A convocation on Wednesday prepared teachers and staff for school, which starts on Monday in Kansas City, Kan. The district’s budget hearing is scheduled Aug. 11.
by Rebecca Tombaugh
Memorial Hall was packed tight on Wednesday morning.
The only parking available in downtown Kansas City, Kan., was four or five, maybe six blocks away.
Bunches of men and women in brightly colored T-shirts slowly trudged their way up the hill to Seventh Street and Ann Avenue, where police officers stood in the intersection waving cars on.
Blue and red emergency lights flashed on a tow truck stopped right in the middle behind two cars that had bumped bumpers.
The 2015 Convocation for the KCK Public Schools was about to begin at 9 a.m.
Amount spent per pupil this year is projected at $18,207.
Last year was $16,210.
The year before that was $15,625.*
Inside Memorial Hall the orchestra played.
The song finished.
“They want one more,” the director said, and they began to play.
Instruction gets $196 million this year.
This is 54% of the total budget.
Last year, instruction was $161 million.
The year before was $156 million.*
The hall was packed with standing room only. Groups of people sat together, each wearing a brightly colored T-shirt with the name of their school or department. The air was thick. Hand-held fans all over the auditorium fluttered back and forth. The fans had words in a circle.
“Social Justice.”
“Collective Action.”
Transportation costs are -37% this year, to $11,000.
Last year, it was $17,000
The year before, $15,000.*
The lights dimmed.
Up on stage, Patricia Hodison, vice president of the Kansas City, Kan., National Education
The overall graduation rate for USD 500 this year is 64.2%**
Association came to the podium. She began speaking into the microphone.
“…setting our vision of what excellence can be…”
The graduation rate overall for males is 55.6%**
On the left, a large screen projected her image right behind her.
On the right, a large screen showed words and pictures.
“Education is the great equalizer…” she continued on.
Four rows in the back were people wearing blue shirts that read “#TeamSPN.”
A woman in a bright yellow shirt that read “Team Northwest” walked in and looked for an empty seat.
Police stood by the entrance and pointed people to empty seats.
The hand-held fans waved. Hodison continued her speech.
“…choose to withhold funds…get kids to school…harder for dedicated students to attend college…criminalize teachers for…anti-teacher…it is an attack on the fundamental right to a public education…racism…classism…ableism…reach out…equity and justice for every child….welcome back….educate KCK!”
Loud clapping echoed through the hall.
The overall graduation rate for females this year is 72.3%.**
A bus driver took the podium.
Everyone stood up.
A woman in a light blue T-shirt put her hand over her heart.
“…And the rockets red glare…
“…gave proof through the night….that our flag was still there…”
The bus driver’s voice went up high and rippled back down. Cheers broke out and loud clapping started.
“…and the home of the brave.”
The orchestra began playing music as two lines of people marched in carrying flags from each school. They all circled around the sides all the way to the front. One woman with a flag wore what looked like a stuffed shark on her head. Another woman carrying the flag “Transportation” grabbed the tip of her flag and turned around toward the audience so all could see.
The big screen on the right of the stage showed the words: Every Grownup, Every Child, Every Day.
A chorus of people on stage began to sing.
“…Every one of us….Every child…”
A woman in back raised her hands up high.
All the people with flags began to file back out the doors.
A woman with short dark hair motioned them towards the doors.
“Hey, guys, return your flags here,” she said.
She patted one of the last flag bearers on the back.
“That was awesome,” she said.
This school year starts with vacancies in elementary (1), middle school (15), high school (4), special education (18) for a total of 38.
The chief financial officer walked to the podium. The name Kelli Mather was shown on the screen. Some people in the audience yelled “Woooo!” and clapping started up. Mather said she now had a “sidekick” — Carol Levers, director of the KCK Public Libraries. Did that mean I did a bad job and need help? she asked.
The audience said in unison “noooooo.”
Or did I do a great job and still need help? she asked again.
No one answered.
“Why’d you get so quiet?” she laughed.
The audience repeated “nooooo” and began clapping.
Mather introduced the legislators, a judge and a lobbyist sitting on the second tier on the right by name. Each one stood up and the spotlight shown down on them.
