UNIT-ING AT SOUTHWEST How the community responded to a vision for a new public high school at the vacant Southwest facility. Submitted by the executive committee of Uniting At Southwest on behalf of the community. What this reports says in 14 words: We have the STUDENTS. We have the COMMUNITY ENTHUSIASM. We have the FINANCIAL SUPPORT. AT .n 'r'ff' ?rm . .- - n1"; 3- - . 1. Table of Contents Yolanda and I are committed to providing our children, Vicari, Vishon, and Simone with the best education possible. Had the Uniting at Southwest project based learning high school come to fruition sooner, we would have been better positioned to remain in KCMO. Since this had not occurred, we were forced to move to a district more suitable to our needs.” Victor Holden PARENT & SUPPORTER SUMMARY 8 Preface 10 Executive Summary 11 The Proposal 12 The USW Pillars for Success 13 Sharing the Vision and Surveying Support 14 The KCPS Strategic Plan 14 A Proposal of Partnership 16 Allies for Success 17 Response from the Local Foundation Community 18 A Word About the Past 19 A New View 20 Who We Are SURVEY OF SUPPORT LETTERS OF SUPPORT CONSTITUENT COMMENTS PUBLIC SUPPORTERS Permission: STEAM Studio, 2017 PREFACE Before we get started, let’s take a moment to acknowledge that what we have before us is truly a rare and extraordinary opportunity. Across America, high school is being transformed. Whether through experimental means or by new applications of best practices, there’s widespread conviction that the new economy demands a new educational approach. Families are coming together across traditional dividing lines, curriculums that have been unmoved for decades are shifting, and students are engaging in their education in ways that we couldn’t have predicted just 10 years ago. Here in greater Kansas City, several school districts are innovating too: Shawnee Mission’s Center for Academic Achievement, the LEAD Innovation Studio in Park Hill and the Blue Valley CAPS program are a few examples. We want to bring this kind of energy and innovation to central city students at the soon to be vacant Southwest High School. The desire for an innovative Southwest High School is not limited to a small group of activists, rather, as this report will demonstrate, there’s a groundswell of families who live both near and not-so-near to the building who have already pledged more than 2,000 students to this new vision. As Kansas City Public Schools works to revitalize the entire district, the families who support Southwest believe this new school could be a bridge to broader collaboration with the community, and a catalyst to turbocharge efforts system-wide. Uniting At Southwest families are eager to come alongside KCPS to participate in – and work hard at – creating a public school that serves students and families from across our city who believe this national movement belongs here in Kansas City. This is a critical moment. This is a rare and extraordinary opportunity. Let’s join up, join in and unite together at Southwest This 4 minute XQ Super Schools video inspires us to get started now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWa0h0wMdbw COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 6 UNITI NG AT SOUTHWEST REBOROUS INNOVATIVE WELCOMING UNITING AT Take the 1-minute Survey at org 0 UNITING AT SOUTHWEST E- SCHITHWEEI TOP LEFT: The Urban Cafe Crew at 4101 Troost Avenue ready to spread the word about USW with their customers. A line of signs in the 400 block of w 66th terrace adjacent to Southwest High School. MIDDLE LEFT (clockwise): Troost Fest on May 20, 2017 Robotics team from aSTEAM village showing off their project-based learning at a USW-sponsored fundraiser on April 19, 2017 Standing Room Only: Discussion at the Bier Station in Waldo after screening of Most likely to succeed on June 1, 2017 Permissions: STEAM Studio, 2017 Executive Summary In the summer of 2016, a group of people who are interested in starting a new high school at the currently under utilized Southwest High School campus at 65th and Wornall Road began meeting individually with local academics, and education and civic leaders, researching breakthrough approaches around the country, and touring schools from Boston to Chicago to San Diego to Blue Valley. This group began synthesizing the ideas behind the successes of the schools they observed into a handful of core principles. Good public school options are a cornerstone of a strong community. We love where we live in KC and I would love to send my child to a high caliber public school to prepare him for college and the next phase of his life.” Robyn Arthur In the Spring of 2017, a public outreach campaign, Uniting At Southwest (USW), was launched to understand if other people throughout the district were also interested. Using the core principles they uncovered, the group opened up the dialogue to parents, teachers, elected officials, homeowner associations, churches, local foundations, parent-teacher organizations, and other civic groups. Meetings were held in both formal and informal settings – in living rooms and coffee shops, hosted as town halls in libraries and taverns, at parades, street fairs, art festivals, church basements – and even engaged voters at polling places on election day. USW met with leaders and citizens throughout the urban core, the Wornall corridor and nearly every neighborhood in between, connecting with Kansas Citians of all racial, ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. In addition to the public meetings, USW created a website where supporters could respond to a variety of questions and post comments. A USW facebook page was also created as a way to reach out to the public via social media. This report is a summary of what was discovered. While there have been informal meetings between USW and KCPS since we first shared our ambition with them in July 2016, the school district had no input into the campaign that emerged or its findings. Throughout the process, respondents asked many questions, challenged ideas, and they helped the executive committee of USW make the vision stronger. Out of these conversations and ongoing research emerged a more clarified set of principles, or “pillars”, that the stakeholders believe represent the community’s desires and are essential to creating the innovative school they want for their children. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 9 52 COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT SESSIONS March-July 2,079 DOCUMENTED SUPPORTERS (Total survey responders) 516 VOLUNTEERS 1,035 ESTIMATED YARD SIGNS PLANTED 4 57 PAGES LOCAL FOUNDATIONS BEHIND THE VISION CONSTITUENT COMMENTS 2,008 The Proposal Representing more than 2,000 supporters and more than 2,000 future students, we, the executive committee of the Uniting At Southwest movement, propose to support the Kansas City Public Schools strategic plan, and to grow overall KCPS enrollment. Inspired by other recent movements: Friends of Hale Cook and the Kansas City Neighborhood Academy, we propose to achieve this by creating a high quality public high school in the Southwest High School facility that is rigorous, innovative and welcoming. We propose an optimistic, forward looking approach, where the best practices of the best schools across the country are incorporated into a new school where families from all across the district are encouraged to bring their curious and creative kids and contribute ideas, energy and enthusiasm. We propose to develop this through a joint planning process with the KCPS staff. We propose a learner-centered and project-based school in an area of the city where public high school participation is notably low. We propose a school that is welcoming to students from across the street and across the central city. We propose a school that functions as an autonomous unit of KCPS, where students meet and exceed high standards set by KCPS and the state. We propose to share what we learn district-wide. And we are excited to see our results incorporated into KCPS’s overall performance. We propose to secure the philanthropic resources needed to plan and equip the program, conduct a national search for outstanding leaders, and to rightsize and upgrade the facility. We propose to incorporate a middle school component into the program, should KCPS desire this. We propose to open our doors to the oldest of the 2,000 pledged students at the earliest in the Fall of 2019 or at the latest in the Fall of 2020. FUTURE STUDENTS COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 10 The USW Pillars for Success 1. Diversity by Design This school will be rich in racial, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity; and it will have the tools and strategies to create this from the start and to maintain it. This is important because sharing experiences with people from different backgrounds not only enriches our humanity and broadens personal networks that are helpful in life, but studies show it actually drives brain development. We desire a school that reflects the world in which our students will live and work. 2. Project-Based Learning (PBL) Connects students to the real world, generating passion and ownership as students learn to identify opportunity, conduct research, create a plan, marshall resources and bring people together, and to drive big, real-world projects to a completion and public presentation. These “Common Sector Competencies” are promoted by the KC Metro business community (KC Rising) for high-demand jobs. They are needed for entrepreneurship. This would be the KC Metro’s second “wall-to-wall” PBL high school. To see an example of a PBL school, please visit the Uniting At Southwest website and scroll to the video about High Tech High in San Diego, CA. or click here. 3. School Autonomy with Accountability (hybrid model) School-based decision making under the KCPS umbrella provides the flexibility and immediacy needed to innovate a diverse, project-based school culture that is deeply linked to the community. It can facilitate the broad scale participation and philanthropic resources needed to start strong accountability protocols, which ensure the program meets or exceeds mutually agreed benchmarks. There are a variety of disaggregated governance structures we would like to explore with KCPS to determine the best fit for this school. 4. Community-Based Schools Bringing a new high school model to Kansas City is too important and complex to go it alone. Success requires bringing KCPS, parochial, private and charter school families together, and governance model that combines the strengths of KCPS with these parent groups, and the civic and philanthropic communities. Linkages to the local business and governmental communities are especially important for projectbased high schools. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 11 Sharing the Vision and Surveying Support In March we launched a 3-month community engagement campaign. We created a website (unitingatsouthwest.org) with the vision, pillars and people supporting the movement, and a Facebook page (facebook.com/UnitingatSouthwest) to broaden the circle. We began canvassing at festivals, parades, grocery stores and some door-to-door, we distributed yard signs from the Urban Cafe and the Bier Station, and, most importantly, we launched an online and onpaper survey of support. The results are clear. There is an organic groundswell of support for this school. Parents have “pledged” more than 2,000 future students. The vast majority of them would be net additions to the KCPS roles. Supporters have planted over 1,000 USW signs in their front yards and shop windows, and a diverse array of individuals and associations have written letters of support. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT This support is critical. The first word in our movement is “Uniting” because we cannot go at this alone. Launching another successful and enduring urban high school is a heavy lift---especially a PBL program. But success will mark another important milestone in the ongoing renaissance of our central city. This school will be successful because the community is coming together: families with students in KCPS, parochial, private and charter schools, the local business community, elected officials, philanthropists, east side and west side -- people with many economic choices and people with few -- this cannot and should not be achieved in isolation. FALL 2017 PAGE 12 Our mission in KCPS is to provide a quality education that prepares all of our students – regardless of background or circumstances – for success in college, their career and life. … If we can all turn our attention to the mission, we can unify as a community. …. We will be on the right path if we acknowledge that the mission to serve Kansas City kids is our boss.” Dr. Mark Bedell, KCPS Superintendent STARTLAND NEWS, APRIL 28, 2017 Permissions: STEAM Studio, 2017 The KCPS Strategic Plan USW fully supports the recently approved KCPS five-year strategic plan, and we appreciate that the 15 measures of success are outcomes-based and focused on students. We believe starting a community-driven, PBL school at Southwest will help KCPS achieve these strategic goals. And we want this school to be accountable to the same high standards set forth in the plan. A Proposal of Partnership We believe that KCPS would make a strong partner. With consistent and trusted leadership the school district is making sustained progress on state performance measures, has earned provisional accreditation and is on a path toward full accreditation. KCPS is also demonstrating a willingness to embrace new, community-driven approaches as recently evidenced by the support of the Kansas City Neighborhood Academy and the Friends of Hale Cook proposals. The Hale Cook movement to reopen a vacant elementary school a few blocks from Southwest demonstrates the school district and its community can work together in reopening schools under new models. Launching an innovative new high school is more complex, and will require broader civic collaboration and far more resources, and the results of the USW campaign suggest the community is ready and willing to help. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 13 But is there net demand for a new kind of High School? SURVEY QUESTION: If you had to choose from options available today, where would you send your child to high school? 13% 20% KCPS MOVE OUT OF DISTRICT 67% CHARTER SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, OR HOME SCHOOL YES DEMAND IS HIGH & WOULD ADD NEW STUDENTS TO THE KCPS SYSTEM. NOTE: More than one choice could be selected This is what it looks like when a broad cross section of parents, civic leaders and local philanthropists come together to partner with their city's public school district.” Leo Morton CHANCELLOR, UMKC COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 14 Permissions: STEAM Studio, 2017 Allies for Success The combination of a fresh teaching/learning style, socioeconomic/ ethnic diversity and leveraging new technology should yield fantastic results.” Benjamin Eastman PARENT & SUPPORTER COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT KCPS is making strides to achieve full accreditation and to upgrade its existing facilities, and we do not want to interrupt this progress. This is one of the reasons we are proposing a process that will place only minimal demands upon KCPS staff as USW is bringing the resources needed to hire the principal and other members of the planning and launch team. USW is also looking into national, nonprofit support networks that specialize in helping plan and launch project-based schools. This is another subject we would like to explore with KCPS. We also believe this USW/KCPS partnership would represent a major step toward the KCPS Strategic Planning goals to: “Explore coordination, collaboration and partnership opportunities . . . to ensure that the public education system within KCPS’ boundaries are effectively and equitably serving the needs of all students”. And to, “Develop and maintain relationships and a proactive posture relative to governmental, business, philanthropic, and other potential channels for financial and material resources to leverage first-rate educational experiences for our students.” The community’s response demonstrates that by working together we can grow KCPS enrollment and re-engage a large section of the community with KCPS, thereby addressing the paradox of too many schools and the need to innovate. This can be a diversification and net growth strategy. FALL 2017 PAGE 15 Permissions: STEAM Studio, 2017 Response from the Local Foundation Community To support the launch, the USW Executive Committee has requested commitments from a consortium of local foundations: The Marion and Henry Bloch Family Foundation, The Stowers Family Foundation, the McDonnell Family Foundation, and the DeBruce Foundation. The consortium has responded by agreeing to create a start up fund of up to $3 million at the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation once there is agreement with KCPS to move forward with USW. They are seeding the fund on an as needed basis today to pay for research and planning. Additional funds will be made available as the partnership progresses. Members of the funder consortium are also offering to assist USW in a general capital drive for the additional monies needed to equip the school, and to upgrade and right size this public facility to the needs of the new program. Funds will also be raised to subsidize the program until it reaches scale. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT USW will pursue additional funding from other sources including the large alumni base, and other local foundations and national foundations. Once fully underway, the program will be sustained through public dollars provided by the state on a per student basis. Foundation leaders tell us a world-class public high school at Southwest based upon the four USW pillars will generate a disproportionate societal return from their philanthropic investments. This offer of assistance is similar to the way our other public institutions such as local hospitals and universities have been created or upgraded through philanthropic assistance. Collectively, these local foundations are investing in promising educational initiatives across the central city, and are eager to help realize this vision at Southwest should progress with KCPS develop in a timely manner. FALL 2017 PAGE 16 Southwest High School annual reunion at Swope Park June 24, 2017 A Word About the Past Since 1927, more than 30,000 students have taken that final walk down the front steps at 65th and Wornall Rd. and strode confidently onto successful lives. They count among their ranks famous authors, scientists, educators, entrepreneurs, movie stars and a director, a world famous rap artist, even an astronaut, plus thousands upon thousands of solid, hard working, Kansas City-proud citizens. Southwest High School was ranked for many years as one of America’s finest public schools. And it can be again. The spirit of these successes lives on, and is one of the reasons why many alumni are linking arms and planting yard signs in support with the parents of more than 2,000 children in support of a re-energized Southwest that is rigorous, innovative and welcoming. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 17 I went to a public school and I believe in public school as a bedrock of a healthy democracy. I believe diversity is important and evidence shows it leads to better outcomes. I don’t want to sacrifice my kids education for my ideological beliefs and I have the means for price school but I would much prefer to be a part of developing a strong public school system we can all be proud of and support.” Philippa Marshal Cross Permissions: STEAM Studio, 2017 A New View History is not destiny. We acknowledge grievous past mistakes and ongoing injustices. Previous versions of Southwest have had their positives and negatives. And the most recent attempt at Southwest, borne out of good intentions, unfortunately, failed. We recognize this past, desire to learn from it; but we also commit to not walking away. More importantly, the community is committed to making it successful. Key to this proposal is not being bound by what has and what hasn’t worked on a local level. We are looking beyond our city, beyond the Midwest, to find high performing public schools from across the country. We are identifying national movements and working to adapt them to the needs of our students. The Uniting At Southwest proposal is grounded in this research, local realities, and common sense. We are proposing a school that can have a transformational effect on how we think about education, how we connect our schools with our community and the realities of today’s economy, and how we bring our children together to form a diverse, caring and engaged community. This school has the potential to also drive significant economic development by attracting and retaining families in Kansas City, engaging their energies and talents in the city, and elevating property values and attendant tax revenues for local government and the public school system. The pieces are before us: Parent demand for a compelling new vision, broad community support, major philanthropic backing, an underused public facility, that we believe can create big wins for students, families, KCPS, and our central city. Now is the time to come together, to put these pieces into place, and to build something remarkable and lasting. For all of our kids in all of our communities. --Uniting at Southwest Team COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 19 This is Kansas City’s biggest problem. We cannot keep losing families to the suburbs. I believe strongly in this, but when the time comes, we will make the best choice for our family. Please don’t make me move to Johnson County!” John Fritchey I support public schools and am passionate about my children going to school with kids from all over the KCPS area. I think it is very beneficial for my children to be part of a diverse community. Meghan Holm “ We love KC and love raising our kids in the city. We went to public school in the suburbs, but don’t want to feel like we have to move out there for the sole purpose of education. Our kids will go to Hale Cook. This school sounds like the right next step.” Dave Lueck FATHER OF THREE YES YES YES YES! This is so important. Education is a top priority for our family and without an option nearby for our sons, we would have to move or send them to a private high school. Katie Mabry I support the notion that teaching learning styles can evolve and think it makes a lot of sense to create a modern educational opportunity in KC. I think the school is perfectly located to attract a broad demographic.” Devon Coffey Williams Michael Zeller l'l'l Property and Parent Parent 2 Finance Logal Advice Project Management Volunteer Volunteer Fund Raising (D 3 Brett Posten Jason Parson a Parent Community .3: Education Engager?nent Advocate Volunteer Vo nteer Deelish us Nikki Browning Alex Ayala Eric Dickinson Deewatson . Parent Parent Parent Alumnus Volunteer Community Volunteer a Volunteer Outreach 3 Reverend John Couture Whitten Felt Crissy Dastmp Antoine Lee Parent Alumnus Parerit Alumnus Voiunleer Volunteer Communications Volunteer Rachel Siegel Barron Story Victor Holden Sara Harms Parent Parent Pa ren Parent Volunteer Vo*unteer Volunteer Volunteer Ramonda Barbara Wearyr William Young Gabe Nodland Doakes Alumnus Community Parent Volunteer Volunteer Outreach Volunteer Joe Perry William Wells Jude Huntz Jeff Phillips Parent Parent Vo n'teer Parent Volunteer Vosunteer Volu '1 leer Lavale ?urryl Merritt Munoz Leo Dickson Parker Having Volunteer Parent {to be] Parent Parent Volunteer Volunteer Canvassing Jeff Pinkerton Bob Swisher Tyrone FloWers Michael Banks Volunteer Vo'unteer Volunteer Volunteer Rhody Harris Natasha Bailey Rachel Meyer Gabriel Munoz Volunteer Parent Parent Volunteer Veiunteer Volunteer COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 22 unk Kindt Virginia Giokaris Stephen Gunn Audra Jordan Charles Linn Susan Lockhart Todd Loudis Bonny McAllister (Halbeck) Patty Moore Armstron aston Pell Michael Polk Frank Reaves Karen Russell Alex Sachs Mark Edward Smith Kimbrlyn Stevens Jim Stowers Kathleen Stowers-Potter Bob Swi annahill Yvonne Ventimiglia Debra Verge Liz Verkler Kelly Waldo Dillman Jeffrey Wallace Deanette Watson Michael Wilcox Dan Aagaard Kelly Abalo van Absher Kate Absher Marjorie Adair Anna Adelman Tim Ahlenius Douglas Ahrens Shaheer