are on-boarded.

“Legally, the whole board cannot leave at the same time,” Maltbia said.

Before appearing at the committee meeting, Kositany-Buckner and Maltbia co-authored a letter addressed to KCMO Mayor Sly James, members of the City Council, and City Manager Troy Schulte.

“…the staff and Board leadership take full responsibility for the missteps and mistakes that resulted in the financial losses at the American Jazz Museum (AJM) last year,” Kositany-Buckner and Maltbia wrote. “These occurrences are deeply and sincerely regretted.”

Later in the letter, the pair stated a commitment to implementing the 26 MMC recommendations, up to and including a refreshment of AJM leadership.

“Feedback from current staff and Board will facilitate a smooth transition for the organization, including new Board, staff, operations, and programming, as well as partners and collaborators,” the letter continued.

During the meeting, the Finance and Governance committee debated two resolutions to address the future of the American Jazz Museum. Ultimately, the body recommended a committee substitute for Resolution No. 180304 that would prevent any closure of the museum. Instead, the committee substitute would allocate funds to keep the museum running as a “refreshed” board of directors and an interim Executive Director work to address the MMC recommendations.

“This is the beginning, but it also sets the idea that we have expectations. If our expectations are not met, there is a recourse that follows,” said 1st District Councilman and committee chair Scott Wagner. “If we’re going to move forward, both in terms of the City’s relationship, and assuming that the community’s relationship will be rebuilt, there’s got to be universal confidence that we’re heading in the right direction. It starts with leadership.”

The updated resolution would provide funding for the American Jazz Museum through a $730,000 Supplemental Budget Appropriation designated for the 2017-2018 fiscal year. Those funds are expected to keep the museum up and running through May 15, by which time AJM is expected to have overhauled its leadership. From there, the City Auditor’s office will be tasked over the next six months with monitoring the implementation of the 26 recommendations contained within in the MMC report through the existing Audit Report Tracking System (ARTS) process. City Manager Troy Schulte has also been authorized to identify an interim Executive Director for the museum.

The resolution was initially proposed by 3rd District Councilman Jermaine Reed, who spoke to the Northeast News following the conclusion of the committee meeting.

“I applaud the Board and the Executive Director for their leadership,” Reed said. “I am a member of that board, so there are some tough, good conversations that we will have as we move forward.”

Reed added that at this time, he expects to be among the board members who will be stepping down before May 15.

“I will likely step down, of course, with the other board members,” Reed said. “The new formation of the pared-down board has not been formed, and we will work diligently to ensure that process takes place.”

As for the potential make-up of a new board, Reed pointed to the recommendations contained within the MMC report.

“The Museum Management Consultants report makes a recommendation for those from the philanthropic community to be able to step up to the plate, but then also those who are willing to help raise funds on behalf of the organization,” Reed said.

Kositany-Buckner echoed Reed’s sentiments related to the future makeup of the AJM Board of Directors.

“I think the advice from the consultants did talk about having civic leadership, and having business leadership, but also having people that can really help fundraise for the organization,” she said. “I think that’s really going to be very important.”

Kositany-Buckner also said after the meeting that she didn’t find it difficult to tell the City Council of her intentions to step down from her position as Executive Director of the American Jazz Museum.

“It wasn’t hard, because the Museum is dear to my heart and the staff that work for me are dear to my heart,” Kositany-Buckner said. “I needed to do that.”

Kositany-Buckner further suggested that there is a silver lining to the American Jazz Museum’s current predicament: that the reformation of AJM leadership can provide an opportunity for citizens of Kansas City – and especially city leadership – to buy back in to the promise of the Museum. According to Kositany-Buckner, the Historic Northeast’s Kansas City Museum is a model that AJM can follow.

“I’m sure there are other examples in the world, but it’s certainly one of the examples,” Kositany-Buckner said of the Kansas City Museum. “I think one of the things that was pointed out is the amount of financial support that has been provided to the Kansas City Museum. What I would like to see, whether the structure is the same or not, is the same commitment financially for the American Jazz Museum moving forward.”

“Our collections right now are in a basement without any environmental control: that did not start two years ago, that started 20 years ago. So I think the City has to take a step back when they do this to really figure out what is the best way,” Kositany-Buckner added. “What is the right amount to make sure that their facility, their collections – let me repeat that again – that their facility, their collections are taken care of and paid for the right way.”