Author: Mary Rupert

Proposal moves forward for separate classes for PILOT fee

by Mary Rupert

A proposal that would create a new classification for the PILOT fee moved forward at Monday night’s Unified Government Economic Development and Finance Committee.

In a unanimous vote during committee meetings that lasted for almost seven hours, the EDF committee approved creating a residential category, along with a business-industrial category, for the PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) fee.

Next, the proposal moves to the full UG Commission for approval. The committee requested that it be placed on the nonconsent agenda at a commission meeting.

As described by UG staff, if there were two classes for the PILOT fee, which is placed on customers’ BPU bills, then the UG Commission could set a separate fee for each class. It could lead to an opportunity later to lower the PILOT fee for residents.

Currently, there is an 11.9 percent PILOT fee on BPU bills that is voted on each year by the UG Commission.

Kathleen von Achen, UG chief financial officer, said this proposal was a means of reducing the tax burden on residents. She also presented a plan to expand the senior citizen utility tax rebate to include persons of all ages making $25,000 or less per year.

Von Achen said the PILOT fee on BPU bills makes up 20 percent of the Kansas City, Kansas, general fund.

There were slight reductions in the amount of money the PILOT fee collected in 2020 and 2021 because of the effects of COVID on businesses and industries here, as some were shut down for months.

The residential portion is $8.8 million for electricity and $1.7 million for water. Von Achen said the PILOT fee currently collects $28.4 million for electricity and $5.6 million for water, for a total of $34 million.

She said if, for instance, the UG decides to reduce the PILOT from 11.9 percent to 6 percent on residential bills, it would cut the residential revenues in half, collecting $4.4 million for electricity and $800,000 for water.

Although some hypothetical situations were discussed, the committee did not approve any cuts on Monday night that would affect the PILOT fee. According to commissioners, they might consider cuts in August during the UG budget discussions.

Patrick Waters, UG deputy chief counsel, said that the UG’s charter ordinance would have to be amended to add another classification fee. The amendment would take a two-thirds majority, or eight votes of the commission, to pass. Then, under Kansas law, citizens would have 61 days after publication to submit a petition and hold a referendum on it, if they choose.

School naming committee gives preliminary nod to ‘Wolves’ for Arrowhead Middle mascot

by Mary Rupert

A Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools naming committee on Thursday morning gave a preliminary nod to the name “Wolves” for its recommendation for the new mascot of Arrowhead Middle School.

The mascot is in the process of being changed from “Apaches” because of objections of some district patrons.

After it makes its final recommendation, the committee will send the name to the full school board for approval.

There were three finalists for the mascot name, according to Dr. Ralph Teran, chief finance and operating officer for the district. They were Wolves, Blue Jays and Phoenix. Wolves were leading by only five votes over Blue Jays.

Four surveys were included for Arrowhead, including one taken in the school building, one on an online district survey with three choices from the previous March 9 meeting, an incoming sixth-grade survey from feeder schools and a ballot box at the West Wyandotte Library, Dr. Teran said.

The total votes were 370 for Wolves, 365 for Phoenix and 360 for Blue Jays, he said.

Rachel Russell, a board member who was leading the committee on Thursday, said she preferred not to make a school color recommendation for Arrowhead. The school colors previously were blue and yellow, with some support from the building for continuing them, according to Dr. Teran.

Russell said she supported the principal and building choosing their colors. She didn’t want schools to feel they needed to come to the board about school color choice. The renaming committee meeting was on Zoom.

Dr. Stacy Yeager, who serves on the renaming committee, said the board was more focused on renaming schools than on the school colors in its previous school renamings.

The school renaming committee also is in the process of renaming the Fairfax Learning Center.

Dr. Teran said the name that received the most votes was Alfred Fairfax Academy. Other names that were in the running for Fairfax were Charles Langston and Rosa Parks.

Alfred Fairfax, the first African American Kansas state reprsentatie, received the most votes by a wide margin, according to Dr. Teran. In the 1880s, Fairfax sponsored legislation that would ensure equal access to public education for all Kansas children.