Akhtab Andie Albers Jacob Albers Jeffrey Allen Julia mmons Andy Anderson Kathy Anderson Kyle Anderson Roy Anderson Veronica Anderson Ann Anthony Bruce Appel Sara Asmussen Rhonda Atkins enny Azima Kuykendall Coleen Babcock Gregory Bair James Bair Marcella Bair Parrish Baker Helen Banhart Norma Banks Bill Barnhart Clea Barry achary Bassin Laura Bauers Mariah Bayha Kenneth Beals Julia Bean Summer Becker Jessica Beesley Robyn Beghtol Kristan Bell Frankie Bellucci ark A. Benson Jr. Merritt Benz Jay Besheer Barbara Bever Am Bhesania Steve Biegun Ralph Biersmith Dan Bird Deena Blake Brandon Blaylock Gr ancy Bollier Chelsea Booth Charles Bostic Stephen Bowen Julia Bower Laura Bowling Tameka Bowman Rashanae Boykins Lashun Bozeman Kevin radford Ruth Bradshaw Kathleen Brandt Jennifer Breedlove Roxane Bremen Ayanna Bridges Mary Brink Tess Brothersen Antaeania Brown Chris Br rown Hilary Brown Jamila Brown Mahogany Brown Richard Brummel Jennifer Bruning Chelsea Brunzie Coly Bryant Brea Buchmeier Nickol Buck Em ica Buhr John Buhr Annie Burndrett TJ Burndrett Beth Burnett Zach Busey Jessie Bustamante Kate Buster James Buzalas Alex Byrd Kelley Byrne eth Canipe Kelly Cantwell Amy Carlson Laural Carlson Ben Carmean Katie Carr Joe Carroll Rachel Carter Sam Carter Susan Castro Tony Caudill L hris Christensen Jayna Cirincione Melanie Clark DeRon Clay Elaine Clemons Herring Clifford Mike Cline Steve Cline Katie Clune Quinn Coats Heath evon Coffey Kennedy Coleman Richard Coleman Jimmie Collier Angela Collins Kendra Collins Philip Colombo Kristin Conkright Ryan Cook Adam C ooper Ann Coppage Ashley Copple Kelly Corzine Ashleigh R. Costilon Heidi Coulter Anne Michelle Cour Sarah Cousineau John Couture Jim Covert rooke Craig Dustin Craig Mitchell Crain James Crawford Amanda Crawley Constance Creaver Angela Cronk Katharine Crosson Ed Crouch Karren a rouch Jim Cumley Chrisrty Curran Rhonda Danders Michelle Daniels Crissy Dastrup Joshua Davenport Joe Davis Julie Davis Rhia Davis Shellana D homas Davis Tom Deacy Katherine DeBruce Brian DeLancey Kirsten Delay Molly Denninghoff Lindsey Dewitte DeNetta Dickerson Bryce Dickmeyer mber DiGiovanni Ashely Dillan Susan Dinges Virginia Dobesh Alise Dodds Jen Dolson Meghan Dooley Vanessa Dorman Andrea Doudna Alexander akeshia Drummer Chris Dudding Ashley Dudek Kate Duffey Ashely Duggan Sonia Duncombe Dennis Dunmyer Coralie Dyer Elizabeth Eastman Leah aton Bill Eddy Leslie Eden Byron Edwards Quincie Edwin Bart Eisfelder Thea Ekis Amanda Eldridge Matt Ensz Ginny Epsten Christi Erickson Lori E shelman Susan Eubanks John Euston Dee Evans Melissa Evans Rita Fabin Patrick Fagan Kirk Farmer Sarah Feldmiller Scott Ferguson Kevin Fernho essler David Ficklin Holly Fisher Linda Fisher Marlene Fishman Tara Fitzgerald Stephen Flanery Rhonda Fletcher Jill Flinton Becky Forman Debra Fo ancis Scott Francis Elizabeth Fredrickson Nick Freeman Angela French Phil French Michael Friedman Dan Frueh Joel Fry Anissa Furney Ashley Ga izabeth Gamble Jerrika Garner Michael Garrett Sidonie Garrett Kenneth Garrett Jr. Shannon Gentry Rebecca George Robert George Dan Gibfried D aura Gilchrist Bethany Gilges Cara Gilmore Keana Gilwin Erin Gingrich-Gaylord Willie Gleason Kate Gleeson Susan Glennemeier Elizabeth Glynn De yler Goad Cathie Godsey Steve Godsey Josie Goff Gail Golden Jane Gowen JoVanna Graham Peter Graham LaShawn Gray Steven Green Stephan audia Greim Amanda Griffin Bill Griffiths Laurie Grove Keith Guertin Alamia Guess Paige Guffey Damon Guinn Harriett Gunderson Angela Guzman aessig Regina Haley Katie Hall Thomas Hall Tamkia Halls Erin Hambrick Catherine Hamelin MaryLou Hamlin Brian Hand Brent Hankins Alison Hank amishia Hardy Brent Harmon Rebecca Harp Douglas Harris Rhody Harris Alison Hart Annie Hart Mitchell Hart Tia Harvey Stephen Hassard Sally Ha attaway Emma Hawkins Lynn Haynes Patricia Heatly Sara Heins Ashley Held Daniel Held Clement Helmstetter Drew Hemphill Don Hendrickson Ca renda Henry Sharon Henry PaKou Her Tracy Herber Stacy Herndon Brian Hershberger Jonathan Hess Parker Heying Jason Hierholzer Erick E. Hill arah Hine Bryan Hinkle Kyle Hlavacek Kirsten Hobbs Margaret Hoffman John Holbrook Yolanda Holden Jack Holland Paula Holmquist Amber Horne ohn Houston Dean Hubbard Kathleen Hughes Julie Hull Lisa Hummel Holland G Humphrey Ashley Hund Brenda Huntley Jude Huntz Judy Hutchiso utchison Monty Hutchison Jessica Hutton Robert Hyland Liz Icenogle Pholaphat Inboriboon Phil Jachowicz Lisa Jackson Tia Jackson Ray James M ri Jean-Baptiste Jessie Jefferson Yvonne Jenkin Deborah Jenkins Christie Jessee Ginnie Job Carmnita Johnson Jeff Johnson Jessie Johnson Judy J ohnson Lindsay Johnson McGregor Johnson Roy Johnson Brian Jones Chris Jones Christiana Jones LaKreesha Jones Shawntae Jones Candi Jonet onson Megan Jordan Jackson Jovoan Les Kahl Trina Kahl Stephanie Kalahurka Leo Kallenberger Will Kane Rory Kane Akers Savannah Kannberg K ryan Kearney Melissa Keck John Keeling Matt Keeney John Keller Joyce Keller Shawn Keller Krystal Kelley Bryan Kelly Stephanie Kelly Jonathon K empker Nichole Kennedy Gib Kerr Lisa Kiene Grant Killion Stephanie Kilpatrich Kevin Kilroy Martin Kimmel Cloyd Kissick Marie Kissick London Kizd evin Koch Karis Koehn Pamela Kopulos Valerie Kramer Jeff Krum Rick Krupco Julie Kuchar Andrea Kuenzel Brenda Kumm Kourtney Kyle Anna Lac aFollette Joe Langle David Larrabee Chris Laskero Bill Lattimer Julie Lattimer Jennifer Laughlin Mary Colleen Lawler Veronica Lawrence Helen Lea elly and Ryan Lee Tiffany Lee Sarah Legg Danielle Lehman Christian Lenz Henry Leonard Leanna Lepper Gayle Levy Lawrence (Larry) H. Levy Jen annah Lime Jenny Limer Ashley Lindemann Mike Lisac Sheila Locke Gwen Lomax Lilly Long Greg Love Dave Lueck Lauren Luhrs CaBreah Lyman ichelle M Jo Malikah M. Katie Mabry Rebecca Magill Christie Makar Alex Mallett Millie Mallot Joyce Manning Michele Markham Kelsy Marr JC Marte aKisha Martin LaPanda Mason Monica Massey Laura Masterson Gloria Matheny Nick Matheus Melinda Matthew Viola Maxwell Sandy Aguirre Mayer manda Mayes Anthony Maytt Jennifer McAdam Jim McCall Tara McCall Beth McCarthy Bob McCartney Lacey McCormack Robert McCormack Mar elinda McDonald Will McDowell Jill McEnaney Ryan McEnaney Tom McFarland Kirsten McGannon Joyce McGautha Katherine McGee Erin McGiffer atie McGurk Lee McKinzy Patricia McMahon Sarah McMillon Larry McMullen Debra McQueeney Kate Meinke Myra Merritt Jonathan Meyer Kimberly eyer Angela Michka Paul Miles Natalie Millard Eric Miller Jared Miller Rich Miller Susan Miller LaTasha Milsep Kassandra Minor Destin Mitchell Kar rande Molina Ray Moncrieffe Becky D. Monroe Samantha Monsees Crystal Monteleone Kaisha Morel Craig Morey Dave Morris Garison Morris Jorda orris Daniel Morrow Matthew Moses Michelle Moses Michelle Moses Kevin Muesenfechter Merritt Munoz Ralph Munyan Bethany Murphy Lloyd Murr yers-McClendon John Navarre Stacy Neff Jennifer Nicholson Jessica Nickels Rachel Nodland Dan Norburg Phyllis Norman Kevin Normile Angela N ora Nyakatura Lisa O’Hara Matt O’Laughlin Tom O’Leary Dan O’Meara Elizabeth Oberle Carol Odam John Olen Kathryn Orr David Orvis Sally Paret OF SUPPORT arker LaVance Parker Laura Pastine Kimberly Paulsen Dylan Payne Whitten Pell Amanda Perry Joe Perry KipSURVEY Peterson Peggy Peterson Daniel Petro ettit William Pfeiffer Paula Phelan Anne Phillips Sam Pierron Nicki Pinault Marsha S Pinson Gwynn Pirnie Pat Pitre Brandy Poiry Michael Polk Rosem ost Robert Potter Angela Potts Melodie Powell Stephen Powell Pete Pozos Tiffany Price Jason Pryor Danielle Pusateri Vanessa Quinlan Joe Quinly B ean-François Quintin James R. Mike Rainen Detra Ralls Robyn Ratcliff Anne Rauch Nathan Rawlins Lawrence Rebman Shellie Rebman Jennifer Red eggiard Federico Reggiardo Nancy Reicher Philip Reicher David Reid Celtina Reinert David Reinert Gary Remley Felicia Rhodes Megan Rhodes Lu ce-Petrie Jonathan Richard Kristie Richardson Ryan Richardson Lucus Richerdson Andy Rieger Jamie Riffle Rodney Riffle Jerad Riggin Kelli Riner ames Roberts Jeremy Roberts Cal Robertson Karen Robertson Dennis Robinson Erica Robinson Marcella Robinson Nate Robinson Kathleen Rocha odenberg Jill Rodick Stephen Rodick Jennifer Roos Jeff Rosenblatt Keith Rosenblum Alisa Roth Abby Royal Karen Rundle John Russ Andi Russell ussell Casey Ryan Pessetto Gladys Sabatés Mabry Alex Sachs Ashley Sadowski Yesica Saenz Shahid Salaam Leo Salinger Laura Samenus Amand yneishia Sanders David Santacroce John Santner Denise Saunders Thomas Scatizzi Monica Schaefer Forrest Schaeffer Andrew Schmidt Jill Schmidt everly Schroeder Maria Schryer Rachel Schulz Laura Schweisberger Matthew Scott Yacento Scott Chris Scranton Emely Seaton Pam Seator Jesse S exton Trace Shapiro Chris Shaw Deborah Clark Shaw Katheryn Shields Tyler Shiney Steven Shoemaker Rachel Siegel Suzanne Siler Lindsay Sills B onald Simpson Sally Sinn Janelle Sjue Andrea Slater Sherese Smalls Arlene Smith Asami Smith Charles Smith David Smith Galen Smith Janet Smith ate Smith Kristel Smith La’Sha Smith Mallary Smith Marla Smith Megan Smith Rebecca Smith Sherita Smith Stephanie Smith Warren Smith Kendall S etta Sola Andrea Solarino Melanie Somogie Clifton Sonm Jason Soyland Andrew Spitsnogle Julia Splan Brenna Spurgeon Alan St. Onge Martha Stak COMMUNITY REPORT elly Stange Eva Steinman RESPONSE Glenn Stenquist Kejaun Stephenson Sarah Stevenson Barb Stewart John Still Meghan Still Richard Stokely Dar PAGE 23 FALL 2017Stitt Kristin ennifer Stover Russell Stover Jim Stowers Kathleen Stowers-Potter Jenny Strack John Strada Dennis Strait Brian Strohm Mark Stuppy Ashton Suddut ullentrup Rachel Sullivan Josie Sutkin Bob Swisher Elaine Swope Michael Sykord Franci Talamantez-Witte Terry Tarwater Arionne Taylor Zach Taylor 1 .. .m in?ll. I. . YES I support creating a new, innovative, rigorous, and welcoming high school at Southwest. (WHETHER YOU HAVE KIDS OR NOT) FIRST NAME LAST NAME I would strongly consider sending my child to this new Southwest ____ Age of first child ____ Age of second child ____ Age of third child TOTAL NUMBER OF MY KIDS UNDER AGE 14 ____ Age of fourth child ____ Age of fifth child ____ Age of sixth child ZIP CODE ____ Age of seventh child If this project could also help create a new middle school in south KC, would your support: ○ Remain the same ○ Increase ○ Decrease Please contact me: (check all that apply) ○ With news and updates ○ When you need volunteers‎ ○ Include me on the list of supporters ○ Please don't contact me If you had to choose from options available today, where would you send your child to high school? ○ A KCPS High School ○ A Charter High School ○ A Private High School ○ Home School ○ Move out of the KCPS District Why is a Rigorous, Innovative and Welcoming school at Southwest important to your family, and/or how would you like to help? EMAIL COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 26 SUPPORT SURVEY RESULTS AS OF AUGUST 23, 2017 SURVEYS COMPLETED STUDENTS “SIGNED UP” 2,079 2,008 AGES OF FUTURE STUDENTS PLEDGED BY THEIR PARENTS NUMBER OF CHILDREN CHILD’S AGE COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 27 IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE FROM OPTIONS AVAILABLE TODAY, WHERE WOULD YOU SEND YOUR CHILD TO HIGH SCHOOL? 987 720 NUMBER OF RESPONSES 535 352 113 KCPS Charter Private Home School Move TYPE OF SCHOOL NOTE: More than one choice could be selected COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 28 NUMBER OF UNITING AT SOUTHWEST SUPPORT SURVEYS TAKEN BY ZIP CODE Other Zip Codes 11% 36% 53% Split Down Troost & East of Troost Waldo/Brookside/Midtown Total Supporters 2,079 COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 29 PERCENT OF FUTURE STUDENTS PLEDGED BY ZIP CODE ZONES 8% 40% Split Down Troost & East of Troost Other Zip Codes 52% Waldo/Brookside/Midtown Total Students Pledged 2,008 (SO FAR) COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 30 The Support Survey & Our Conclusions Uniting at Southwest is a movement to create opportunity for more children and families in Kansas City. Our survey indicates there is demand to open a middle-size high school at Southwest based on the four USW Pillars---thereby generating increased enrollment and community-wide support for KCPS. We discovered this by inviting people to take a brief survey of support beginning March 15. As we are not connected to KCPS, or any parochial or charter schools, we reached parents and other community members through social media, community meetings, canvassing and through our personal networks. As of August 23, 2,079 individuals took the survey. Of those, 1,498 were taken online and 581 were paper surveys collected through community engagement events and canvassing. From their survey comments (below), they express interest in a school that is both mixed income and mixed race. Many also support project-based learning. We do not believe every student “pledged” will attend; nor do we believe we reached all, or even most, of the families who will want to attend this school. However, given the limitations of our efforts and the community’s overwhelming response, we are convinced there is (net) new demand for this school. We will be happy to provide KCPS staff the full and unaltered data set should they like to analyze their constituents’ responses. Baby’s First Steps: Considering High School The number of pledged children is fairly consistent across the ages. However, we found the high number of one year olds interesting. Looking at parent comments (below), it appears they desire to remain living within the KCPS boundaries, but they are making decisions now, before their children are even of school age, on whether or not to stay. For various reasons, the vast majority of these parents do not believe current options are viable for their child; but they do believe a USW high school under the KCPS umbrella would be reason to stay. A Diverse School is Possible Our neighborhoods are substantially divided by income and by race. Where Southwest High School sits, the median household income is greater than $75,000. East of Troost, just blocks away, the median household income drops to below $35,000. Troost also remains a clear racial dividing line. Neighborhood schools reflect this segregation by default unless their boundaries encompass both sides. Central Middle’s and Southeast High School’s boundaries do this; however, neither school benefits from racial or economic diversity as few children from the west side attend. Compounding the matter, many middle-income families on the east side continue to leave. In short, our public schools rarely reflect the demographics of our broader society . . . the world in which our children will live and work together. But they can. USW is for families who want diversity—and the many well-documented academic and social benefits that it creates for all students. The first Uniting at Southwest pillar is Diversity by Design. Recognizing that school boundaries alone cannot increase diversity, we will create a school culture that is welcoming to students of all backgrounds; and we are eager to explore with KCPS various enrollment strategies to ensure this school starts diverse and remains diverse. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 31 A Middle School Component The USW survey also asked supporters if their support would Increase, Decrease or Remain the Same if a PBL middle school were incorporated into the plan. More than half of the parents with children under 14 said that adding a middle school would increase their support. Those parents represent 974 children. This is especially important for families with children in KCPS elementary schools as they tend to be kindergarten through 6th grade programs, while most charter and parochial schools are K—8. USW wants to meet the needs of the community, and put this public building to its best and highest use. This is why we are eager to discuss with KCPS the viability of incorporating a PBL middle school at the large, Southwest facility. PERCENT OF RESPONSES SUPPORTING A MIDDLE SCHOOL COMPONENT SURVEY QUESTION: If there was a middle school, support would.... 1% 9% DECREASE 52% INCREASE NO ANSWER 38% STAY THE SAME NOTE: More than one choice could be selected COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 32 Community Engagement Meetings (MARCH - JULY) DATE GROUP LOCATION Tues, July 11 Independence Plaza Neighborhood Council Tues, July 11 aSTEAM Village (PBL with MIT and Harvard) 1601 18th street Sat, June 24 Southwest High All Year Alumni Reunion Swope Park Band Stand Wed, June 14 Rockhill Gardens Neighborhood Association Research Med Center Brookside Campus Sat, June 10 Southwest Alumni BBQ Holmes Park Thurs, June 8 Volker Neighborhood Association Immanuel Lutheran Church Wed, June 7 Southwest Class Of 67 Alumni Waldo Pizza Sat, June 3 Troostwood Neighborhood Association Rockhurst Community Center / 5401 Troost Thurs, June 1 City Wide Leadership / Screening of Most Likely to Succeed Rockhurst Arappe Hall Wed, May 31 Here's Waldo Neighborhood Association Sherwood Center / 8030 Ward Parkway Plaza Sat, May 20 Blue Hills Neighborhood Meeting in the Park Sat, May 20 Troost Fest 3100 Block of Troost Sat, May 20 Town Hall Bluford Library Thurs, May 18 MainCor luncheon MainCor offices Tues, May 16 Blue Hills Neighborhood Community Action Network 5309 Woodland Tues, May 16 UNI Community Partners 2300 Main, Suite 180 Sat, May 13 Town Hall Waldo Branch Library, room A Sat, May 13 Waldo Tower Neighborhood Meeting Waldo Branch Library, room A Fri, May 12 6th District Council Meeting / Second Fridays Trailside Center . 9901 Holmes Wed, May 10 Operation Breakthrough Sun, May 7 Brookside Art Fair Brookside Blvd Sat, May 6 Brookside Art Fair Brookside Blvd Sat, May 6 Town Hall Southeast Library Fri, May 5 Brookside Art Fair Brookside Blvd Wed, May 3 STEAM Studio Luncheon Indian Hills Country Club Wed, May 3 MainCor Coffee Klatch MainCor offices Mon, May 1 Brookside Charter Family Picnic Brookside Charter / 1815 E 63rd Sun, April 30 Trolley Run / Kids Run Mill Creek Park Wed, April 26 Urban Neighborhood Initiative Board Meeting 2300 Main Suite 180 Wed, April 26 6th District Council Briefing City Hall COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT 711 Woodland Ave. (Former Woodland Elementary) FALL 2017 PAGE 33 DATE GROUP LOCATION Tue, April 25 Marlborough Community Coalition Metro Patrol Station / 7601 Prospect Fri, April 21 Historic East Neighborhood Coalition Central Christian Church. 3801 E Linwood Blvd. 64128 Fri, April 21 Urban Summit 1710 Paseo Wed, April 19 Open House / aSTEAM fundraiser Bier Station Mon, April 17 Greenway Fields Neighborhood Association 450 W 62nd Terr Thurs, April 6 Academy for Integrated Arts Tue, April 4 Various Polling Places 7910 Troost • Mt. Pleasant Church 2200 Olive • Paradise Church 1600 E. 58th St. • Gregg Tabernacle Church 1812 E. 37th St. • Rockhurst Community Center 5401 Troost • Bluford Library 3050 Prospect • Brush Creek Community Center 3801 Cleaver II Blvd. • Southeast Community Center 4201 E. 63rd St. • Trinity United Methodist Church 620 E. Armour Blvd. Mon, March 27 SKC Alliance Board meeting South Patrol Police Station Sat, March 25 Ivanhoe Neighborhood Association 3700 Woodland Saturdays in March and April Southeast Library 6242 Swope Parkway Thursdays in March and April Southeast Library 6242 Swope Parkway Saturdays in March and April Bluford Library 3050 Prospect Wednesdays in March and April Bluford Library 3050 Prospect Sat, March 18 Brookside St. Patrick’s Day Warm-up Parade Parade Route ... Wornall / 63rd Street / Main Street up to and including to Meyer Blvd. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 34 unk Kindt Virginia Giokaris Stephen Gunn Audra Jordan Charles Linn Susan Lockhart Todd Loudis Bonny McAllister (Halbeck) Patty Moore Armstron aston Pell Michael Polk Frank Reaves Karen Russell Alex Sachs Mark Edward Smith Kimbrlyn Stevens Jim Stowers Kathleen Stowers-Potter Bob Swi annahill Yvonne Ventimiglia Debra Verge Liz Verkler Kelly Waldo Dillman Jeffrey Wallace Deanette Watson Michael Wilcox Dan Aagaard Kelly Abalo van Absher Kate Absher Marjorie Adair Anna Adelman Tim Ahlenius Douglas Ahrens Shaheer Akhtab Andie Albers Jacob Albers Jeffrey Allen Julia mmons Andy Anderson Kathy Anderson Kyle Anderson Roy Anderson Veronica Anderson Ann Anthony Bruce Appel Sara Asmussen Rhonda Atkins enny Azima Kuykendall Coleen Babcock Gregory Bair James Bair Marcella Bair Parrish Baker Helen Banhart Norma Banks Bill Barnhart Clea Barry achary Bassin Laura Bauers Mariah Bayha Kenneth Beals Julia Bean Summer Becker Jessica Beesley Robyn Beghtol Kristan Bell Frankie Bellucci ark A. Benson Jr. Merritt Benz Jay Besheer Barbara Bever Am Bhesania Steve Biegun Ralph Biersmith Dan Bird Deena Blake Brandon Blaylock Gr ancy Bollier Chelsea Booth Charles Bostic Stephen Bowen Julia Bower Laura Bowling Tameka Bowman Rashanae Boykins Lashun Bozeman Kevin radford Ruth Bradshaw Kathleen Brandt Jennifer Breedlove Roxane Bremen Ayanna Bridges Mary Brink Tess Brothersen Antaeania Brown Chris Br rown Hilary Brown Jamila Brown Mahogany Brown Richard Brummel Jennifer Bruning Chelsea Brunzie Coly Bryant Brea Buchmeier Nickol Buck Em ica Buhr John Buhr Annie Burndrett TJ Burndrett Beth Burnett Zach Busey Jessie Bustamante Kate Buster James Buzalas Alex Byrd Kelley Byrne eth Canipe Kelly Cantwell Amy Carlson Laural Carlson Ben Carmean Katie Carr Joe Carroll Rachel Carter Sam Carter Susan Castro Tony Caudill L hris Christensen Jayna Cirincione Melanie Clark DeRon Clay Elaine Clemons Herring Clifford Mike Cline Steve Cline Katie Clune Quinn Coats Heath evon Coffey Kennedy Coleman Richard Coleman Jimmie Collier Angela Collins Kendra Collins Philip Colombo Kristin Conkright Ryan Cook Adam C ooper Ann Coppage Ashley Copple Kelly Corzine Ashleigh R. Costilon Heidi Coulter Anne Michelle Cour Sarah Cousineau John Couture Jim Covert rooke Craig Dustin Craig Mitchell Crain James Crawford Amanda Crawley Constance Creaver Angela Cronk Katharine Crosson Ed Crouch Karren a rouch Jim Cumley Chrisrty Curran Rhonda Danders Michelle Daniels Crissy Dastrup Joshua Davenport Joe Davis Julie Davis Rhia Davis Shellana D homas Davis Tom Deacy Katherine DeBruce Brian DeLancey Kirsten Delay Molly Denninghoff Lindsey Dewitte DeNetta Dickerson Bryce Dickmeyer mber DiGiovanni Ashely Dillan Susan Dinges Virginia Dobesh Alise Dodds Jen Dolson Meghan Dooley Vanessa Dorman Andrea Doudna Alexander akeshia Drummer Chris Dudding Ashley Dudek Kate Duffey Ashely Duggan Sonia Duncombe Dennis Dunmyer Coralie Dyer Elizabeth Eastman Leah aton Bill Eddy Leslie Eden Byron Edwards Quincie Edwin Bart Eisfelder Thea Ekis Amanda Eldridge Matt Ensz Ginny Epsten Christi Erickson Lori E shelman Susan Eubanks John Euston Dee Evans Melissa Evans Rita Fabin Patrick Fagan Kirk Farmer Sarah Feldmiller Scott Ferguson Kevin Fernho essler David Ficklin Holly Fisher Linda Fisher Marlene Fishman Tara Fitzgerald Stephen Flanery Rhonda Fletcher Jill Flinton Becky Forman Debra Fo ancis Scott Francis Elizabeth Fredrickson Nick Freeman Angela French Phil French Michael Friedman Dan Frueh Joel Fry Anissa Furney Ashley Ga izabeth Gamble Jerrika Garner Michael Garrett Sidonie Garrett Kenneth Garrett Jr. Shannon Gentry Rebecca George Robert George Dan Gibfried D aura Gilchrist Bethany Gilges Cara Gilmore Keana Gilwin Erin Gingrich-Gaylord Willie Gleason Kate Gleeson Susan Glennemeier Elizabeth Glynn De yler Goad Cathie Godsey Steve Godsey Josie Goff Gail Golden Jane Gowen JoVanna Graham Peter Graham LaShawn Gray Steven Green Stephan audia Greim Amanda Griffin Bill Griffiths Laurie Grove Keith Guertin Alamia Guess Paige Guffey Damon Guinn Harriett Gunderson Angela Guzman aessig Regina Haley Katie Hall Thomas Hall Tamkia Halls Erin Hambrick Catherine Hamelin MaryLou Hamlin Brian Hand Brent Hankins Alison Hank amishia Hardy Brent Harmon Rebecca Harp Douglas Harris Rhody Harris Alison Hart Annie Hart Mitchell Hart Tia Harvey Stephen Hassard Sally Ha attaway Emma Hawkins Lynn Haynes Patricia Heatly Sara Heins Ashley Held Daniel Held Clement Helmstetter Drew Hemphill Don Hendrickson Ca renda Henry Sharon Henry PaKou Her Tracy Herber Stacy Herndon Brian Hershberger Jonathan Hess Parker Heying Jason Hierholzer Erick E. Hill arah Hine Bryan Hinkle Kyle Hlavacek Kirsten Hobbs Margaret Hoffman John Holbrook Yolanda Holden Jack Holland Paula Holmquist Amber Horne ohn Houston Dean Hubbard Kathleen Hughes Julie Hull Lisa Hummel Holland G Humphrey Ashley Hund Brenda Huntley Jude Huntz Judy Hutchiso utchison Monty Hutchison Jessica Hutton Robert Hyland Liz Icenogle Pholaphat Inboriboon Phil Jachowicz Lisa Jackson Tia Jackson Ray James M ri Jean-Baptiste Jessie Jefferson Yvonne Jenkin Deborah Jenkins