The audience clapped.
Every school, every department is getting cut 10% across the board this year**.
Way up high near the top tier a banner hung down that read “Class of 2017.”
Mather read the names of a vice president, an attorney, among others.
The audience clapped.
The Kansas City, Kansas Public Schools is a nationally recognized urban school district that serves approximately 21,500 students. With a Head Start program, three preschools, 30 elementary schools, 8 middle schools, and 5 high schools, the district serves a wonderfully diverse mixture of students. A remarkable 63 different languages are spoken in the homes of our students. To serve those students, the district employs approximately 3,700 staff, including more than 1,600 teachers.****
In the middle of the stage a big screen showed the shape of a student wearing a cap and gown. Under the graphic were the words “Kansas City Kansas Public Schools.”
Mather told the audience to give themselves a round of applause.
Mather talked about $1 million dollars given to students in scholarships. She talked insurance and construction firms, and banks that gave $5,000 and $10,000. People from those companies came on stage. They each shook hands with Mather and were given a statue. She said one company provided book bags and winter coats.
Way up the far corners red lights glowed in the dark.
Mather said for the audience to give one more round of applause.
The number of students approved for free or reduced-cost lunches in USD 500 is more than 19,000.***
Two women in blue shirts got up and walked out the doors.
Music played and some people began to clap to the beat.
“Good morning!” said a woman from the podium. The name Evelyn Hill appeared on the screen. Hill is the president of the USD 500 Board of Education.
“…great big hand to those in the community….moms…grandmas….everybody…”
The clapping grew louder.
“…thank you…:
Each member of the Board of Education was named, and their pictures appeared on the screen on the right.
“This year has been a year of loss,” said Levers.
The face of George Breidenthal appeared, with “1983-2015” underneath.
Levers said students were also lost.
“…due to some senseless acts…”
She talked about the principals that dealt with grieving.
“They held it down,” she said, and asked for a moment of silence.
Thank you,” she said, and continued with her speech.
“…then we lost more funding…you are still here..,.”
Hill quoted Maya Angelou.
“…Still I live…”
She said the teachers who came back this year are the “Come-Back Champions.”
“Thank you for coming back,” she said.
The audience clapped.
She said since there was a Declaration of Independence, there should also be a “Declaration of Education.”
“Yes…Yes…” said some in the audience, as gentle laughter followed.
A woman in a turquoise shirt and turquoise headband bobbed her head up and down in agreement.
Hill read off each point of the Declaration of Education and what it meant.
“….less pregnant, … talk like a lady … graduate on time…
Hill raised her left hand high.
“…and graduate on time…this will be the best year ever!”
People in the audience yelled out, “Whoooo! Whooo!”
The graduation rate for white males was 32.8% and white females is 60.8%.
A woman in a red shirt and clogs stood up, walked across the row of chairs, and made her way to the exit.
Rep. Tom Burroughs, D-33rd Dist., stood at the podium.
A woman with long black hair raised it up and let it fall back down.
“I graduated from this school in 1972,” said Burroughs.
A woman in the back corner cupped her purse in her hands.
Burroughs talked about teachers “hot-footing” it out of the district.
One officer in the back fanned himself. Another stood on the first aisle with her hand on her right hip.
“…all children matter…” continued Burroughs, “…you are sculptors, architects…you mold and shape and you prepare…we should embrace this district….as should the legislators…”
The audience clapped and whistled.
A man in a dark suit and gray tie walked in the back. He looked up and down the tiers. He leaned over and spoke to an officer.
Burroughs continued.
“…our teachers would make a lot more money…”
The woman in a red shirt and clogs walked back in and worked her way back through the rows and sat down.
Burroughs continued on.
“…the Kansas Supreme Court…every year should be fully funded…I refuse for legislators to vilify teachers…”
Clapping was heard.
:…education is everything…teachers are everything…” said Burroughs.
The clapping waned.
The spotlight on Burroughs also lit up green potted plants sitting on the stage.
One of the cops in the back walked around the side to the front, her white gloves dangled from the back of the uniform. Another cop held her hands behind her back.
“…please commit to the work you do…” said Burroughs. Clapping started. He mouthed the words “thank you” and walked into the shadows of the stage next to Dr. Hill.