Currently, the Fairfax Learning Center is located at the former White Church Elementary School building at 2226 N. 85th St., Kansas City, Kansas. It moved there in 2021.

The next step is for the renaming committee to make a written recommendation to the school board.

At this time, there are plans for additional community response between May 10 and May 31, Russell said. The district will provide opportunities for more community feedback. The renaming could go to the full school board at the March 31 meeting, she said.

Dual enrollment program makes a difference in KCK student’s life

Amiel Green II

by Mary Rupert

Amiel Green II appreciates the dual enrollment program in the Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools.

He was able to enroll in college classes while still at Washington High School.

Green took 46 college credits for free while still a high school student, going to Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Now he is in the second semester of his senior year at Rockhurst, and is teaching full time.

“I’m very blessed, I have a wonderful job, I feel I can give back in my community’s time of need, that’s done so much for me,” Green said recently.

Cooperative agreements between school districts and colleges, called dual enrollment, allow high school students to earn college credit. In the KCK district, students don’t have to pay for the college credits.

Green works as a substitute teacher in the school district. Formerly, students needed to have an associate degree to be a substitute teacher, but because of the teacher shortage during COVID, Kansas allowed those with high school diplomas to be substitute teachers.

“I think it’s possible for high school students that are sophomores in high school now to be able to graduate with associates degrees and help address the need in the district,” Green, whose mother was also a substitute teacher, said.

As a substitute, Green teaches science at Gloria Willis Middle School, and he said he likes to tell students about the benefits of the dual enrollment program.

“I try and let all my students, not just in the classroom, but studenets in school, know about the opportunities they have,” Green said.

The dual enrollment program made a difference in his life, shortened the time he had to spend in college, and resulted in financial savings, he said.

It was a whole year’s worth of tuition and loans he saved, and also, he will be starting his doctorate program a year sooner, he said.

His ultimate goal is to obtain his doctorate degree and work in a lab, while perhaps continue teaching. He is also interested in acting.

“I do have a passion for science and teaching,” Green said. He recalled his mother was a substitute teacher in his junior year of high school. Unfortunately, she died in his senior year.

“It’s a really good way for me to keep up her memory, too,” he said. They made a plan for them both to be able to do substitute teaching.

District programs under discussion currently

KCK school district programs currently are under discussion at the KCK school board level, where the board is determining next year’s budget.

The board is discussing the budget, while waiting for the Kansas Legislature to determine its final bills on state aid.

The school board on Wednesday took a vote to support a $15 minimum wage for all employees who were below that level. Also, a board member brought up in discussion Wednesday programs such as Diploma Plus, to determine how much use they are getting from students.

The board member pointed out that a district goal was to have all students enrolled in the Diploma Plus program by 2031, but a large decline was reported this year in the number of students who were in the Diploma Plus program. The board member requested data showing results for the program.

Superintendent Anna Stubblefield said they are in the process of gathering data, but historically, they are not seeing data for the program.

She said 38 school districts in the region were part of the Kauffman learning programs, including dual credit programs, with KCK having higher participation than other districts in Greater Kansas City.

She said 48 percent of students were involved in these programs last year, and if other Kauffman programs such as internships were included, it would be about 60 percent of KCK students.

Creating new opportunities for students

At Rockhurst University, Green helped create a student group, Bipoca+, that is inclusive of Black, indigenous, Asian and other peoples of color. He is vice president of the group. The group encourages a safe space to learn about other cultures, he said.

Green also is on scholarships at Rockhurst University. He also did an internship at the University of Kansas Medical Center.

Green currently has a job in the lab at the Stowers Institute, where he works after school.

He said he chose to be a researcher and pursue a doctorate degree instead of a medical degree. His major is bioethics. He said he feels that being a reseearcher would be a way to make a contribution to science.

Green said he feels that although opportunities exist in the KCK school district, such as the dual enrollment program, not enough students are taking advantage of them.

Green agreed that without the dual enrollment program, he probably would not have had the same opportunity to continue his education, enter the science career field and become a substitute teacher.