Christie Jessee Ginnie Job Carmnita Johnson Jeff Johnson Jessie Johnson Judy J ohnson Lindsay Johnson McGregor Johnson Roy Johnson Brian Jones Chris Jones Christiana Jones LaKreesha Jones Shawntae Jones Candi Jonet onson Megan Jordan Jackson Jovoan Les Kahl Trina Kahl Stephanie Kalahurka Leo Kallenberger Will Kane Rory Kane Akers Savannah Kannberg K ryan Kearney Melissa Keck John Keeling Matt Keeney John Keller Joyce Keller Shawn Keller Krystal Kelley Bryan Kelly Stephanie Kelly Jonathon K empker Nichole Kennedy Gib Kerr Lisa Kiene Grant Killion Stephanie Kilpatrich Kevin Kilroy Martin Kimmel Cloyd Kissick Marie Kissick London Kizd evin Koch Karis Koehn Pamela Kopulos Valerie Kramer Jeff Krum Rick Krupco Julie Kuchar Andrea Kuenzel Brenda Kumm Kourtney Kyle Anna Lac aFollette Joe Langle David Larrabee Chris Laskero Bill Lattimer Julie Lattimer Jennifer Laughlin Mary Colleen Lawler Veronica Lawrence Helen Lea elly and Ryan Lee Tiffany Lee Sarah Legg Danielle Lehman Christian Lenz Henry Leonard Leanna Lepper Gayle Levy Lawrence (Larry) H. Levy Jen annah Lime Jenny Limer Ashley Lindemann Mike Lisac Sheila Locke Gwen Lomax Lilly Long Greg Love Dave Lueck Lauren Luhrs CaBreah Lyman ichelle M Jo Malikah M. Katie Mabry Rebecca Magill Christie Makar Alex Mallett Millie Mallot Joyce Manning Michele Markham Kelsy Marr JC Marte aKisha Martin LaPanda Mason Monica Massey Laura Masterson Gloria Matheny Nick Matheus Melinda Matthew Viola Maxwell Sandy Aguirre Mayer manda Mayes Anthony Maytt Jennifer McAdam Jim McCall Tara McCall Beth McCarthy Bob McCartney Lacey McCormack Robert McCormack Mar elinda McDonald Will McDowell Jill McEnaney Ryan McEnaney Tom McFarland Kirsten McGannon Joyce McGautha Katherine McGee Erin McGiffer atie McGurk Lee McKinzy Patricia McMahon Sarah McMillon Larry McMullen Debra McQueeney Kate Meinke Myra Merritt Jonathan Meyer Kimberly eyer Angela Michka Paul Miles Natalie Millard Eric Miller Jared Miller Rich Miller Susan Miller LaTasha Milsep Kassandra Minor Destin Mitchell Kar rande Molina Ray Moncrieffe Becky D. Monroe Samantha Monsees Crystal Monteleone Kaisha Morel Craig Morey Dave Morris Garison Morris Jorda orris Daniel Morrow Matthew Moses Michelle Moses Michelle Moses Kevin Muesenfechter Merritt Munoz Ralph Munyan Bethany Murphy Lloyd Murr yers-McClendon John Navarre Stacy Neff Jennifer Nicholson Jessica Nickels Rachel Nodland Dan Norburg Phyllis Norman Kevin Normile Angela N ora Nyakatura Lisa O’Hara Matt O’Laughlin Tom O’Leary Dan O’Meara Elizabeth Oberle Carol Odam John Olen Kathryn Orr David Orvis Sally Paret LETTERS OF SUPPORT arker LaVance Parker Laura Pastine Kimberly Paulsen Dylan Payne Whitten Pell Amanda Perry Joe Perry Kip Peterson Peggy Peterson Daniel Petro ettit William Pfeiffer Paula Phelan Anne Phillips Sam Pierron Nicki Pinault Marsha S Pinson Gwynn Pirnie Pat Pitre Brandy Poiry Michael Polk Rosem ost Robert Potter Angela Potts Melodie Powell Stephen Powell Pete Pozos Tiffany Price Jason Pryor Danielle Pusateri Vanessa Quinlan Joe Quinly B ean-François Quintin James R. Mike Rainen Detra Ralls Robyn Ratcliff Anne Rauch Nathan Rawlins Lawrence Rebman Shellie Rebman Jennifer Red eggiard Federico Reggiardo Nancy Reicher Philip Reicher David Reid Celtina Reinert David Reinert Gary Remley Felicia Rhodes Megan Rhodes Lu ce-Petrie Jonathan Richard Kristie Richardson Ryan Richardson Lucus Richerdson Andy Rieger Jamie Riffle Rodney Riffle Jerad Riggin Kelli Riner ames Roberts Jeremy Roberts Cal Robertson Karen Robertson Dennis Robinson Erica Robinson Marcella Robinson Nate Robinson Kathleen Rocha odenberg Jill Rodick Stephen Rodick Jennifer Roos Jeff Rosenblatt Keith Rosenblum Alisa Roth Abby Royal Karen Rundle John Russ Andi Russell ussell Casey Ryan Pessetto Gladys Sabatés Mabry Alex Sachs Ashley Sadowski Yesica Saenz Shahid Salaam Leo Salinger Laura Samenus Amand yneishia Sanders David Santacroce John Santner Denise Saunders Thomas Scatizzi Monica Schaefer Forrest Schaeffer Andrew Schmidt Jill Schmidt everly Schroeder Maria Schryer Rachel Schulz Laura Schweisberger Matthew Scott Yacento Scott Chris Scranton Emely Seaton Pam Seator Jesse S exton Trace Shapiro Chris Shaw Deborah Clark Shaw Katheryn Shields Tyler Shiney Steven Shoemaker Rachel Siegel Suzanne Siler Lindsay Sills B onald Simpson Sally Sinn Janelle Sjue Andrea Slater Sherese Smalls Arlene Smith Asami Smith Charles Smith David Smith Galen Smith Janet Smith ate Smith Kristel Smith La’Sha Smith Mallary Smith Marla Smith Megan Smith Rebecca Smith Sherita Smith Stephanie Smith Warren Smith Kendall S etta Sola Andrea Solarino Melanie Somogie Clifton Sonm Jason Soyland Andrew Spitsnogle Julia Splan Brenna Spurgeon Alan St. Onge Martha Stak elly Stange Eva Steinman Glenn Stenquist Kejaun Stephenson Sarah Stevenson Barb Stewart John Still Meghan Still Richard Stitt Kristin Stokely Dar ennifer Stover Russell Stover Jim Stowers Kathleen Stowers-Potter Jenny Strack John Strada Dennis Strait Brian Strohm Mark Stuppy Ashton Suddut ullentrup Rachel Sullivan Josie Sutkin Bob Swisher Elaine Swope Michael Sykord Franci Talamantez-Witte Terry Tarwater Arionne Taylor Zach Taylor June 9, 2017 To Whom It Concerns: The Volker Neighborhood Association enthusiastically supports the initiative of Uniting at Southwest to establish a new innovative and diverse public high school in the existing Southwest High School building. This school would be a win for residents with children and the entire city. The presentation by Rhody Harris at the VNA general meeting on June 8, 2017 was well received. The Volker Neighborhood is home to many young families who have recently invested in midtown living, and they will need good high school options when those kids are older. We want these families to feel they can stay here without the need to move away in order to have good schools. Establishing good high school options is essential to the growth and stability of Kansas City MO neighborhoods. We urge you to support this initiative in any way you can. Best regards, Susan Kysela President Volker Neighborhood Association president@volkerna.org 816-809-2557 COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 38 1" COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 39 OPERATIO luly'27, 2017 Mama To: Dr. Mark Beddell Superintendent ofSchoois Kansaacny Public Schools gunman?!) environments thatcaltimethe critical Wm mWw?ahorwomm?odm rm matinee; Southwest. would embody ?Lk 7 -.. um . lalso Wpamnualconm 91191:th toliveandleam. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 40 . COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 41 CORNERSTONES OF CAPE August 10". 2017 Kansas City Public Schools 2901 Troost Ave. Kansas City, MO 64190 To Whom it May Concern, Cornerstones of Care is a long standing Kansas City area non-profit organization. We have twa primary office locations within the Kansas City Public Schools boundaries. Our corporate headquarters in Hyde Parlt and our historic Gillis campus in Waldo. We believe that partnership is key to creating safe and healthy communities. Kansas City Public Schools has been a tremendous partner of Cornerstones of Care for many years, on many levels, including our Day Treatment Program and Behavioral Health Programs One of the foundations of a safe and healthy community is access to quality and relevant education for children and their families. We would encourage Kansas City Public Schools to entertain a variety of partnerships to ensure that neighborhoods and communities have access to a diverse portfolio of educational opportunities for young people. We are Increasingly interested in the concept of ?project based learning". We have engaged in project based learning on several of our residential campus and in our day treatment programs. We have seen great success both educationally and emotionally as result of shifting our paradigm. We understand the proposed United at Southwest effort. is an attempt to expand project based learning under the KCPS umbrella. Respectfully, Stephen O'Neill Chief Program Officer COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 42 August 7. 20! 7 Dr. Mark Bedcll O?iee ol? the Superintendent Kansas City Public Schools 290! Irons! Kansas Cit) . MO 64100 Dr. Mark Bede". Kansas it) families are telling us very clearly that they ?not to live in and invest in our city. But. far too mun} of them are choosing to leave every year. olten because they are dissatis?ed with their public school options. However. with the nets leadership. seems to he on a roll. Now is the perfect time to get creative and to form new partnerships and to embrace new curricular models such as project~ based learning. I KCPS to accept this hand of partnership. ful?ll its mission in nevv ways. and join m'th this broad group to educate a healthy cross-section ol?our children and grow our citv. lhis is what it looks like when a broad cross section of parents. civic leaders. and local come together to partner with their city's public school district. We at are read) to partner with you and the leadership of Uniting at Southwest to work for the success of this initiative. Sincerely. I i I, l' all ill-4? co Morton Barbara Chancellor l?mvost and lixecutivc Vice Chancellor Universny ol Missouri-Kansas City COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 43 an on now-um Scott Mayor Pro Trio Coo-dined. lat et-Large Chair: Manor and Governance Committee Member: [tau-log Committee 22nd furor. City Hall. 4? E. lZIlt Strut KennaCIty. Misamm All-rte. i-Hv an.? 4.. ?mmwmi June 16. 2017 Alex Ayala Uniting at Southwest Dear Alex, Please accept this letter as an endorsement ofthe efforts that you and others have undertaken as part of the Uniting at Southwest prolect. it is gratifying to see the outpouring of support the community has brought forward for such a project. The high school of the future has arrived in cities across America. From High Tech High in San Diego to P-TECH in Brooklyn. with dozens of X0 SuperSdiools in between, this new breed of school brings diverse students together around project-based learning and connects them to the real world. By my estimation this effort is similar to efforts in the Northland with six school districts coming together to form the Center for Advanced Professional Studies (CAPS) program, another effort that tries to take learning to a different level for high school students. This movement is extremely important to Kansas City as we seal: to create the workforce of the future. That cannot be done without educational institutions that are designed with that need in mind. i'm very pleased that your community is moving forward with this protect and I look forward to learning how i can help support the effort. Sincerely, agrzg" COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 44 (Disciples of Christ) Central Christian Church Rev. Antoine Lee. er. Factor I June 28. 2017 Kansas City Public School District 2901 Troost Ave. Kansas City. Missouri 64109 RE: LOS for United at Southwest Dr. Mark Bedell. The purpose of this letter is to voice my support oi the United at Southwest's initiative to partner with Kansas City Public Schools to develop a Project Based Learning secondary education facility at the 6512 Wamail Road KCMO site. i am a proud alumnus of Southwest High school and hope to see its legacy continue. The families and students in the neighborhoods surrounding the vacant Southwest facility. along with citizens of Greater Kansas City. would benefit greatly from the development of an equitably welcoming and rigorously innovative high school. The opening of another excellent school will give families more options as they depend on public education to sustain quality of life. United at Southwest. consisting of neighbors. parents. and community stakeholders. has galvanized the support of the broader community and can quantify the demand of more than a thousand students; who could potentially be added to the Kansas City Public School District. I am very proud of the legacy of Southwest High and i am equally proud to be a product of the public school system. My hope is that Southwest High School will continue as a staple of exceptional education in our city. It is my desire that Kansas City Public Schools accept an offer of partnership with Uniting at Southwest as you both peruse excellence in education for our students. Thank you. Sincerely. Antoine Lee, M.Div.. MBA. Central Christian Church. Sr. Pastor Give lrutrucn'on to a wise man, and he will be still wear; teach a righteous M. and lie will mum: in (wrung. merbe 9:9 Central Christian Church 3801 E. Linwood Blvd. Clauses City, M00 Phone (816) 921-3614 oWebsite: REPORT FALL 2017 I PAGE 45 Dr. Merit Bedell 2901Troost Ave URBAN Kansas City Mo was cows 5906 GWOPE PARKWAY Bede." KANSAS GUY. ?06?130 With the new leadership at KCPS, have heard that Kansas City families now want to invest in their city. For too many remdents are mug thisneedstochenge. mmokeom I am very proud of the success that KCPS has been having lately. i know it is difficult to adjust to new ideas coming from the outside but I have considered the vision and believe that this could help the community greetty. This is what it bolas like when a broad cross section of parents. civic leaders. and local philanthropists come together to partner with their city's publieechool district. Please keep an open mind. listen to your constituents. and make careful decisions that are in the best interest of the entire community. From everything I can tell. project~besed learning is the best way to prepare our students with the professional skills they wait need to thrive in this ever-shifting economy. Remember it takes a village 62L - gnaw COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 46 it no ii: m- K?theryn Shields Councawoum. 4th District M-Lur 220d Floa.CityHali - Fax: (8l6) Si3-l6l2 ua-uu\l July 11. 2017 Dr. Mark Bedell. Kansas City Public Schools has been making steady progress for years. Now is the time to take it to the next level. Let?s have the hard conversations and develop the trust needed to bring our communities together, to look to the future and not the past, and to take calculated risks. We simply cannot keep doing things the same way and expecting a different outcome. From everything i can tell, project-based learning is the best way to prepare our students with the professional skills they will need to thrive in this ever shifting economy. Our children, our neighborhoods. and our city deserve this. All of the pieces are on the table: a need to innovate how we bring together and how we develoo our young people, an unused public facility in good condition, an obvious and demonstrated demand for an integrated and innovative school of this nature, and the philanthropic resources needed to create something truly remarkable and enduring. i believe this is a risk worth taking. Sincerely, Wm Katheryn Shields COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 47 MWW Armour Fields Homes Association Superintendent Dr. Mark Bedell Board of Education 2901 Troost Ave. Kansas City. Missouri 64109 Dear Doctor Bedell: My Name is John Murphy I am an elected board member and ViceoPresident oi the Armour Fields Homes Association- the homes association that the still shuttered Southwest High School sits in. I am writing in support of the plan put forward by Uniting at Southwest (USW) that would re-open the shuttered school as an autonomous. community-based high school. As a long sewing board member. I cannot tell you how many parents. many with tears in their eyes. tell me that they have to leave our neighborhood and KCMO for Johnson County- Why? it's simply because they have school age kids and cannot afford to live in Brookside and pay for private education. This sad episode plays out every year ~the lack of accredited schools drives the tax base across State Line Road. As a neighbor, taxpayer and board member urge you to adopt the plan proposed by USW and partner with them. This will open a local high school; help keep the tax base from moving out -ultimately increasing the tax base and bene?t the How? The plan calls for the to be the LEA ensurino USW's success will be the district's success. This clan also involves a large amount of capital from the local philanthropic community something. I'm sure over time. will translate into philanthropic endeavors for the entire Dr. Bedell we cannot continue doing the same thing time and time again only to continually fail. This is a great opportunity to create a win for the district. the community and most importantly the students. Regards. John J. Murphy AFHA REPORT FALL 2017 I PAGE 48 SOUTH KANSAS CITY ALLIANCE July 21, 2017 Thank you very much for twice presenting to the South Kansas City Alliance (SKCA) board your United at Southwest plans. The SKCA recognizes that high quality public schools are essential to preserving quality neighborhoods and livable cities. We commend your members for being proactive. We encourage your group to continue to work with the Board of Education and the administration of Kansas City Public Schools and to make every effort to reach an agreement. We are well aware and extremely pleased with the recent progress of the Kansas City Public Schools system, and hope your plans can accelerate such progress in future years. Please let us know if our organization can do anything to facilitate further constructive conversations between your organization. neighborhood leaders and school district representatives. Thank you again for presenting your ideas to our organization and for caring about our community. Sincerely, 3 Stacey Johnson-Cosby SKCA President 816-591-5921 StaceySKCAngailcom REPORT FALL 2017 I PAGE 49 TROOSTWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION July 27. 2017 Dr. Mark Bedell. Superintendent Kansas City Public Schools 2901 Troost Ave. Kansas City. MO 64109 Dr. Mark Bedell. I attended a meeting at Trooa Elementary School to discuss the separation of Lincoln Middle School from the high school. Very good information was shared and parents and community members freely expressed our opinions and concerns. Kansas City families are telling us very clearty that they want to live in and Invest in our city. But far too many of them are choosing to leave awry year. often because they are dissatis?ed with their public school options especialy middle and high schools. Lincoln is a great option but not all kids test we! and there is not room for all who might want to attend. lam impressed with the work you and your new leadership are doing. KCPS seems thrilled to continue to support the district my daughter graduated from and I still live in. Now is the perlect time to get creative and to form new partnerships and to embrace new curricular models such as project-based learning. I URGE KCPS to accept this hand of partnership. ful?ll its mission in new ways. and join with this broad group to educate a healthy cross-section of our children and grow our city. Uniting Southwest seems to be a capable organization and the Troostwood Neighborhood Association is excited and fully supportive of the possibility of this high school joining KCPS. Best. ?7:97 Wanda Taylor, Pres en Troostwood Neighborhood Association COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 50 1w 10.1mm July 28. 2017 Dr. Mark Bedell, Superintendent Kansas City Public Schools 2901 'l?roost Ave. Kansas City. Missouri 64109 Dr. Mark Bedell, The Blue Hills Neighborhmd Association supports Uniting at Southwest and its goals to begin a quality school with an innovative curriculum focusing on project based learning. Uniting at Southwest has presented at our meetings and we are impressed with their dedicated e??orts and thoughtful planning. With the new leadership at KCPS. we are at a critical juncture where a new and independent high school can come alongside KCPS to create an innovative learning environment whose best practices can then be spread across the District, and the metro. As KCPS continues to improve the educational experience of its current 15,000 students. the families and students in the neighborhoods surrounding the vacant Southwest facility also deserve a Rigorous, Innovative and Welcoming public high school. Uniting at Southwest has demonstrated incredible demand. including more than a thousand students who will be new to the KCPS family. This new high school will bene?t our city. our neighborhoods, our students and the taxpayers who fund our public schools. Sincerely. lg! M, 'l?gncredi Paul Tancredi. President Blue Hills Neighborhmd Association 5309 Woodland Avenue. Kansas City. Missouri 64! lo P: 816-333-7232 B: COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 51 A PA RK Of?ce of External Relations UNIVERSIIVM ?3de Associate Vice President for External Relations 8700 N.W. River Park Drive. 065 Parkvillc. MO 64152-3795 (816) 58445412 erikbergmepa?cedu August 4, 2017 Dr. Mark Bedell, Superintendent Kansas City Public Schools 2901 Troost Ave. Kansas City, MO 64109 Dear Dr. Bedell: As a long-time Kansas City resident and university administrator. I have admired all the positive changes taking place within KCPS. All students deserve a chance at pursuing the American Dream. and applaud you for your leadership. With change. comes opportunity. We are at a critical juncture where a new and independent high school can come alongside KCPS to create an innovative learning environment whose best practices can then be spread across the District. and the metro. As KCPS continues to improve the educational experience of its current 15,000 students. the families and students in the neighborhoods surrounding the vacant Southwest facility also deserve a Rigorous, Innovative and Welcoming public high school. Uniting at Southwest has demonstrated incredible demand. including more than a thousand students who will be new to the KCPS family. This new high school will bene?t our city. our neighborhoods, our students and the taxpayers who fund our public schools. I am pleased to lend this letter of support to their effort. Sincerely. 5.2339 Erik Bergrud Associate Vice President for External Relations is? ?parked? REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE52 August 15, 2017 Dr. Mark Bedell Superintendent of Schools KCPS 2901 Troost. Kansas City MO 64109 Dear Dr Bedell: Congratulations on the start of the 2017?2018 school year! I?m Sure you and your staff are very excited to welcome students back into the claserom. Wouldn?t it be even exciting to have a project based learning school Opening in the former Southwest High School building? The grassroots Uniting at Southwest effort to reopen Southwest as a project based public high school for nearby Brook'side/Waldo families continuesto gain momentum. As you know, this school would be open to all high school students in the KCPS footprint. As a Realtor who lives in and works in Brookside, opening Southwest as 'a PBL school not only benefits the local children but home values as well. So many parents and clients I know move out of 'Brookside/Waldo to? Kansas or another part of the KCMO metro area to have a nearby, high p'erfOrming high school. The building has been vacant for so long, and. the UAS plan to reopen the school is a win-win for everyone. I also want to point out that reopening SW would ?t in with the recently released 2018- 2023 Strategic Plan. Your statement in the opening remarks: ?It would be foolish not to utilize the remarkable resources in our neighborhoods, businesses and non pro?t organizations? pair's well with UAS goals. This UAS community wantsto be involved and it. has secured funding from area businesses like Stowers and Bloch. In addition, the ?Four Pillars? section of the plan refers to the desire to form a. ?healthy partnership with families and community? and ?attracting, deve10ping and retaining high caliber dedicated staff?. There are numerous other examples of how anew Southwest would help the district reach strategic plan goals. Along with hundreds of other KCMO taxpayers, as a long term resident of Kansas City and a local small business, I strong-1y encourage you and members of the Board to give. UAS supporters the opportunity to create a very special PBL school for district teens. Why wouldn?t it work? I look forward to your response. Sincerely, W?m Mar-y 'utchison Better Homes and Gardens Real EState-Kansas City Homes 19 68?? St Kansas City MO 6411.3 REPORT 1.1 1: i was on REEIDHAL i ASSGBIATIIJH Dr. Maris Bedell, Supenntendent Kansa City Public Schools 2901 Troost Ave. Kansas City. Missouri 54109 Dear Dr. Etedell, As The "v'oice of Fteai Estate in Greater Kansas City. we know how important strong, quality schools are to building strong. quality communities- It is these communities, not merely lho homes within them, which we sell. That's why The Kansas City Regional Association of Realtorsl? urges you to support the efforts of Uniting at Southwest to create a "project-cased" curriculum and an "all together" school that exists under the KC PS umbrella yet enjoys full. operational autonomy. Education opportunities throughout the Kansas City metro area are evolving, and he mebuying parents have more quality. tailored educational choices for their children than ever before. The Kansas City Public School District must provide options to those parents to compete and stay relative in this new environment. As continues to improve the educational experience of its current tsp-430+ students, the families and students in the neighborhoods surrounding the vacant Southwest High School facility also deserve a Rigorous, innovative and Welcoming public high school- Uniting at Southwest has demonstrated incredible demand for a new public high school con sent here, including more than two thousand responses to their online sunrey. We believe this new high school at the Southwest facility will bene?t our homeowners. our neighborhoods, our students and the tas?payers who fund our public schools. We encourage your support of the Uniting at Southwest concept. Sincerely, r" - 4/ ?ff Jeff Hill, President Kansas City Region at Association of Realtors? Halt-route: file-its.? I 1115-11 Risen, Suite 11:11 II Lien-noon], K55 Phone: I Fan: I'Eili?i'l I Wis-w Honor-=1. REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 54 7. 