The USD 500 average salary this year for full-time teachers is $49,481.
Administrators average $91,015.
Non-classified staff, including secretaries, bus drivers, food service workers and custodians average $27,897.**
Another woman came to the podium and spoke in Spanish, then in English. The name Marcy Clay was shown on the screen, Clay is assistant superintendent of instruction. She asked Hill to come to the podium. Clay hugged her, and thanked her, for putting a small stool there for her to stand on. Laughter fluttered through the audience.
Hill walked back and stood next to Burroughs in front of the heavy blue curtain on stage. Clay called off the names of people from many schools to come on stage. Their names appeared on the screen to the right. The man in the dark suit and gray tie gave each a certificate.
A cop in back talked on a walkie-talkie, then walked to the left exit.
The audience clapped and cheered and whistled with each name called.
Clay then called more people to come to the stage and receive banners for achievements.
“Let’s give them a hand!” she said.
One of the cops in the back tapped his heel and clapped. The audience broke out shouting “Whooo! Whoo!”
Clay went on to recognize schools and their scholarships and awards.
“Stand up Washington! Be recognized!” she shouted.
People in red shirts all stood up and the spotlight shone down on them. The audience all turned to look and clapped stronger.
She named more people to win service awards and Teachers of the Year. The woman in the turquoise shirt and turquoise headband shook her head up and down.
Clay spoke in Spanish again, then continued in English.
“…Autograph your work with excellence….thank you!” she said.
The graduation rate for black males was 65.3% and black females 75.9%
A man in a white suit came to the podium.
Up in the top tier, two people wore shirts with bright blue lights that flickered on and off in the dark.
The man began his speech.
“….when you are KCK…you have swag…”
Laughter rose up and around the audience.
The name Jayson Strickland came on the screen. He is the assistant superintendent of USD 500.
Strickland said he had some two-dollar words in his speech also. And, they didn’t know what “swag” was, to ask the people next to them.
“We have enough swag to fight for our students…” he continued, “….gumption….dare anyone to question our purchase of a PI-AN-O…audacity….we will be in the top 10 in the nation….evoke a lot of doubts and a lot of haters….”
More laughter broke out.
Strickland said the weight on the shoulders can become a chip.
“Don’t brush it off,” he said. “Embrace it…our kids deserve it…help them believe….we need that passion….we need that heart…”
A man with a blue shirt sitting in the Schlagle group rested his feet on the wall in front of him. Two programs lay under the blue chairs on the floor. A cop readjusted her hat.
Another man came to the podium. The name Marcus Newsom appeared on the screen. He ruffled pieces of paper. He pulled the microphone down. He paused. He looked up at the audience.
“This is awesome!” he said. “Seeing all of you made me extremely proud….to be back at home…”
People in the audience shouted “Whooo! Whoo! Whoo!”
“Wow,” said Newsom. “I never knew…”
A water bottle sat empty under a woman’s chair.
“I am completely wowed,” said Newsom.
Newsom is assistant athletic director and the head coach for men’s and women’s track teams at Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa.
Newsom said he grew up at Parallel Parkway and Allis Avenue.
“That’s home,” he said, noting that he woke up this morning with his mom in that very house. He said when he drove up to Memorial Hall, he recalled, as a kid thinking it was the “Superbowl of KCK.”
“And I’m here speaking to you? This is incredible, y’all!” he exclaimed.
He told of growing up, back then. And, that his mother had recently told him if the Good Lord had asked him to speak, he better go speak. He said for 45 years he always answered his mother, “Yes, ma’am.” And so, when he arrived at 2:30 a.m., and walked in the door, his mother said, “Praise God.”
Newsom rubbed his hands together. He recalled one time a reporter asking what had been his highest honor.
Under his direction, Newsom’s track teams have won 29 consecutive conference and eight national championships. The men’s have earned 16 conference titles.
Newsom rubbed his hands again, faster.
“Becoming a dad…” he said.
Clapping burst out loudly.
“There’s nothing like hearing the words, ‘Daddy,’” he said.
He talked about becoming a husband, and a coach, a professor and administrator.