3 WALDO NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION For the betterment of Waldo and Kansas City as a whole amt-m)? Kansas City, MO 64114 info.hereswaldo@gmail.com Uniting at Southwest Kansas City, MO 64113 c/o Alex Ayala, Mike Zeller To the Uniting at Southwest team, On May 31, 2017 the Here?s Waldo Neighborhood Association was privileged to have Mike Zeller from Uniting at Southwest come and present to a group of local residents about their exciting efforts to re?open and re?innovate Southwest High School. In attendance at the meeting was a group of local Waldo resident representing a mix of age groups, ranging from parents with young children who could someday attend Southwest, all the way up to retired residents (some of whom are Southwest alumnil). In the end, we all came to the consensus that the best thing for the community is to see Uniting at Southwest succeed in their mission. In addition to having a fabulous center for educating our children, other benefits to the community for this effort can include: 0 Resident retention: Currently there is the perception that as much as KCPS has great elementary schools, residents either have to pay for private school, or leave KCMO boundaries once their children go beyond 6th grade. 0 increased property values: With keeping residents in the area, more residents want to stay in KCMO throughout their children?s lives and really make investments in their homes in Kansas City. 0 Security from not having another abandoned school building in the neighborhood. Having considered Mike?s presentation and all other materials provided by Uniting at Southwest, the Here's Waldo Neighborhood Association enthusiastically supports Uniting at Southwest, and wishes to provide any additional support that we can. Thank you again for your time to come and present. Regards, Christian L. Lenz Here?s Waldo Neighborhood Association info.hereswaldo@gmail.com REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 55 .. I. HE HOOD It'hz-E #4 Hon He-t-r I-m.r t; ff] {PP-'llEi-Eln 9 v.1. MLI LAW GROUP 'I?l I r- I in? Fnl-tr-r innit-tn. 4 rt E-urh!" u-mw- Eu . twin-r- ar- u' Ir [ll I: ?In. August '9?th Ramon L?itj i'nhh'e Schooi Board Zq?'l Trooat Ate. Kaunas Fit-r. MD tin! RE: Support for Unitng at Southwest and Project-Booed Learning FE Bourd l't?letnl'terer and Concerned Individuals: {in behalf of myself and nu- family. as well no my low ?rm and nhet I believe to be a signiliount percentage of interested Kansas fit)" rornnut ol'sehnnl age ehildren.l nont to our for the Uniting :31 South nest initiative to bring a. learning high school into the Romans City at the historical Southwest eurupus. its :1 lit'olong lie-mus Cit} and Enioltnide resident now with children ol'ruj- own who will he presented with the choice of ?nding it challenging and innpiring opportunity liar their high school academic comer. full:- 5upport the idea of hringing project-ham lenming to Home City- its a parent of'u child who has entertained mine l'om1ot'mojeet-bmted teaming in conjunction with programs for ul'dynlenio. I our: this as 21 Vitamin: resource and euportunitt- t'or those children who wont to experience learning that is based upon problem- soh-ing individually and in group: without the tog'rmented and route testing format that we see hn5 been too stilling for creativity- Unce juggomout of edueotion in the community. I think the Southwest campus would he an ideal locntion to moment it netting ot'the old history not Kenna: City with thene pros-en new ideeo. My i'nniilgg1 going back In my litlher and mother who founded the Neighborhood Ameiotiun in the l?i?a. are supportun; in the community. end we 1th than project-imam] ieanting high oehonl lilte Uniting nt Summit-cot. is proposing not only Wattle! druw a diverse student-body. but would also prenenl more opportunities for etudenut to wort: along Kaunas City?s burgeoning business community in the tech ?elds. directly esting them to such opportunities at it younger age. lli't'ith project-hosed learning. children receive more exp-unite to real-life skill sets that they can one no they detelup into working oduits. Wit a Father ofthtee hide. one who is entering it" gale, and lining: entering grade. My family in hilly behind any to open up more in 1115 and meddle rinpt'trtunittr to have such it successful model of education to the direction Kansas City has been heading in recent yearn. Our children deserve meow-ens and more opporttutities out] I horn: that itiCPE-i eomidcrs partnering with Uniting at Southwest to explore the d?ul?pmt?lit ut'u project-hosed lenming eduenliun system no on exciting choice for our chil dren?s education. I?Iense Feel the to let me know iI I can o?irr any further input on this mutter Sincerely. 21?? Matt I loud ma mutt LAWGFUHL .33 T. out Ann-m home on: rtr?l mot. '7 5'1" 5'5" . "Ml ?5 COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 56 8-22-17 Dr. Mark Bedell Superintendent-Kansas City Public Schools Dear Dr. Bedell, I have had an opportunity review the proposal to convert the Southwest High School Building into a high school in a partnership with the Uniting at Southwest group of parents. I have long supported, and continue to support the Kansas City Public School District. The recent successes are part of a long term strategy to make fewer school buildings much more successful. In addition to such all star operations such as Lincoln, I know that the general level of performance from our scholars has risen steadily. Of course, this is because the District has focused on better performance from a manageable number of facilities. Having purchased 3 of your facilities (Westport Jr, Westport Sr. and Swinney Schools), converted 2 of them into vibrant parts of the community, along with plans for the 3 rd, I understand the challenges of dealing with these large facilities. Not all schools need to be office or apartment space. Some of them have found great service to the community as schools. The proposal for Southwest High School makes a lot of sense, in as much as it is designed to attract local Kansas City families who live in the neighborhood back to school in the neighborhood. Yet, it recognizes the need to integrate our student population, so that all sections of our community are represented, and it does not simply become a private school outside the reach of everyday Kansas City families. I have worked hard to bring strong urban development to areas east, such as 63rd street, Gillham Road and soon Troost. One of the most important elements to successful commercial development is successful neighborhoods, and the number one consideration for families is the presence of solid school opportunities for those families. Southwest High School has been an operational challenge for many, many years. I believe this is an opportunity for the District to partner with people willing to take on the challenge, keep the District involved, and most importantly, return the facility to its highest and best use-educating our Kansas City children. The District has made and will continue to make great strides. Sometimes the best race is one with teammates. I hope you will seriously consider this proposal. I am available on my cell phone for any further discussion. 816-210-1001 Sincerely Butch Rigby Screenland Companies COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 57 Evan Zarchan 541 St Kansas City, MO E4131 June 11. EDIT Dr. Mari: Bedeli Superintend erii. Kansas City Public DEor or- Mark Bedell I I am the President of the Hockhill Gardens Neighborhood Association Hockhill Gardens is home to 51D households in the Waldo area of the Elt?f. I am writing to you today on behalf of the RGNA Boa rd in sUpport of the efforts of the comrriu nityr group United At Southwest to establish a new public high school at the former Southwest High location. Accessibie public education is a concern for many residents In our neighborhood. I have spoken to many families. over the years who have made the difficult decision to move bemuse of the iacii of public schools providing education [rent it - 12 in the areas The recent one ning of the Haie~Cooit eiementanr school has started the process of helning to keep families In the neighborhood by providing a quality- neighborhood school option for students- encourage to continue the dialogue and develop the necessary partnerships with United at southwest to close the education gap for older students in our neighborhood- Sincerei?r. gem Wise Evan Ia rchan President Gardens Neigh homoocl Association COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 58 Dr. Mark Bedell Superintendent KCPS August 21, 2017 Dr. Bedell, Thank you so much for the leadership you have provided to KCPS thus far. Your support is invaluable and we are grateful for your commitment to Kansas City schools. Sometimes it can be difficult to embrace ideas that seem wholly new from what has been the norm. But reevaluating and assessing is vital for growth, especially when the current situation is resulting in continuing attrition in enrollment size and overall dissatisfaction. The community wants a program that can work - for the students, the city and the improvement of the Kansas City public education system. This community based school, utilizing project-based learning, would allow the opportunity to bring a diverse group of students together and to prepare them with the professional skills they will need to thrive in this ever shifting economy. I have looked into the vision and met some of its proponents and I believe this proposed partnership with the community would deliver a lot of wins all around. I have no doubt that an autonomous, KCPS high school at Southwest can slow and perhaps even reverse the hemorrhage of families leaving our city. And reconnecting the southwest corridor to the school district would be a really healthy development. I hope you and your school board keep an open mind, listen to your constituents, and make careful longrange decisions that are in the best interest of the entire tax paying community. As they say, innovate or die. Thank you for your consideration. Danny O'Neill Bean Baron The Roasterie, Inc. 1204 W. 27th Street • Kansas City, Missouri 64108 • phone: 816.931.4000 • fax: 816.931.4040 • www.theroasterie.com COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 59 08/08/17 To Whom It May Concern: I am a local Waldo area business owner and long-time resident of the neighborhood as well. (Over 30 years) I have been following the Uniting at Southwest initiative for some time. I can’t tell you how much I believe the that the Kansas City area would benefit from getting behind a project-based learning approach like the one proposed. Project based learning appears to be one of the key elements to long-term student growth and life-long success and this approach would benefit kids all across KC. I would certainly like to see a partnership develop between Uniting at Southwest and Kansas City Public Schools John Jantsch Founder Duct Tape Marketing 109 E Gregory Blvd Kansas City, Mo 64114 866-382-8273 ducttapemarketing.com COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 60 8/25/17 Dr.​ ​Mark​ ​Bedell, With​ ​the​ ​new​ ​leadership​ ​at​ ​KCPS,​ ​we​ ​are​ ​at​ ​a​ ​critical​ ​juncture​ ​where​ ​a​ ​new​ ​and independent​ ​high​ ​school​ ​can​ ​come​ ​alongside​ ​KCPS​ ​to​ ​create​ ​an​ ​innovative​ ​learning environment​ ​whose​ ​best​ ​practices​ ​can​ ​then​ ​be​ ​spread​ ​across​ ​the​ ​District,​ ​and​ ​the​ ​metro. As​ ​KCPS​ ​continues​ ​to​ ​improve​ ​the​ ​educational​ ​experience​ ​of​ ​its​ ​current​ ​15,000 students,​ ​the​ ​families​ ​and​ ​students​ ​in​ ​the​ ​neighborhoods​ ​surrounding​ ​the​ ​vacant Southwest​ ​facility​ ​also​ ​deserve​ ​a​ ​Rigorous,​ ​Innovative​ ​and​ ​Welcoming​ ​public​ ​high school. Uniting​ ​at​ ​Southwest​ ​has​ ​demonstrated​ ​incredible​ ​demand,​ ​including​ ​more​ ​than​ ​a thousand​ ​students​ ​who​ ​will​ ​be​ ​new​ ​to​ ​the​ ​KCPS​ ​family​.​ ​This​ ​will​ ​allow​ ​us​ ​to​ ​not​ ​only provide​ ​quality​ ​education​ ​to​ ​students,​ ​but​ ​also​ ​increase​ ​the​ ​number​ ​of​ ​families​ ​that​ ​will stay​ ​in​ ​the​ ​KCPS​ ​district.​ ​This​ ​new​ ​high​ ​school​ ​will​ ​benefit​ ​our​ ​city,​ ​our​ ​neighborhoods, our​ ​students​ ​and​ ​the​ ​tax-payers​ ​who​ ​fund​ ​our​ ​public​ ​schools. In​ ​addition,​ ​there​ ​are​ ​philanthropic​ ​funders​ ​ready​ ​to​ ​support​ ​this​ ​school,​ ​we​ ​should​ ​take advantage​ ​of​ ​their​ ​generosity​ ​while​ ​they​ ​are​ ​offering​ ​it. Please​ ​consider​ ​this​ ​and​ ​other​ ​letters​ ​supporting​ ​Uniting​ ​at​ ​Southwest.​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​step towards​ ​a​ ​school​ ​system​ ​that​ ​serves​ ​all​ ​of​ ​our​ ​children,​ ​rather​ ​than​ j​ ust​ ​the​ ​fortunate ones. Thank​ ​you, Mattie​ ​Davis Literacy​ ​Tutor​ ​at​ ​Holliday​ ​Montessori margaretlouised@gmail.com COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 61 Jeff Rosenblatt 628 E 61st Terrace Kansas City, MO 64110 August, 22 2017 Dr. Mark Bedell, The proposed project-based learning High School at Southwest Campus will serve to further enhance the Kansas City Public School system. From my professional career of over 16 years in informal education and project-based, hands-on learning, I can attest to the fact the proposed project-based curriculum model at Southwest will provide students for a lifetime of critical thinking skills. It is a refreshing and innovative step for a school system to adopt this learning approach, an approach already begun in schools like Park Hill and Shawnee Mission. The Kauffman Foundation’s Education focus is also observing the newest developments and advantages to such a project-based school model. Kansas City Missouri Schools will be there on another forefront of education if the Southwest proposal moves forward. In addition to the proven curriculum model, more and more families in the immediate community surrounding Southwest will decide to stay in Kansas City Missouri for their children’s high school education. Personally, from people I know in the surrounding community, the number of families who currently send their children to high schools outside of KCMO would drop drastically. As a parent of two children in grade school at a Kanas City Missouri Charter School, Southwest would be top of my list for their future high school. This proposal for Southwest would strengthen our Kansas City schools, our students, and in turn our leaders of tomorrow. I strongly feel this proposal for Southwest would connect and strengthen our community, contribute positive test scores and successful student learning to Kansas City Public Schools, and truly be a win-win for KCMO Schools and our future. Sincerely, Jeff Rosenblatt Director of Science City Union Station Kansas City, Inc. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 62 June 23, 2017 Dr. Mark Bedell, As a longtime educator, though now retired, I am writing to add my support to the voice of Uniting Southwest. Clearly KCPS faces many challenges that it has taken admirable steps to address. Its new vision deserves praise. I would like to encourage KCPS leadership to join in a discussion with the committed parents of Uniting Southwest and consider how a new and independent high school might help support the new KCPS vision and add to the districts creative and innovative efforts. United Southwest has gathered strong support that suggests it would bring student growth to the district as well as create an inclusive and diverse student population. Likewise strengthening the neighborhoods surrounding the vacant Southwest facility would add to the strength of the KCPS district. The proponents of Uniting Southwest have generated a genuine community interest in a dynamic educational vision that should not be ignored. These are the voters who have supported a commitment to an inclusive KC metro. KCPS will be stronger by engaging with the creative energies of Uniting Southwest. Sincerely, Andy Anderson Retired Vice President of Academic Affairs, Johnson County Community College COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 63 Aug. 28. 2017 Dr. Bedell, it is with great enthusiasm and hope that i write this letter of support for the Uniting At Southwest movement. As a lifelong resident of Kansas City. Mo. 1 have personally witnessed the detrimental effects of segregation and mistrust in education across Kansas City. The result is decades of decline and a hollowing out of families from the city's core. support Uniting at Southwest because I see a monumental opportunity to build something special for children on both sides of Troost and across socio-economic boundaries and grow overall enrollment and population in the city. My grade school (St. Francis Xavier) and high school Bishop Hogan) were both culturally diverse, which i feel greatly bene?tted my development. and i feel it's important that my daughters have the same experience Unfortunately. i also witnessed the white ?ight and African?American middle class ?ight at both schools that drove their closure. The answer to me is exactly what is proposed for Southwest: a learning environment built on diversity and designed to help students succeed through project-based learning. never forget when showed my daughters (8 and 10-years old) videos about project-based learning in action. They were so excited and immediately said, "that?s the kind of school 1 want to go to!? The engagement and collaborative design really appealed to them. i also ?rmly believe project-based learning will prepare students for the new challenges our workforce will face in a changing economy. Finally, 1 support this proiect because, as owner of Bier Station in Waldo. we?ve proudly staked our claim as a business with a mission to give back to our community. Of all the charities and organizations we?ve helped. I can think of no bigger impact i can make than to provide any support 1 can to help make this project a reality. i truly believe Uniting at Southwest can be a game changer for the city i love. SincerelyV?lq (BI. iohn{C,outure Bier Station Owner COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 64 To Whom it May Concern: The Kansas City Public Library has partnered with all public schools including charter schools within our boundaries. During my tenure I have chaired the Downtown Council’s Education Committee and have led a citizen coalition in support of the reform agenda of the School Board elected to support Superintendent Covington’s plan. The Library has an ongoing, Kauffman supported, speaker series on What Works in Urban Education. I support and the Library will work with Uniting at Southwest in support of a reform oriented integrated charter school through parts of our speaker series and forums at the Plaza Library. Following on the work of the Kauffman Foundation in bringing many parts of the community together around the question of quality reform we hope to extend that to concepts favoring the integrated school model prposed for Southwest. Crosby Kemper COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 65 From: Carl Cuda Sent: Friday, June 23, 2017 11:14 AM To: Whitten Pell We at Brookside Jewelry applaud the Uniting effort and as a small business owner and resident of the area as well, the economic diversity my neighborhood and of client?s we serve and is large, and I want that protected. While most of our customers return time and again, we see many younger customers leave the area for the eastern suburbs or Johnson County. Mostly because those families were concerned about not having a good public high school nearby and not having the resources to afford private school. The cycle has happened many times over the last 20 plus years. A great public school will most certainly hold onto families in the city, driving up values and attendant tax revenues going to support KCPS. Furthermore, it will strengthen our community as more families will put down roots, invest in their community, and make it a better place for all. -Carl Cuda REPORT FALL 2017 I PAGE 66 Attn: Uniting at Southwest Dear Sir/Madame, As a longtime resident of the Rockhill neighborhood and as the owner of the Peruvian Connection retail store in the Crestwood Shops at 55th Street, I am writing to express my strong support for the return of Southwest High School. Peruvian Connection hires several women from Midtown and a very local clientele patronizes our Crestwood store. Crestwood, its restaurants and its stores shore up that neighborhood in the way that a new Southwest High School would shore up the Crestwood, Brookside and Waldo neighborhoods. Nothing strengthens a community like its core institutions, and KCMO east of State Line is sorely missing a key educational institution open to the public. Southwest High School would have been our choice for our two daughters and it will hopefully be our daughters' choice for their children. I hope every effort will be made to make Southwest High School a reality. Sincerely yours, Annie Hurlbut Zander 5115 Sunset Drive, KCMO 64112 Sent from my iPhone COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 67 unk Kindt Virginia Giokaris Stephen Gunn Audra Jordan Charles Linn Susan Lockhart Todd Loudis Bonny McAllister (Halbeck) Patty Moore Armstron aston Pell Michael Polk Frank Reaves Karen Russell Alex Sachs Mark Edward Smith Kimbrlyn Stevens Jim Stowers Kathleen Stowers-Potter Bob Swi annahill Yvonne Ventimiglia Debra Verge Liz Verkler Kelly Waldo Dillman Jeffrey Wallace Deanette Watson Michael Wilcox Dan Aagaard Kelly Abalo van Absher Kate Absher Marjorie Adair Anna Adelman Tim Ahlenius Douglas Ahrens Shaheer AkhtabPUBLIC Andie AlbersSUPPORTERS Jacob Albers Jeffrey Allen Julia mmons Andy Anderson Kathy Anderson Kyle Anderson Roy Anderson Veronica Anderson Ann Anthony Bruce Appel Sara Asmussen Rhonda Atkins enny Azima Kuykendall Coleen Babcock Gregory Bair James Bair Marcella Bair Parrish Baker Helen Banhart Norma Banks Bill Barnhart Clea Barry achary Bassin Laura Bauers Mariah Bayha Kenneth Beals Julia Bean Summer Becker Jessica Beesley Robyn Beghtol Kristan Bell Frankie Bellucci ark A. 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People are READY People are ENTHUSIASTIC. People are UNITING AT SOUTHWEST. CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE QUESTION: Why is a Rigorous, Innovative and Welcoming school at Southwest important to your family, and/or how would you like to help? Our city needs a healthy, functioning public education system. This is an exciting model that could unify our community and improve public education opportunites for all Kansas City youth. I am a graduate Alum and want to see Southwest return to the excellent school it was when so many of us attended .....we are here for you ....ready to roll!! I spent my career in higher education and am totally committed to the project-based model you’ve outlined. Once implemented, this approach will drive improvement throughout the city. We need more college prep high schools in KCMO. My children are now adults. However, as a Realtor , I see parents move their families from KCMO quite oftenbecause there is not a neighborhood high school option for them. Finally we have Hale Cook as a great elementary school, as well as Academie Lafayette (but difficult to get in there). KCPS is always preaching ‘community involvement’ with the schools....well, here it is , with the dollars to back it up! I believe SW High would be just as successful as AL. We need more quality school seats and we need choices that provide college ready kids! I am a high school chemistry teacher in Olathe but I live in KCMO. I would like to see KCMO have amazing public schools like the schools in Johnson County, KS. I would love to see the school district revitalized. We don’t have kids yet but we are planning to in the near future. I would be willing to volunteer some help with building a great science department. Ever since my oldest got accepted into Academie Lafayette we’ve been waiting for a high school with equal credentials to open. It’s just what Kansas City needs! I am currently in graduate school working towards my Master’s degree in Secondary English education. As a future teacher, I care deeply about fostering new and innovative learning opportunities for children, and I believe Southwest is a place where this can happen. I support schools where students are challenged to reach their full potential through the support of dedicated, creative, and caring teachers and administrators. I am excited to see where this project can take the future of education in Kansas City! For the future of our city and our kids! High quality public education options is the most important civic duty in the world. Innovation in education presents a fantastic opportunity to engage students better and prepare them to be life long learners and contributors to common good. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 72 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Yes yes yes yes! This is so important. Education is a top priority for our family and without an option nearby for our sons, we would have to move or send them to a private high school. my oldest son is a student at Border Star, whose curriculum does not tow the typical line of traditional classrooms. And he’s excelling. I’d love to see something like this continue as he moves beyond elementary school. Real life doesn’t come at you in 50 minute blocks with rote memorization. Neither should the schooling that preps you for it I would like to see an innovative high school. I would also like to see a democratic school. And I would like to see a high school with electives like automotive technology, wood shop, & computer drafting. We need an alternative to a long, super-regimented school day. We need to encourage critical thinking and innovate learning while making family time and free time a priority. I attended eight schools from K-12, both private and public. It was a priority for my parents to keep our family in the city and provide a diverse environment for me and my siblings. However the changes and challenges within the Kansas City Public School District at the time forced us to adapt and move, constantly searching for the best solution. When it came time for my wife and I to raise our family, the values of diversity and community ranked at the top of our list. Like my parents, we felt this was not achieved by relocating to one of the many surrounding suburbs, many with excellent schools, but often lacking the diversity in our own backyard. Rather, we chose to dig in, embrace those values that exist within Kansas City, and work with the options available. We were grateful to receive a place in Academie Lafayette which has given our children a tremendous education and cultural experience, as well as a diverse and tight knit community for our entire family. As we move into the final years at AL we are challenged again with how to manage the next phase of our children’s education. School’s like Academie Lafayette, Crossroads Academy, Hale Cook, and Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, among others, have shown that this city is rich with intelligence, drive, and creativity in both students and faculty. However, there is also a shortage of exceptional ‘public’ high schools. More importantly the face of education has changed. It is imperative that we meet these changes, to offer our future generations the foundation to compete in an ever connected global world. The individuals and organizations that have come together behind Uniting at Southwest have recognized this need. They pulled together dynamic concepts and models that challenge what our students learn, and more importantly how they learn. This is the type of progress that benefits our students and strengthens our communities. Southwest is a building with a wonderful legacy in Kansas City, but not without it’s struggles. It deserves to be the cutting edge school that it has been in the past. As this school establishes its footprint in Kansas City, we are one of many families that can be counted on to support its growth and success with our time, sweat, talents, and resources. It is opportunities like this that are why we stay rooted in Kansas City. Many thanks! Nate & Kerry Robinson COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 73 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE It is really needed and will only improve the wonderful neighborhood that we live in. The only thing it lacks Is a great high school. This is very exciting. We love living in Kansas City and would not even consider moving to Kansas. Having a challenging high school full of kids who want to learn would be ideal for our daughter. We’re behind this 100%. It is critically important for the entire City to remain competitive economically on a national, and even international scale, to no only keep residents from moving to the suburbs, but also create draw for families to move to Kansas City. Yes KCPS has Lincoln, but there is plenty of desire for more than one outstanding high school. ALL of the high schools in Kansas City should be outstanding. A great education opportunity should not be made available to only a few families in this city. We all do better when we all do better. There isn’t a good option for a public high school in the KCMO school district. Having a new option in the center of the city means that there’s more reason for my family to stay in KC. We don’t want to move to Kansas and lose the diversity and excitement of the city, but as our child gets older, the choices for education become stark. This initiative gives us a renewed sense of hope for the future of this city. A stronger KC will be rooted in a strong education ecosystem! A rigorous and innovative public high school option is long overdue. I wish a high school like this, close to our home, would have been option for our daughters when we were making decisions about high school for them. We love the Brookside neighborhood so much we decided to stay and pay for private school, but options like this were missing when we had to make our decisions. There need to be more options for parents and their children. Strongly support this effort to utilize Southwest for this type of high school in Brookside. A good neighborhood school will increase home values, and encourage families to live in the area. My children are grown and live elsewhere. But an innovative, high quality high school would be very good for the community and the children living here. Kansas City needs a greater selection of high quality schools. I love the prospect of innovation in education, with new learning models that prepare all students for success following graduation. The world has changed and education must evolve to prepare all our kids for meaningful, successful futures. The proposed model is proven and appears to offer active learning that will challenge all students to think critically and develop not just base knowledge but deep skills that will bolster them to be prepared for the work force, whether college bound or immediately entering trade jobs, or other starting positions where they will be able to demonstrate their acquired problem solving and creativiy. My hope for my children is to be not only successful, but enjoy confidence, satisfaction, and pride in their future. Also important is for my kids to attend a school that is diverse in all ways - race, ethnicity, socioeconomics, and aptitude, etc.. Kansas City PS offers much diversity and a school that is inclusive in its enrollment is paramount to the education experience and social development of our kids. I believe in public education in Kansas City. We need more public high school options in our district that serve all students well. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 74 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE In the Southwest High School area, there is an absence of quality high schools (public or charter) for local residents. Creating this school will not only strengthen the Kansas City community and neighborhood for the long-term, but also provide opportunities for a diverse student body to realize their potential and achieve their dreams. I believe in a diverse and vibrant ecosystem of schools in Kansas City that addresses the multifaceted needs of our students while preparing them for the challenges of the 21st century. This initiative appears to contribute to that vision. I have a strong desire to send my children to a public high school (and would much prefer that over sending them to a private school). But I would need to see the district make decisions based on the best interest of students and provide the autonomy to their teachers & building leadership to be able to truly develop innovative new programs. I believe Dr. Beddell is headed in the right direction and I look forward to doing my part in supporting the new direction of the district. While there has been an increase in elementary options (with the addition of new charters) for families living within KCPS, there has not been an increase in middle and high school options... It is important to have a high quality public high school that is able to meet the needs of the community and is independent of the traditional public school system. It would set the bar as high as the child could go. We love the community of the brookside and Waldo area. Creating a good public high school would bring us together even more. We are very attracted to the rich racial and socioeconomic diversity and project base learning. We are currently at academie Lafayette and would love to continue in a public high school after having such a good experience at a charter school. The location is near where we live and I would love for my children to go to a rigorous, safe, public or charter high school. We do not (and will not) move out of KC but we do not want to send our children to a school where they will not get the best possible education. Our city needs successful school options and our kids deserve a quality education. The district in which I live needs/deserves a rigorous, innovative & welcoming high school. As a parent and an educator I want to see radical change in our American public education The 2 attached videos were awesome! We are currently at a high-level performing charter school and would love to carry that into a quality education right in our neighborhood. Our city needs quality, public high school options. This project-based/experiential learning program would be an attractive school option for many families and would be unique in our city. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 75 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE It would help us stay in the city we love. Providing a diverse education to children is key (if not THE key) to creating a successful community and society. Doing it in a neighborhood that supports those children and families is even better. We are a global world and I want opportunities for my children that enable them to be passionate about their vocation. In order to give them these opportunities, they need a rigorous, innovative educational system that challenges them, encourages them to always be learning and is inclusive of thinking outside of the box. I color outside of the lines and I want my children encouraged to do the same. As a resident in the neighborhood, an organized plan with a struct for demanding quality is needed for this school. This is important for the area school children and for the sustainability of the community. It is close to home and I feel innovation is very important in moving children forward especially girls. Even though my kids are too old to take advantage of this, an excellent high school in the Southwest Building is in EVERYONE’S interest. My daughter goes to AL and we will be sending her to school in Kansas for high school. I know many other families who have done the same, which causes lost tax revenue, reduced home value, diminished community, etc. etc. I give my STRONGEST SUPPORT to this effort. Thanks to all who have worked hard to make this a possibility! I love the idea of a real world, project based education. Our future leaders must learn how to work together to achieve a lasting impact. The old school system does not work for all and must be reinvented. It’s time for kids to get excited about learning again! We’re willing to support projects that provide equal access to all interested students in KCMO but after years of unsuccessful KCPS initiatives backed by the community we believe it is time for the community to take the lead in finding a solution supported by the school district. This collaborative approach could also be a model for how to make public schools successful without resorting to a resource draining, and economically biased, voucher system under the guise of school choice. I am a firm believer in the public school system, I would like to see more HS options from the KCMOSD, than what is currently available. While my youngest just turned 15 so this school would not be an option; as a strong supporter of the current growth in KC I believe their needs to be alternative options for this students. While I will not be a parent of any kids; I am close to the school and would be thrilled to volunteer. Happy to get the project moving and as someone with training and connections in construction/marketing/arts&design I would have many things that may be of use. This school project is desperately need and many of the neighbors would be excited to roll up our sleeves and support the future learners of KC. The beautiful historic SW High building should be in use. We would love to send our children there - it is near to our home. Economy of KC requires better schools COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 76 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE It was important when it was supposed to be a collaboration with Academie Lafayette. When the KC school district flaked on that you lost my support. 1. I can send my kids to high school with financial struggles. 2. It will boost up local businesses in positive ways 3. people doesn’t need to consider to move so community will be more stable. My child is only somewhat challenged at his school right now, this makes his interest in school less than enthusiastic. This is at Acad. Lafayette mind you and the tightly structured French model class curriculum is a bit oppressive. We have to challenge and excite him to learn at home. Right now, the options in KCMO for high school are fair to poor. Living in Brookside, I really do not want to send him to Lincoln Prep for several reasons, especially the distance from our house. I like the idea of walking to school on nice days - perhaps that is what defines a neighborhood school. Also, diversity is important but I do not feel my son should be a minority as a Caucasian person in high school. The differences between the Shawnee Mission schools student population, and the KCPS schools student population is mind-boggling. Somehow the diversity of the Greater KC Metro area needs to be represented in a high school here. Bishop Meige seems to have the right mix of kids and a solid curriculum - maybe the best that I have seen in our area. For my job, every day I drive around Kansas City and see the abandoned and underutilized schools of the city. Faxon, Blenheim, and Seven Oaks are being turned into Senior Living Centers! Kansas City has been hollowed out and its population is graying. Something has to change with the school system and choices we have as taxpayers. I can help USW w/ my experience in Education, my work in Neighborhood Preservation and a belief that we can change and improve things for our children. To improve options for HS in the KCMO SD. It is important that we have an excellent, diverse school in our neighborhood! Having a school at Southwest that will benefit minority students and better educational opportunities is important because its greatly needed in KC. I want to stay in KCMO and have my child exposed to students from diverse backgrounds. I don’t want to sacrifice quality education for that. We love our neighborhood and the community we live in. There are many great options for public elementary school on the are but things get less appealing with middle and high school. The idea of a school that allows students to learn in an innovative way the is modeled after real life situations is amazing. We live near SW and a dynamic, diverse, and driven student population would enhance our neighborhood and our city. We don’t want to move, love this city, and want our children to thrive and have opportunity here! We have a model that works. Let’s make more schools like Lincoln or AL. We love our community and do not want to be forced to move so that our children can have a safe and strong academic high school. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 77 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Not exactly sure what that (rigorous and innovative) would entail would love to see something positive happen. We love the city and “progress is good”. I could offer promotional products for a cost basis to helping spread the word. Education is very important to my husband and I. Our child is not even school aged and we worry abouy where we’ll send them. We also hate seeing families move to KS for better education, that should not be the only solution. We want to support a public school but don’t feel we have many options My kids love STEAM-oriented education, but they do not have access to those learning opportunities in our district. Plus, my wife and I would prefer to live in the KCPS district and support central city growth and development. We need more viable, public high school options that offer a variety of teaching & learning methods in the greater Kansas City area. I live in brookside, I want to send my kids to a local school that’s affordable KCMO is an amazing city! Unfortunately, the vast majority of our Brookside neighbors relocate out of Kansas City when it comes time for their children to begin school. Let’s stop the exodus and create a compelling reason for those families to stay! It’s important for this South side community to have an option outside of Lincoln prep to help prepare our next generation of thinkers and leaders. I think my children would benefit from a project based learning model. I support public schools and am passionate about my children going to school with kids from all over the KCPS area. I think it is very beneficial for my children to be part of a diverse community. Thank you. Project based learning helps today’s students in tomorrow’s professional world. Cramming facts in the world of smart devices is obsolete, however, applying facts in solving problems is the future. Our family would be willing to help with renovation of the actual facility as well as promoting and welcoming the school in our neighborhood I am currently a supporter of this project. I work in the Brookside area and I’m a long time activist for projects that benefit the community. I am also a teacher and would be willing and able to serve as a teacher in the new school. Although our child is grown I am always willing to support another choice in public high schools in KCMO. I know it’s important to have more public choices for families in this city so we don’t lose more people who cross the state line for public education. As part of the Southwest Early College Campus Faith-based Coalition, I volunteered at SWECC for several year and know that building needs to have a vibrant neighborhood use as a school. Because we love our neighborhood but would need to have good education for my future kids. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 78 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Options are limited. We love KCMO and want to stay here! I would like to help in any way possible! Please let me know. Graphic design and project management experience Starting a family and moving within the district now. Lincoln would be a great option now, but more of a hassle once we’ve moved. UA would work, too, but choices are a good thing! Southwest is a really close location to us, I believe the district would be very diverse which is something we are looking for in a school. We are excited about our public grade school (hale cook) and it would be reassuring to know there was a good high school in our area. I love the idea of project based education in Kansas city. We want to be a part of the public school system! Education is important for all kids so we support efforts to create a high quality educational program at the high school level at Southwest. I would love to send my kids to a solid and diverse public high school. Sending our child to Academie Lafayette for 9 years is such a wonderful gift. We want more than anything to have that same quality of education to continue! Thank you! I think a I think a high school at south west is a wonderful idea. Right now I home school my 9 year old Autistic who when he is high school age would love to find a great one near us. We moved back into the KCPS district from the Shawnee Mission District in order to attend a high performing charter school fully expecting to have to move back for a public high school. This would be a game changer for us. Neighborhood school where students on SW corridor can remain with schoolmates from K thru 12 ( life long friendships) and close enough to walk, bike and ride to a nearby school. Pride in our SW neighborhood is high continues to improve our neighborhoods and bring more homeowners (stakeholders) into brookside and Waldo. Plus the quality pre-college education that we all want for our children. Hale cook is a success story for KCPS....Keep the movement going and keep the kids enrolled thru 12 grade. It is important us because we have a son in kindergarten now, and we’ll eventually need good high school option for him. It shows dedication to families and education. A foundation of any great community. Volunteer opportunities will present themselves as the school gains steam. What they are now am unsure of. We love KC and love raising our kids in the city. It is alive and active and diverse in ways that the surrounding communities are not. We went to public school in the suburbs, but don’t want to feel like we have to move out there for the sole purpose of education. Our kids will go to Hale Cook. This school as you are describing it sounds like the right next step. I don’t believe there is a perfect high school (or middle, or elementary, or preschool) formula to reach every kid, and I don’t think that all kids will be a great fit for all schools (in fact, COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 79 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I don’t know that all 3 of my kids will need the same school). I think a diverse offering of schools is the best way to reach the greatest amount of kids. The proposal of a rigorous, innovative, and welcoming high school seems like a good idea. As far as helping, I’m am happy to participate wherever the needs are. Feel free to contact me if needed. The current state of the KCPS is the primary reason my family is thinking about moving out of Brookside before our children are school-aged. There has been remarkable progress in the last few years, especially with the latest APR scores. If this trend continues, and we see that initiatives like this one at Southwest are welcomed by KCPS and by the community at large, we would be able to stay in the neighborhood we love knowing that our children’s education is in good hands. It’s in my neighborhood and critical to the health and vitality of the community as a whole. We need more public high school options to provide rigorous academic opportunities for KC kids. Currently there is not a public high school option in the southwest corridor. Living in Waldo, our ‘neighborhood’ school is Central. We chose awesome Lincoln Prep for our children. It’s far away but a great school. Many Waldo/Brookside families want a closer good school so opt for private and parochial. I have no children in the age range that this school will serve. However, I have lived in the area for a long time and know what a positive resource this school previously was. As I’m sure you know, In the not too distant past, it offered a rigorous curriculum and students chose to be there. That all changed when Southwest was forced to merge with Westport High. Many students resented the change and were very disruptive. The whole vibe of the school changed for the worst. I would love to see this school revived and successful as it will benefit the neighborhoods around the school and the whole city. It’s absolutely the best use for the Southwest building and for the neighborhood. My grandchildren live in Waldo and Brookside’s lovely neighborhoods, and there is no option of a rigorous and challenging neighborhood school for them. I believe in public schools but the public schools in our area are terrible. Location to where we live as well as diversity. We need a neighborhood school as an option to private schools. I’d just like to see more options within KC. I have a daughter who is probably not a good fit for the schools we have today in this area. We don’t want to move, as we love Brookside. She is super innovative and not being nurtured in her current environment. We reside in the Brookside community and a strong, rigorous high school would enhance the neighborhood. We also need an excellent high school that is not private available to all in Kansas City. My daughter is a 6th grader at LINCOLN it would be nice to have had a middle school in the neighborhood . However, we love LINCOLN . I think the district needs more middle school options as LINCOLN is already an amazing high school in the district. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 80 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Will offer opportunities within our community and will help maintain and development community commitment, stability and support. Good Luck! Hope it happens. My children were graduated from the KCPS District but I know longer have school aged children. However, it is important for me to support our schools and the innovations that have been occurring in education experience and knowledge in the last decade. Those of us who are retired, live in the district, have as much to gain from educating our students as a parent with children. The children are all of our hopes for the future and it is our responsiblity to support the common good. We are all in this together. Because I have a son who will need to go to high school in a few years and I would prefer not to have to move into a district with a rigorous, innovative and welcoming school. I support progress for KCPS district. A strong good academic school multicultural free of violence! Where kids want to learn! Like the private schools have a enterance exam! Thank you It is more important to the whole Southwest community than it is to my family as our children are married and no longer in this area. Southwest needs to be at least as fine a High School or better than it was in the past. If the building is able to support a middle school also that would be really great. It is truly a sin that this wonderful building is serving no one. Get going with this idea quickly. It’s what we expect for a modern, metropolitan, civilized city. We came from strong public schools in an urban environment. We expect our taxes to pay it forward. We will send our children to private school but support and welcome the idea of a new KCPS high school in the Southwest location. We already moved to Prairie Village for the reason we did not have a good alternative for high school - Lincoln Prep was too far and Catholic / private schools were too expensive . We were sad to leave Brookside’ SWHS could be the dominant HS it once - I thought we were really close with the AL deal that never happened My husband and I are. It’s public school teachers and want to support public education in KCMO. Southwest help growing families like main stay in KCMO. We don’t want to leave the City and we want multiple excellent educational options for our children. Southwest is particularly great because of its location and how it would help retain people in the community. I think that this school is important to the metro area, KC proper and our neighborhood. It will utilize an existing former institute of learning with a long history of educating youth. Southwest H.S. is a place with fond memories and is a known entity. It will bring people together. My son has been attending private schools for the last 10 years. He will start hs next year and again, will be attending a private school. Our neighborhood needs options. It is very frustrating to love your neighborhood, but know that it lacks the ability to support a decent school for our children. Why is it so impossible for KC to provide a drcent education for our kids? COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 81 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE We need an option other than private school to send our kids to. I live 20 min from any middle or high school in kcmo district it is not fair It’s what we would need to stay in the KCPS District. My children currently go to Hale Cook and we love it. We aren’t happy with our current choices for Jr High and High School. We believe in public schools. We believe our community and our children deserve to have successful public schools!! I have grandchildren whose parents live outside of KC, MO, due to the poor quality public schools and expense of quality private schools. They would live in our neighborhood of Brookside, if that quality public education existed. As a retired educators, I believe a strong and meaningful education for our youth is not only possible, but a necessity. KC can’t attract residents and businesses without viable public education. My husband and I believe in public school system, and it is important that our future child go to a public school. It will attract so many more families to this neighborhood and be great for local economy and moral as well. My kids are now in 20’s and I have to admit I sent them to single gender private high schools- which were Catholic by default, but I liked that values were discussed. My son actually now works in the Dept of Education and has talked about coming back to KC to open the school he wishes all kids could have. Though he has a different perspective than the new Sec. of Education, it might be that your school would fit in with her vision. I think she is going to be hungry for some projects to be successful. I assume you have already checked all that out. Even though my kids are grown I very much care about how the coming generations are prepared for life. No man is an island.... It will increase property values. I am a graduate of Southwest from the 50’s and I am thrilled by the prospect. Also, I live in the neighborhood the KCPS system doesn’t offer anything challenging or rigorous for students now and hasn’t for at l.east 35 years I have a young granddaughter. I graduated from an excellent public school and would like to see options like that in KC in addition to Lincoln. The lack of viable options, perceived or real, has been a millstone around the neck of South Kansas City. The more options available, the better! As a graduate of Southwest High School I would love to see the building alive again offering a great education to an ethnically diverse and motivated student body. No, I absolutely do not support this initiative. I do not want a “rigorous” school for my child or my community. What I have come to understand what some mean by “rigorous” is that it will keep some children out. Children with disabilities, children who have not had the privileges that my son and I have had. I want a GOOD school, NOT a “rigorous” school. My son left a KC, MO charter school because of the “rigor” that was forced down his young brain. He hated going to this “rigorous” school and because he hated it, he fell behind. He is now thriving at a school, not a a rigorous school, a school. With caring teachers, a caring COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 82 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE principal, and caring parents that understand that intelligence is not the only measure of education. I went to a small public school in Iowa growing up. It was not a rigorous school and I went to and graduated from law school. I didn’t need rigor to become an attorney. I needed a well rounded school. As Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Intelligence plus character - that is the goal of a true education. Again, I do not support this initiative at South West High. Start talking about how you are going to include and improve education for all children in this community and I might start to listen. An academically challenging school helps our children, our neighbors and proves our commitment to giving children opportunities to succeed. I want an option for my son. Whatever we can do! This is so needed! We’d love to stay in KCMO & have another option for high school other than private school. The school needs to be used as a school or a community center. The lack of good public schools in KC is detrimental to the entire region. There have been many high school innovations that have not lived up to the visions. Rubber meets the road when it is your own child. I have a child who is both accelerated, has a learning disability, and is extremely hands-on. No public school in the KC region adequately addresses this not uncommon combination. At this point, private school is out only option for our daughter and I’m hoping that changes before she is old enough for high school! Quality education is crucial to the stability of the city & area neighborhoods. Before the school district imploded the Southwest corridor was full of families. Several of my sisters earned solid educations at Southwest High School. By the time I was ready for high school, Southwest was a chaotic, dangerous place with low academic expectations, so I paid my way through private high school working part time jobs in Brookside. It was hard. Currently fewer families move to the SW corridor, and many of those who move here don’t stay. Families are essential to the health of the city and area. To make this area more appealing to families there must be affordable, quality education options. Families with school-aged children currently face tough choices: (1) send the kids to existing public schools knowing they won’t be academically prepared (2) opt for a charter or KC-partnered school and hope the school doesn’t fail or the district doesn’t undermine the school before the kids can graduate (3) pay for private school or, (4) move out of the district. I tried the public schools with my eldest son and a charter with my middle son. We had awful experiences with each. I eventually bankrupted myself sending my three sons to private schools. It shouldn’t have come to that. Improve the situation; bring in an area school with a quality program and steady leadership--with guarantees the district won’t undermine it--so families return to the Southwest corridor. I have a grown child. Nor did I grow up here, but this school use to be THEE school and would like to see that again. And maybe our home values would actually go up! I don’t know what is all planned, don’t have great computer skills, but willing and able to help. I would like my child to have an excellent education without having to love out of KCMO school district. We love the city, and would like to stay without having to pay for private school or spending years trying to get into a charter or equivalent. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 83 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE We are considering moving in the next few years because private school is out of our budget. We want our daughter and future children to have a positive and challenging school environment that we don’t feel the current KCPS will provide. We love living in the city and don’t look forward to moving to the suburbs but will do what is best for our children. We’ve decided we love the city too much to move and are starting the public school journey in fall 2017. I’d love for great options (multiple options) to exist in the upcoming years for quality schools. We need good schools in South KC that prepare children for the future. I am a huge advocate and supporter of the public school system and believe that everyone in Kansas City, MO deserves access to quality public education. I am a supporter of public education, and it pains me to see the direction our country is heading in terms of education. The KCMO area would be greatly serviced if this school were to open for nearby kids and families. With the development of Hale Cook Elemenary, we are very hopeful for our kids future. We live in Brookside. Consider us strong supporters. We need strong, solid school options in the KC Metro area for all to access and afford. There are not a lot of good high school options in our area. I went to public school and would like for my child to but need good educational opportunities We live very close to Southwest. As our daughter approaches school age, we are torn because of the Kansas City public school district’s lack of outstanding institutions. We just learned of her acceptance to BorderStar but it only goes through grade 6 so are not sure what to do from there. Reviewed data on DESE yesterday and not very confident in the education available thru the public schools currently I have lived in Brookside most of my life. I am an award-winning educator who has taught in a top suburban district for 22 years. I know how a school’s/district’s reputation has a direct effect on neighborhood property values. I have watched Hale-Cook make a comeback and am anxious to see other shuttered buildings in our area do the same. I was sad to see the razing of Bingham last year. I am anxious to know more about the initiative and possibly assist in marketing initiatives. I don’t have a family, but I am a teacher and would support any cause that promotes a positive and loving environment for students. We want an option that gives our kids an innovative education solution that has great teachers and family support and also allows us to stay in KC Important to sustain and grow this community! My husband and I live in Brookside and do not have children yet, however, when we do have children we want to have confidence that our children are receiving an excellent education. At this time, I wouldn’t feel comfortable sending my children to a KCPS high school as the test scores and overall successes of the schools are lacking for my expectations. Project based learning would offer a great alternative for students and parents alike. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 84 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Of course a high school like this would be an asset to this part of the city. We want to stay in kcmo, and have safe, quality options My children attend private high school due to such limited viable options in KCMO. We would have strongly considered this option had it been available at the time we made high school decisions. My interest is for my six grandchildren We just moved to brookside from Denver a year and half ago and absolutely love the area and are pretty confident we will find options for our kids for the next few years but would love a reliable welcoming school for high school and middle so we don’t have to move from the area! I want a community based program that will allow my child to work and learn with a broad spectrum of backgrounds and skills. Would provide a more diverse education than we get at private school. And would keep young families in he neighborhood. Those families invest in their community and our property values are increased. Because I graduated from Southwest and it was such a unique and culturally diverse experience. I do not have any children, but a quality high school is integral for the continued improvement of the neighborhood. I, and many others in this area, pay substantial school taxes, and we deserve a functional high school for the children that live in this area. this would also support the property values in this area. We are not not asking for anything that any other household paying almost $10,000 per in real estate taxes deserves no matter where we live. I am not requesting special treatment, just what anyone in our situation would expect. This is not an unreasonable expectation. Thank you. I believe that our neighborhood needs another high school choice and I think neighborhood schools make communities stronger Education is everything- it lays the groundwork for our future! My 2 children currently attend a private Catholic school. I greatly value their Catholic upbringing and would love to continue on with it. HOWEVER, being a single parent and paying for everything myself I’m not sure how I am ever going to be able to afford high school for both. Tuition at private school is upwords in the amount of $13,000 a year times 4 years for each child!!! If I have to take loans to pay for high school then my children will be left to pay for college on their own. It’s important because we deserve to have a wonderful public school in kcmo!! The Kansas school system is the only reason all of my friends moved to Kansas after they had kids. Everyone knows that in KCMO you only send your kid to public high school only when you can’t afford a private school or you move out!!! Twenty of my friends choose to move out and I choose private school and if there is not a public high school here in our neighborhood we will be moving them to a private high school on the Kansas side!!! There is no such place in my part of town For the future of our family and the jewel of Kansas City that is Brookside. I can help any way I can. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 85 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Since I helped coordinate the now-defunct Early College/High School at SW through UMKC, I still have a vested interest in seeing SW in active use again--even though I do not live in its immediate neighborhood. My toddler is far from high-school age, but we would very much like to send him to KCPS for all of his schooling if there are good-quality options for him K-12 by the time he gets there. I like that the high school you are envisioning is a public school, not a charter. We need another option for the neighborhood families besides private schools. This will be a wonderful addition to the Brookside community. The teachers and the education we were taught the extra classes that we got to choose from set us up for life example Botany, Jr.Rotc etc. Helping spread the word . I live a few blocks away from Southwest High and would love to see a vibrant neighborhood school there. Preferably one that would remain open for more than a couple of years. We have the facility. It’s a shame not to use it and to force local students to seek private education or other alternatives. It’s about time to actively support KC, MO public education! It’s important for our community and our country to offer good education. Our children are the future. It’s always good to have options. Whatever I can di, I will do gladly! I was a CPA in finance department of the charter school system in New Orleans and am very passionate about education reform and educational opportunities for all. Now living in the area around Southwest High School, I’d be happy to volunteer or be involved any way I can! A good high school education is very important. It is important that we send our kids to an accredited school which celebrates diversity and inclusion. As the mother of a child with dyslexia and a special educator, I am completely frustrated by the one-size-fits all approach to educating all of these children with very different learning styles and strengths. When 1 in 5 children are diagnosed with a reading disability and 60% of your prison population is functionally illiterate, at some point someone in education and government needs to connect those dots. There are researchbased, proven methods (such as Orton-Gillingham) that are effective in teaching ALL children how to read, not just 4 out of 5 and yet the public school approach is to just label these kids with a learning disability and provide them with more of the same old ineffective approach. My daughter is in 6th grade at a school (Horizon Academy, Roeland Park, KS) that specializes in “different learners” and because of this school, she is now reading on grade level and thriving in all areas. We sent her there after 3rd grade when the Catholic school she attended was unable to teach her to read beyond a beginning 1st grade level. Horizon has been a God send for our daughter, but it is extremely expensive and cost-prohibitive for most families, which breaks my heart. If you graduate from high school unable to read and with no real jobs skills, what options do you have? My daughter will likely stay at Horizon Academy for high school, but it would be nice to have options for her, and I feel it’s imperative to have innovative options for all of the kids in our community. I would be happy to serve on an advisory committee if you’re interested in addressing the needs of different learners. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 86 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Technology and innovation are the future. We teach this at home and in it is seen daily. Having an educational institution that agrees with our thought base would be interesting. We would be interested in hearing more about how this will work and what it would look like with regard to college preparedness as well. It is important for Kansas City. We cannot afford to lose another opportunity to provide excellent education for our children. There are increasing numbers of options in public education via the charter schools for younger grades. However, when students reach the age to transition to high school quality options diminish. Many families are faced with the difficult choice to move and invest in private education at a time when they should be saving for college tuition. As a result, many high achieving, wonderful children leave the district. Traditional-based education isn’t right for every student. My child learns differently and I’m looking for ways that can enhance his ability to gain knowledge. We need to revive the promise that was shown by SW Early College Campus, and that Academie Lafayette sought to bring about after the last iteration of SW crashed and burned under KCPS prior leadership. We need a public school that offers vast opportunities within education, arts and sports that is public, safe, near to home (brookside) and has a spot for my child (normal A-B student) that is motivated, social, moderately athletic an all-around traditional kid. it would be wonderful recreate the traditional high school/ middle school experience that i had growing up. Provide quality education opportunities for our kids. Any way I can help Southwest High School be Relevant and Inclusive in the community, creates an amazing impact for all. Any way I can help Southwest High School be Relevant and Inclusive in the community, creates an amazing impact for all. We want a school that will excite and challenge our children. We want them to be lifelong learners and problem solvers, not just good test takers. It would raise property values and keep the kids who are in the neighborhood at the charter elementary schools in the waldo/brookside area. We would all benefit just like we have from the charter elementary schools. As an educator I’ve seen KC public schools show signs of weakness since I began living here in 1999. Lots of superintendents, lots of busing students around to fill voids, lots of wasted money on programs with no results. There are also lots of issues the public schools can’t control. Parents who have little/no skills for parenting and aren’t interested in learning how to be better. Students who lack basic skills to be successful at their age level. With this said the place is at the bottom so only one way to go and that is up, however this requires hard work by lots of different people at lots of different levels. So why is it important, I’m paying my share of tax and getting nothing in return. Make it effective and people begin to buy into a system then began to see tax money work correctly. It’s also in my neighborhood so I need to be proud of the place I’ve chosen to live. It is only through being challenged that we can know the extent of our gifts. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 87 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE We live within a mile of the Southwest campus, and our oldest attends Border Star. We’re debating between keeping him there next year or taking him to Crossroads Academy. Crossroads has a slight edge because they are soon to have a high school. We worry about where our kids will go for middle/high school if we stay in our neighborhood. We love where we live and don’t want to move out of district, but we will if there are no good (free, public) options here. Right now, the main choice is Lincoln, and unfortunately it’s the only choice for us, other than paying for a private high school. This new concept is wonderful and much-needed for this community. Schools invigorate a community atmosphere and economy, and this could jump-start Kansas City. Probably not what you were looking for in this space, but I would like to request the curriculum be IB. Otherwise, I will probably send my daughter to Lincoln Prep. It is my alma mater. Having another strong high school in metro KC helps our city, businesses, and secures a quality education for our children which in turn will benefit all. I attended Southwest 1981-1984 and received a good education and believe that the lelegacof excellenceshould countinue!. I dont live in Kansas City but I would love to support and visit when in town! Kansas City’s children need a variety of quality options for high school. We don’t have that right now. We love where we live and want all families to have access to excellent public education. I’m a young professional in the area. But I would love to see something like this in our neighborhood! Kc needs you! I want a safe, academically-challenging high school experience for my daughter. I would love to work at such a school as well. I graduated from Southwest in 1989 and I am now an educator myself. I believe in Project Based Learning and I am committed to the diverse KC community. My son’s attend Halle Cook now and I would love for th em to have a vibrant and innovative middle and high school to attend to in the neighborhood we live in and love. I haven’t seen any high school that compares to the elementary schools. We need good public school options in the Brookside neighborhood. My neighbors with kids need quality options! Our future is very important! Uncertain at this time I believe in keeping neighborhood school active and inclusive so that kids feel vested in their community. It would be fantastic for them to be able to walk or ride a bike to school vs waiting for a bus before the sun is even up. Also, my grandmother attended Southwest, and it would be nice to say my children did too. I’m very behind this as long as diversity in all ways is a top priority, and it helps bring other KC schools along. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 88 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I’d like to help develop curriculum. I’m a veteran teacher with lots of experience with project based curriculum It is important to me because I don’t feel that the choices we have known (besides Lincoln) is an equal playing field for my kids...the other options are not competitive with Park Hill, Blue Springs, or Lees Summit districts!! As a former elementary teacher for ten years I would be willing to help in any way needed...!!! KCMO needs the school to retain residents (keep them from going to suburbs and KS). Support will come from increased property and business/sales tax dollars Current lack of high school options in the area. Prevent young families from leaving the area due to lack of schools. My daughter is currently attending a charter school and am very happy with the quality education that she is receiving but i am concerned that there are not enough options for high quality high schools in the area. I think it is important to have a school body that is diverse and academically challenging to further the education of my child. Rigorous so that I can ensure my child is prepared to meet the demands of college and then the real world. Innovative because the future will be one of disruption and students will need to be prepared. Welcoming - I don’t want my child to grow without experiencing diversity in her education. The richness that diversity and inclusion provides makes every individual a better person. We have no children but believe that schools are extremely vital to neighborhoods. The neighborhood has a wonderful, diverse, eclectic group of people in it that would love a public option for our children. No one likes the idea of already paying public taxes then having to send our children to private school due to the current system that is inadequate. As is, we are utilizing Hale Cook for our eligible child and with it’s continued growth would like to see the neighborhood/area only get stronger. This is good not only for the kids, but the city as a whole as the KCPS works toward becoming relevant again instead of a punchline. When we bought our first home, we only looked in the Waldo/Brookside area. While we don’t have children (yet!), we’re already tired of people telling us “oh, you’ll have to move out of the KCPS district once you have a five-year-old.” We reject that notion, that we have to leave a diverse and welcoming neighborhood that we love due to current issues within the district we are zoned for. I think a rigorous, innovative and welcoming school would be a breath of fresh air for an area that is in desperate need for more education. Hale Cook Elementary is great, but doesn’t solve what to do with older children. This is an exciting opportunity, in an exciting area, and we’d love to help however we can. Our daughters attended public Charter schools from 5-10 grades in the Salt Lake area. When we moved to Kansas City there were no similar programs that were open to them and they attended a private school for their last two years. If you are looking for ideas for excellent education programs for grades 5-8 and 9-12 you might look at Salt Lake Arts Academy (SLARTS) www.slarts.org and Academy for Math, Engineering and Science (AMES) www. ames-slc.org I don’t want to leave the district. I love Waldo. I’m looking forward to walking my daughter to Hale Cook and really want to see KC succeed in the realm of public education. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 89 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I grew up in San Diego with friends who went to High Tech High, I went to a magnet school for creative and performing arts. Being in a school that encouraged diversity, and honored people for achievements that went beyond grades changed my life. At a young age I was exposed to people who were so vastly different than me, that my understanding for the world around me was so well rounded. I gained empathy, understanding, and the need to stand up for other people. I fully support this high school, because of what my school did for me. There has to be more than one option. Missouri has two tiers for public education: traditional public schools and charter public schools. It is apples and oranges for the regulations and law between the two types of public schools. There SHOULD be a KCPS public traditional high school that has a rigorous, innovative program that the public elects the school board and committee members as public funds are used. Expansion of the charters, vouchers, home school, will only re-segregate racially, socially and economically. As a taxpayer within the KCMO school District, we need an ACCREDITED fully functional, innovative, college prep school that we can be proud of. We need a school for all students, not targeted for students east or west of Troost-- a school that will prepare our students for the real world--not one where they just get by We are long overdue for a good public high school in the Brookside neighborhood. My kids rode the bus all the way down to Lincoln all through high school because that was the best public school option for them. It is important to promote a community of diverse people who co-exist happily. It is important to reduce the transient nature of our population. It is important as an investment in our neighborhood that will return results: higher property values, fewer crimes committed by youth, happier families with a brighter future Build and Keep neighborhoods strong for ALL We attend a private school now and would love to have a school in our neighborhood/community that is as good as the private schools and suburb schools. A good community has good schools, our neighborhood needs this and I am willing to help if it fits our criteria. I tried to initiate this 10 years ago and no one would listen to me when trying to do this same grassroots movement. Thank you for your dedication to this worthwhile project. I look forward to hearing more about it in the near future. Stephanie Bridges We live close to SWHS. I grew up here. We need to revitalize this particular school and Bryant for that matter. It is pretty crazy that we haven’t figured this out yet, but I will say that I love the idea of having a super high tech amazing public school system here in KC. Specifically Waldo Brookside area as that is where we happen to live. Go get um!! Lets make this happen! Location, public school, community, quality education COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 90 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE The current public school system is, and has been, an very poor way to prepare children for life. Let’s chat about the various volunteer opportunities, and see what makes sense. I do not want to move away from the neighborhood I have lived in for 11years just because the choices for middle school and high school are poor Having grown up in the KCPS District, I find providing new resources for the kids an important part in their lives because they might not otherwise experience those things. It would be nice to stay and remain in our community as well as give back to our community. If our children don’t have a good public school option we will most likely have to look for an alternative option. However, if we have to find another option we will be less likely to be involved in the KCPS schools or community. It’s only natural for people to contribute to schools their children attend. And parent Involvement is a huge predictor for student and school success. We want quality education in our KCMO community, for ALL kids in our KCMO community. I am a former teacher. And I believe strongly in the guild system of learning. My husband and I are both artists and have a lot to share with the community and would be willing to volunteer our time and expertise. We need to keep families in KCMO and offer multiple strong schools for families to choose from. We don’t have children, but believe in public school and have been so disappointed in what the realities seem to be locally. I’d be willing to help promote the efforts. It’s crucial for our family to have Southwest in order to stay and invest in this beautiful community. My child is starting at Crossroads partly because they are adding high school. KC needs more high quality options in all parts of the city as kids get older. All kids need a great education and our city needs good schools to help keep families invested here. I’d love to see Southwest be a great option for anyone. Our kids deserve this and we shouldn’t have to move out of the district to get it. I love living in Kansas City and I want to be able to raise my family here. I am a supporter of KCPS and would support the reopening of Southwest school as a middle school in this area IF it were to include ALL area elementary schools including Troost and Benjamin Banneker Elementary Schools. I am sure it can be done. Because kcmo schools are not rigorous, innovative, or welcoming. I could volunteer or provide speech therapy evaluations/treatments as my schedule allows. Creating better public schools on the Missouri side of Kc metro.... personally against private schooling. I’m a public school advocate and want better high school options for all kids. Not all kids can attend Lincoln or Paseo. With more high school graduates at accredited public schools all tides rise! I think having good public school options in that area is important. My dad went to Southwest and it’s a beautiful building with a rich history that needs a renaissance. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 91 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Too many young families leave KCMO due to school. We might also leave if we can’t guarantee a great education for our daughters. I don’t like that. But it is the reality. If schools improve we will stay. So will many of my friends. In my opinion that would be good for KCMO. Creating a great school at this location would be a HUGE step forward. Although I don’t have children yet, I will one day and don’t want to have to leave KCMO for them to have a quality education. Plus good schools are vital for a thriving community. Would like an option that would provide a high level of learning as well as a diverse student base. I attended Southwest and it was a wonderful school and can be at the top again! We need a high school that can reignite the spirit in Waldo and brookside. We believe in public schools. ALL kids, not just ours, should benefit from a welcoming, caring, neighborhood high school. Community grows our children. It’s sad that families often feel they have to move to Kansas to be able to have a quality public education. I would love to send my kids to the schools in my neighborhood Real estate values...kids with parents who care who r invested where they live Education should be one of the most important things we put our money, effort, and care towards. Our school system is severely lacking and it frightens me with two young boys on the upcoming decision on where I will send them to school. If I have to be honest, there isn’t a school in this area that I believe I believe fits the inoovation and creativity that I seek in a school. I’m more impressed with school overseas and how they educate children... not to mention the horrific choices for school lunches here in the U.S. We can do better, so much better. Less cost to our family than the option we currently have chose. It would have to be rigorous and have extracurriculars. I’d love to see rigorous, innovative and welcoming schools throughout all of KCPS A community’s future is only as strong as its school system! Kansas City is full of innovators and entrepreneurs; it’s time to take that strength and use it to further build the next generation of thinkers. As a teacher myself, I want the best education possible for my kids and I am a firm believer in public education. It would be great for my children to go to a school that will prepare them for the future. We believe in public education and the rich diversity of our area. We are pleased to have the options we do at the elementary school level (though they continue to need improving, of course), but are very concerned about what will happen when our children reach 6th grade. There does not appear to be any good option at the middle and high school level. Being such pivotal years as we start to think about college admissions, it is very worrying. It is an important asset in creating the future of our community. N/A: I don’t have children. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 92 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I love living in KC and I love that I have options for schools instead of just the assigned neighborhood school, we have several great choices for elementary and are excited for our daughter to start Kindergarten next year at the charter school that I teach at. However, I feel like our current options for high school would be limited to 1 or 2 considering we can’t afford private school. The more options the better. We would love an option to private school. I am a local who went to private school for grade school and high school in KC but having a progressive option in our neighborhood would be amazing. We send our son to Pembroke Hill and if we are lucky enough to have a second child the tuition for two children is quite expensive. I would like my children to be well-prepared for college in a safe learning environment. My hope is that they would be challenged and inspired by this high school. My son has a high IQ with ADHD. Repetitious book and packet learning is an everyday struggle for him. Putting something in his hands and asking him to solve it or create it awakens his spark! He thrives from hands on teaching. He works faster and is more focused. Traditional monotonous text book teaching is painful and boring for him. I know because it was the same for me. I dropped out of high school because I couldn’t take it anymore. Please help capture his love to learn before we lose more like him and me. Education of youth in a challenging environment is what helps our country prosper. A schools are great...especially if done well. I’d love to see something downtown too. We need to offer the best education possible to every child in the city. Better schools make better choices. Having options like this will not only strengthen our community, it will increase our neighborhood values. People will not look to move across the state line mainly for educational opportunities that don’t exist here currently. It’s a win-win for our kids and community It is so important for our community I love the idea of keeping my kid in a diversified school but I want it to be one that actually gets good attention and families want to go. We are very comfortable with our choices in elementary, so a middle school or high school nearby would keep us from leaving KCMO which we don’t want to do. Value for our community and potentially a good education option for my family The children are our future. Our area has no public school option that would appeal to me. Southwest is ideal in location and if executed well and with my values, I’d love to help and/or potentially send my kids there. It would be an amazing opportunity for Kansas City to improve the public school options and to emphasize issues of utmost importance. I would love to move back to KCMO but at this point feel it would be a disservice to my children since we are living in SM school district. We are already utilizing services through the SM school district (speech therapy). Hale Cook is a step in the right direction for KCPS...reopening Southwest is another! COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 93 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I don’t have children, but having strong, inviting and innovative schools in the neighborhood is GOOD for the neighborhood and I am tired of seeing great neighbors leave because of the schools. I love my neighborhood and it’s important to offer a great school. It’s good for our city and our region to inspire and teach everyone who wants to learn, not just those who can afford to pay for a solid education . We need a strong neighborhood high school to serve and strengthen the Brookside/Waldo area. Neighborhood schools work best, with local control. If we could keep more families from moving to Kansas, it would be great for this part of the City. Good for our whole community first. Second to have more options for my family Quality education for our children is incredibly important for our future. 1969 graduate of this Great High School. A great project. Will attempt to post this to class website. An innovative way to keep this great high school into the future of education. I grew up very close to Southwest, but when I was a child our family did not feel sending us to KCPS was viable, given the value they placed on education. I attended private grade school and high school. Having a challenging, rigorous and welcoming neighborhood public school would increase my husband’s and my ability to stay in the City and educate our future children here. Although I don’t have children yet, I’d really like to see the public schools in KCMO improve and will support them in any way I can. Plus, as a woman working as a web developer, I can see the benefit of a tech, projectbased curriculum. A good public school should be expected in this neighborhood. Even if it has to be disguised as they do today. We need to stop the bleeding of young families from the city of Kansas City in order to keep the city healthy and growing. Southwest is a beautiful building in a beautiful neighborhood, the taxpayers of the city deserve its preservation. It’s important to keep the ball rolling on the good and challenging charter programs around the city I would love for my children to be able to go to a school in Kansas City, yet alone their neighborhood, that cold help the thrive educationally. As of yet, I don;t see that as a possibility, which is sad and scary. I love living in Brookside, and want the value of this neighborhood , and all surrounding neighborhoods, to encompass a wonderful PUBLIC school option. I want all kids in Kansas city to have access to high quality education. I think the most effective way to do that is for most of all residents to personally buy in to the public education system. The best way I can do that is by sending my kids to public school. It would help our city grow. I will getting married later this year. We will likely be moving to the Brookside neighborhood and hope to start a family soon after. Public education will be a big deciding factor in our future plan. Neighbor, parent of 2 alumae, public education supporter, former KCPS board member. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 94 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Being in higher education, I like the concept of a more collaborative and project based learning environment. I’d like to learn more about this incentive and help in any way that I can. Such a school is important to our family whether or not our child would ultimately attend. Strong public education benefits the whole community and city. Alum with KCMO based grandkids -- knowing what a tremendous learning and social environment Southwest was and how I believe our current schools are not preparing our children and their children for the turbulent yet exciting future they face- would be receptive to volunteering time and treasure to this much needed project!! KC needs better schools to get to the next level. Everybody agrees. I dont pretend to have answers but I suppport any groups that are working towards that goal For 20 years our children attended KCPS schools. It breaks my heart to see sw closed and I blame the district for that action for thier outdated mentally. I worked closely with the schools to make sure our children got a good education, a time consuming effort. Schools attended were Nelson elementary, Bryant,,Bingham middle, middle school of the arts, Southwest High, and Lincoln academy. All graduated with honors, graduated college and two graduated with a master’s degree. education is the foundation of a community. It is a travesty the only viable options to send our child is to a private school. I am open to assisting with time, talent and finances as long as the educational value is there. Our youngest child is going to be a freshman in the 2017-2018 school year. She will be going to a private school as we didn’t feel that a KCPS was the right option for her. I wish we would have had the Southwest option as explained on this website. 