When asked about his eight national championships as an honor, he pointed both hands to his heart. The white buttons on his blue shirt glowed in the spotlight. Newsom lowered his voice.
“To reach the depth of a student’s heart, there’s nothing like it,” he said.
He recalled his art teacher, who taught him, “you can never make a mistake…if it’s good in your heart…then it’s good.”
On the other hand, he talked about Mrs. Fields, who taught him how to write, but didn’t care if he thought it was good.
“It wasn’t good until she told you it was good,” he laughed.
The audience chuckled.
A woman with short brown hair scratched the top of her head.
“Mrs. Fields prepared me,” continued Newsom, lowering his voice, “for where I am today.”
A woman with a cane walked in the back and went around the side to find a seat.
Then, Newsom spoke in a whisper about another teacher.
“…who took me into her own home to study for my ACT,” he said, adding that this teacher came to his college graduation. He found her crying, saying to him, “I knew that you could do it.”
Newsom thanked all his teachers again.
The woman in turquoise rested her chin in her hand. Her feet were crossed.
Newsom asked if that teacher was in the audience. On the left tier, people pointed at a woman. The spotlight moved over her. She stood up. She was wearing a red shirt. The audience clapped.
“You were still here…and that means so much to me,” said Newsom.
Newsom rubbed his hands together fast, and named another teacher he called “The Enforcer.”
“I thank you,” he said.
Then, Newsom spoke in a whisper.
“…to my father figure…my coach…spent timeless hours…with this young man….”
Newsom leaned into the microphone.
“…an incredible man…”
The audience exploded with applause.
“…helped our parents raise us…four or five at the house…clothes…
“…football cleats…”
“…he fed us…”
“…disciplined us…”
He asked if his coach’s wife was in the audience. A woman in the front stood up.
Newsom paused.
He wiped his eye.
“Thank you, mom,” he said.
Newsom finished up with his pointers for success.
“…best results under duress….we have always risen to the top with little….”
A woman scratched her wrist.
Newsom clenched his fists.
“..believe in the struggle….”
He put his hands to his chest.
“Don’t waste the time and energy on the negative…look in that student’s eyes…”
Clapping rolled over the audience.
“…no judging…”
Someone in the back of the audience said “Amen.”
According to Tammy Dodderidge, communications manager, it’s time to update the books in the grade schools.
“We will not be doing that,” says Dodderidge, because the budget for that has been cut by $350,000.
Dodderidge also says the district has laid off 30 assessment managers. These people gave the test assessments, but also analyzed the data, day in and day out, and reported that to the teachers. That work still has to be done, so the teachers will likely absorb that.
And everyone — across the board — who works full time will have a smaller paycheck, says Dodderidge.
“All of our staff are taking the hit,” she says.
The district is closing the schools for four extra days this year. That saves in salaries, and electricity and everything else.
This year the districts’ funding is not a per-pupil figure, but is based on last year’s allocation, and the district expects 500 more students than last year.
Teachers, says Dodderidge, have had one raise in five years. Two of the days the school is closed are during the school year, which means their paychecks will be reduced.
“That pretty much takes care of that raise,” says Dodderidge.
This year, Dodderidge says, each teacher gets $50 for classroom supplies.
“Think about how far that goes,” she says. “It’s not just pencils,” she says.
Dodderidge says one teacher is buying macaroni, sand and glitter to make learning to write their names more fun. Another buys costumes for the school plays.
“They will be doing more of that,” says Dodderidge.
Dodderidge says teachers and staff are leaving for other districts that do have more money.
“It’s difficult for us to compete with that,” she says.
Dodderidge was asked if the cuts would affect the students.
“We work our hardest for our kids not to see,” she says.
The district does not charge activity or book fees, or raise taxes to supplement, says Dodderidge.
“Our families can’t afford that,” she says.
Newsom said there are no secrets in education.
“If one school thrives…why can’t they all?”
A voice in the hall shouted out, “Yeah, man!”
The cop looked backwards toward the voice.
“God bless you all and thank you!” said Newsom.
The whole audience rose to their feet and clapped for several moments.
The lights went down on stage.
The graduation rate for Hispanic males was 51.9% and Hispanic females 73.1%***.
A group of people came on stage. Music began to play. They all swayed back and forth, singing.
“…Don’t give up…”
Another woman, Cynthia Lane, walked on stage. She is the superintendent of schools for USD 500. A chair on the stage held a placard that read, “It’s Up To Us.” On the screen on the right were the words, “Your work matters.”
Lane spoke into a headset microphone as she walked off the stage and down into the audience.
“We are building our legacies…” she said.
She stopped while videos of former students, who now work for the district, came on the screen. The last one was a bus driver.
“I had children before I left school,” she said. The bus driver talked about how many times she might have quit school.
“They wouldn’t let me give up on myself…so how could I?” she said.
Lane walked up the middle of the hall.
“YOU returned,” she said. “Give yourself a round of applause.”
She told the audience to stand and stretch and tell their neighbors “it’s up to us.”
A woman in the back row raised her hands up and stretched upward.
Lane put on a ball glove and ball hat. She talked about her dreams as a sixth grader to be a pro baseball player. A clip from a Will Smith movie played, with Smith saying, “If you want something bad enough, go get it.” Lane repeated that phrase.
A large American flag hung above the stage.
Lane walked back on stage.
“We do not give up on our kids!” she exclaimed.
She said she had planned on not mentioning “those guys,” but changed her mind and would refer to them as “those guys.” On the screen flashed Darth Vader, the Joker, and other villains.
“…attacking…US…for…the…pur-CHASE…of..a…piano…” she said, slowly emphasizing each word.
In a recent press release, she said the following: “The state is failing in its constitutional obligation to provide a suitable education for all students. The decisions being made in Topeka will impact the lives of children in Kansas for generations to come. I pray that legislators will decide to do the right thing, and provide sufficient support for public schools across the state of Kansas.”
When Lane finished, a group of people, including the man in the dark suit and bow tie, came on stage. They began singing, a capella.
“…voice of hope…”
Several times one would take the microphone and sing a solo.
The words of the chorus were on the screen on the right. The words reflected on the ceiling of the hall.
“…it’s up to us…”
“…keep your eyes on the prize…”
“…hold on…
The chorus was repeated several times. Clapping flew out into the air with each solo.
The singing grew louder and people in the audience put their hands up, clapped and shouted.
The woman in turquoise clapped.
When the music stopped, the lights came on. The audience began to file out. A red ball bounced from the second tier to the floor.
A group of people wearing T-shirts walked toward the exit. Their shirts read “This is how we roll.” One woman held a red inflatable ball.
“It was phenomenal,” said Vickie Trutzer, teacher at Eugene Ware Elementary School.
The graduation rate for migrant students is 47.3%.***
The man in the dark suit and gray tie was David Smith, chief of communications. He noted the songs were written by school staff. He was asked about the event.
“It’s always a painful time,” he said, referring to the district cuts. He said the event brought everybody together.
“There is a lot of spirit,” he said. “We’re here to do whatever it takes for our kids.”
Staff in KCKPS demonstrate their commitment to the Kansas City, Kan., community by being one of the top 5 employers in giving to United Way, giving almost $100,000 last year. This is the largest amount given by any school district in the metro Kansas City area.****
Outside Memorial Hall, people stood in groups talking about the event.
A group of custodians in light blue shirts were talking among themselves.
“It was cool and nice,” said a custodian, smiling.
Last year, 30% of students graduated with college credit and 12% graduated with an industry certification.****
The yellow school buses lined the streets surrounding Memorial Hall. By each bus a man or woman held up a sign with the names of a school. One woman wearing cheetah boots held up the sign, “Central Middle.”
The graduation rate for homeless students is 58.5%***
A man walking down the side steps called out to another man on the sidewalk behind him.
“Have a good year!” he says, making a quick wave.
“Yeah — you do the same!” says the other man.
*Data from the 2014-2015 Budget at a Glance
** Press release
***The Kansas State Department of Education
****The Kansas State Department of Education Profile Information
*****Data from the Aug. 3 School Board Meeting Agenda
Rebecca Tombaugh is a former reporter and editor for The Kansan and is now a freelance writer in the metro area.
Story and photos copyright 2015 by Rebecca Tombaugh