2 of our children attend Academie Lafayette. Our other son attends Brookridge in Overland Park. We find it essential to have a new and improved middle school and high school for our children to attend with a loving and caring teaching staff and parents who are involved. WE NEED better schools for our children!!!!!! Kansas City, Missouri NEEDS BETTER SCHOOLS!!! Our middle child will attend Hale-Cook next year and not the OP school and it scares me. It saddens me. That school (former SW) is in a vibrant area and should not be empty. Populating it with an awesome school like the one you’re planning is very important for Brookside and KCMO in general. I would possibly send my daughter there. We love KCMO and would love a great public school option in the area. Southwest High School is located just blocks away from our house. It was a high performing high school before the KCPS changed its focus several years ago. If the school were reopened to attract high performing and diverse students, I believe it would attract students from the neighborhood as well as the rest of the district. Students attending charter schools and nearby KCPS elementary schools deserve an attractive high school option that will prepare them for college and beyond, and we owe them options beyond Lincoln Prep, private high schools or moving out of the district. Public, diverse, and rigorous schools are a necessary component of a well functioning community. We want our daughter and any future children to attend schools that are not only academically challenging but also expose them to students from various backgrounds. We feel strongly that for our children to better COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 95 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE understand the world they inhabit they will need to be able to relate to the many different people in it. While I don’t have children of my own, I do participate in BBBS and have a little in the KCPS. I want to see her and her fellow classmates succeed and not held back due to the limitations that are currently offered. I worked in education reform for many years and desperately wish that we had a high quality public, socially and economically integrated prep school in the area. My son currently attends Pembroke and is slated for high school at Pembroke or Rockhurst. Southwest could offer an extraordinary public option. I believe in public education that has diversity and represents our population. I am also a high school teacher in KCKPS and there is a tremendous need for challenging public high schools to improve opportunities for our children. I am a graduate of SW High(1978). I want to help it get back to it’s glory days of educating and teaching life lessons to youth. Please let me know how I can help! KCPS is doing amazing work. The more ways in which we can provide an atmosphere of inclusive and innovative learning the better our kids will be! Kansas City needs more than one excellent high school. There none in this area. Technology breeds empathy, and empathy provides the foundation for a thriving and innovative society. I fully support any initiative that aims to educate students with a tech-based approach! It’s good for the neighborhood. Even if I didn’t have kids, and even if we ultimately choose a different high school, I would support this effort. We need quality programming in our neighborhood from kindergarten through HS. I want my daughter (and future kids) to start and stay with the KC system. It is most important our public schools become accredited and I will support anything that may help that happen It would be great to have a well-run, high-achieving, public high school option in the area. We have to stay in KC MO due to my husband’s job, but don’t feel we have high-quality public options for high school. Southwest was a fabulous school about 10 years ago when it reopened as a college prep that provided students with the opportunity to graduate with earned college credit. For the amount of taxes we pay, we should not also be having to find a way to finance private high school tuition. I hate seeing that big, beautiful building sitting empty. To allow families to live in the area long term. Because I attended South West High School, graduating in 1976. It was a fine institution and I believe it can be a fine institution again. We need a quality educational center at that location. The surrounding neighborhoods to the east of that location could supply the school with a very diverse student population. That was one of the most important aspects of my experience there in the 70’s. Academic excellence was a top priority as well. Please reopen SWHS with the same goal of diversity and academic excellence. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 96 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE We live near the Southwest campus. We have 4 very high achieving children who need rigorous academic challenge, but we cannot afford private school. We want them to be proud to attend a high school in our neighborhood. Kansas City is currently under serving its public high school needs. Look no further than the numbers of people who opt for private school or move out of the district. This is an important opportunity for the entire city. Our community deserves such a school. We need schools that compliment and challenge our kids, and not schools where bad behaviors take away from the learning of our kids. We prioritize education in our family and only want a rigorous curriculum that will prepare our children for college and life, while celebrating diversity. We don’t want to move to Kansas and we don’t want to do private schools. I would very much like to see a high quality school at Southwest. The district has many high quality options (public, charter, and private) at the elementary scool level, but far fewer options at the middle school and high school level. I’d like more neighbors to stay in the area. We need a respectable middle and high school option. Is this actually a public school or a charter? Is it all inclusive? Who is heading up this initiative? This survey gives Very little info and gives nowhere to go and read further on this school. I went to a public school and I believe in public school as a bedrock of a healthy democracy. I believe diversity is important and evidence shows it leads to better outcomes. I don’t want to sacrifice my kids education for my ideological beliefs and I have the means for private school but I would much prefer to be part of developing a strong public school system we can all be proud of and support. I want to stay in this neighborhood very much, but I may not be able to afford a good private school. This area needs better schools. I’d love to learn more! We have a newborn but have already started thinking about education options in the Brookside area. It grows my property value and gives me an option when I do have kids. I would like to be on the board helping shape the vision as well as fundraising for Philanthropic donations and sponsorships. I have lived across from SW for 38 years and my father graduated from there and I sent my son there- which was a disaster and he is still traumatized from it- I have watched the turnover and trash can fires and rape of a student. I substituted there and I was part of the Deseg Lawsuit with Arthur Benson and Charles Black and Joyce and Bill Stark and all their children. I stayed in the district and my 3 older children were fortunate to be part of the I B program at Lincoln Prep. My son teaches at Paseo still- I consider the situation a victim of racism and a tragedy and a waste of a community resource. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 97 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Having a local high school that is competitive and flexible would be more appealing than sending my kids to private school. I believe a neighborhood school is important for our children, community, safety, social & mental health! Need to focus on a new way to teach as the traditional way is failing to Many of our youth Having an academic-geared and innovative high school would boost the 9-12 education in KCMO-much needed. It’s not important and this is not a survey. Fix the schools we have. I feel as a taxpayer, I would like to send my kids to public school. I went to public schools. But, right now, I just feel the public high schools options are just not available or attractive. Strong public schools are critical to our city. We want all children in our city, not just our own, to have access to quality education! It is extremely important for the morale of the neighborhood and for the future of students. This is a must! Our city needs this! My wife and i are both working professionals that value education, hard work, and the KCMO community that we grew up in. We want to see it be restored to greatness. We want to see our son go to school with his neighbors, like we did, and get a quality education. this would be PIVOTAL to the brookside community. The need is so strong for a great school in the community that isn’t private. Most people I know with small children, like my own, live in Brookside until their children are Kindergarten age, then move way out south where the schools are great. We want our children to be able to be exposed to a diverse array of cultures and background as well as receive a quality, to notch education. A rigorous, innovative, welcoming and diverse high school should be a right of all KCMO students, not just those who are fortunate to be able to afford private school. This exciting atmosphere combined with the outstanding existing infrastructure and convenient location of SW, makes this a very attractive option for our family! It is important to my family because my younger sister is beginning her high school career this following year, and we need to make sure she and many other students are prepared for the real world. I would personally be open and welcome to support any efforts to open up Southwest High back up in anyway I can. As a Southwest alum (1975), I would like to see Southwest become a vibrant high school once again. I would like a charter high school that is academically challenging and beneficial to continue the excellent education of my Acadamie Lafayette child. Southwest used to be one of the best schools in Kansas City, but now the empty building only remembers COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 98 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE what was. With all of the young families raising children in the wonderful Brookside and Waldo neighborhoods, quality education is paramount. I greatly support the revival of Southwest High. SWHS is an anchor to the community.... Too many families with children have moved to Johnson County and the city loses both tax revenue as well as talent. KCMO needs as many choices as possible and this is a viable and exciting choice! Best investment a parent can make. It is extremely important to have a rigorous, innovative and welcoming school in this area for families to stay and support Kansas City. Too often families move to Kansas or the suburbs for better schools instead of staying and helping make KC great. My husband and I believe this city is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. We have decided to stay and send our 4 children to the neighborhood school. Our children still need to be challenged as do all the children in KC. Schools should be rigorous and welcoming to all - kids will always rise to our expectations, so let’s set the bar high! This is exciting and we are looking forward to being a part of this educational project. I happen to live on the Kansas side but have many family members that live on the Missouri side of the metro. My entire family uses the private school system due to the difference in education options. The costs for these private schools is very high. It would offer more options, keeping more middle class families in KCMO. It would bolster rebounding urbanism in the city with downtown. It would offer an economical model for families that aren’t Catholic, which is really only other option besides kcps. Strong, community based public schools are essential for a thriving democracy. I am a KCMO publicly educated person, and my time at Holiday Montessori was truly irreplaceable. Though I am a senior in high school currently, I have a strong passion for public education, especially in the Kansas City area. I would love to volunteer and learn more about your movement! We love the brookside area and the people here and want to continue to raise our daughter here. We are hoping to have a safe and educational place to send her to high school when she reaches that age so that we don’t have to move out of the area. I believe in this and am very encouraged to see that it’s happening just as my husband and I grapple with our 13-year old and the fact we feel we must move to Kansas for their public schools. Private schools are expensive. Public schools in our area typically and unfortunately fall far below standards found in private institutions. All kids deserve better and a chance for an excellent education. I support this initiatve. Creates stability in the neighborhood, reinforces progress being made in KCPS elementary and provides quality choices for families choosing to stay in the area. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 99 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE This is a wonderful neighborhood that should have and support a wonderful school. Southwest has every opportunity to be more amazing than it ever was with the community around it. Born and raised blocks away, can’t imagine anything better than bringing this fixture of our wonderful community back to life. Education is everything. Having my children grow and develop their learning side by side with relationships and their community is of utmost importance to us. The model of neighborhood and community school throughout elementary through high school education can give them not only a sense of confidence but a true feeling of purpose into action. I think raising children is about showing them love but more importantly that their action of love can change and make a difference. It starts here. Because I don’t want to leave Brookside. As a Southwest alumni (class of 1964) I strongly support the renewal of Southwest. I am a 1971 greaduate of Southwest and feel what thi group is doing is important to our kids in the area and Southwest and this idea has a lot of potential My children are now adults, but having a great high school alternative, either in partnership with the KCPS or in a charter sponsored by KCPS, would help create a better KC for the future. I support the notion that /teaching learning styles can evolve and think it makes a lot of sense to create a modern educational opportunity in KC. I think the school is perfectly located to attract a broad demographic. Any Rigorous, Innovative and Welcoming high school in Kansas City would have my support. My Caucasian child was abused at Lincoln by staff and students. I sent her to St. Teresa’s. This is important not only for my family, but for the KC community. There is a wide gap of opportunity for children to attend a school within their own neighborhood. Although, this school would be open to student throughout the KCPS system, I think those in the surrounding neighborhood of Southwest would take most advantage. We love living in Waldo/Brookeside but feel like our time here is limited as we will have to move to the KS side for better school options. I went to Southwest in the 60’S when it was one of the best schools in the country. My grandchildren all go to Academie Lafayette and I know in the past, there was some discussion about SW becoming their high school. I totally support this idea and would work hard for this to become a reality. We cannot lose this vital building. Diversity is needed in this part of Kansas City. I have raised my three children at parochial schools. As an educator I am in full support of having a middle school and high school in my neighborhood. Having empty buildings is not building a vibrant community. Let’s take advantage of an opportunity to keep families in our neighborhood! Good for our community This community loses when families move out of district or chooses private schools. Free, quality public education is a great force for democracy. I own an area business. Please contact me. 816-531-7774 Henry COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 100 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE People from every part of Kansas City are leaving the city for better school options. I believe thousands of people choose not to move to the city because of a lack of good high school options. Lincoln is a good option, but not everyone gets in. I believe a good diverse high school option would not only benefit me personally, but it would benefit the entire city on so many levels. As a married, white male with no interest in having my own children, I probably provide a unique perspective to this cause. An educator at heart, I truly believe all of our societal problems can be traced back to generational ignorance to the importance of critical thinking and empathy in education. I support this model because of its inclusion of diversity, but I also worry about the problems it may cause for students of color that live in poverty in the Kansas City Public School system. I would love to be involved in any way possible to help this school come to fruition. We are paying almost $3,000 a year in property taxes but have no credible long-term public school options for our children. This is inexcusable. There is no lack for funding to create a positive learning environment for kids in the surrounding neighborhoods. From my perspective, it seems that school board officials are hiding behind the excuse of “funding” to block positive change. It is a shame that politics are keeping youth of all races and income levels from good education. We are not wealthy or elite. Our income is under $50,000 a year. We just care about our kids, and that’s why I wouldn’t send my children to Southeast. Parents who are invested in their children’s social and academic well-being want to send their kids to a school where other parents are invested, and they don’t have to fear for their children’s well-being. The school “options” currently available do not provide any confidence for concerned parents. To say area families must be content with current options is asking us to move, and the empty seats at schools officials would like to fill first will never be filled at this rate. We love Kansas City and have been extremely pleased with Border Star Montessori but we do have concerns when we think of the options for Junior high and high school. This plan for Southwest would be great for the area and the city. My children are grown --- they attended SE HS in the 1970’s Good public schools are essential to a thriving neighborhood and city. A project based high school would be a natural extension of my student’s Montessori education. The level of engagement and autonomy, i feel, would better prepare my kids for their future than the traditional school model. My kids are grown and I no longer live in KC, but I welcome the idea of using the SWHS location and building to re-create a school that reflects its proud history. A strong public school system strengthens our community. It brings neighbors together and encourages young families to invest in Brookside. I come from a family of public school teachers and understand the issues public schools face, but I believe it can be improved. Simply put, we love our neighborhood and would like to stay in it. We would leave our beloved neighborhood before putting our children in KCMO public schools. If something positive occurred at Southwest, we could potentially stay. In all other areas of our life we strive to contribute to our community and be “part of the solution”, but when it comes to where our child will go to school, we will only consider high achieving schools. We hope options exist in our neighborhood by the time our baby girl is ready. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 101 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE The community south of brush creek is not currently being serviced by a KCPS highschool for local kids. We have a deverse population that requires a local school. Kansas City needs every quality school it can get. We need schools where Teachers and Students are measured to be sure they meet performance standards. Yard signs are something I would be happy to not only put in my yard, but ask my neighbors to put in their yards. If there’s any printed info I would be happy to inform the other parents at my daughters Waldo preschool. I’d love to see a new, high-quality option for college-bound kids in KCMO. An alternative to Lincoln, which is probably the only KCPS option I would consider at this point but that is not a guarantee for all kids. A school that offers all the traditional activities of high school (sports, band/choir, student government, drama, art, student clubs, etc). Southwest is an attractive location because the other options are all a significant distance from our neighborhood... there is literally no high school serving the west/south side of the district. Beyond all of that, I love the idea of a program that is focused on preparing kids for not only college, but for careers and the “real world” of today. My child currently attends a parochial school. I would consider a highly rated public school with a challenging curriculum to provide my child exposure to a more diverse community. It’s good for our property values to have a solid public high school choice. I would not choose it for my children because i want them to have a catholic education. However, for the greater good of the neighborhood and Kansas City i would like to see this move forward. The documentary “Most Likely to Succeed” captures the type of schooling we would like to see available in this community. The teaching methodology and dynamic atmosphere can better prepare students in this community for the road ahead. Here’s more info: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/steam-ahead-prepare-the-next-gen-of-kc-smart-city-innovatorstickets-32621886942 A challenging, innovative and ethnically diverse school would be a tremendous asset to our community. I live in the neighborhood Neighborhoods need schools within their neighborhood We live in a vibrant community with many professional families and it’s ridiculous that we don’t have a viable public school option in our neighborhood. I taught at Southwest Charter School its first year in the old Southwest High school. I was the teacher elected board member. Let’s revive SW! Brookside would embrass a creative and innovative approach to learning for our children. The options are currently limited. Unquestionably there will be a good amount of support from the community especially for those of us that live within walking distance of Southwest. This project has the potential to create a transformational place for learning utilizing a collaborate and project based learning system that is representative of the current professional environment. The combination of a fresh teaching/learning style, socioeconomic / ethnic diversity and leveraging new technology should yield fantastic results. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 102 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE It would strengthen the community and encourage people to stay in the KCMO/BKS area when their kids get school age. Kansas City Public School and the teacher’s union are the problem...not any part of the answer. Educating children is too important to be left to city, county, state of federal government. If government funding or government employees are involved...count me OUT. Schools are critical to neighborhood development and enrichment. Technology is important, but projectbased learning strengthens a student’s ability to think critically and thoroughly about problems. These skills will be important to anyone entering the workforce in the future as technology continues to eat at the heels of more manually-intensive industries. Further, students will be working with and for people of different backgrounds, so getting that experience in their formative years would be a benefit. I would like to send my kids to a neighborhood high school and Southwest is only a few blocks away. We need more options in Kansas City that serve the diverse community that we are. As Kansas City has grown & gained national recognition for all that we have to offer, our school offerings continue to lag behind. Uniting at Southwest sounds like it will help move our school options up a notch in terms of adding another quality offering, while also adding a unique & rich educational experience. A challenging, safe, stimulating education is of utmost importance to our family. Most importantly though, I am concerned with the behavior and accountabilty of the students, especially on middle school and high school. Quality neighborhood schools are essential for not only preparing young people for higher education and meaningful careers but also add value to surrounding neighborhoods and communities. My kids are older but I’d like to help. Kansas City needs excellent public schools Such a school is important to us because our goal as parents is to have our children well-prepared for their future/world and we agree that traditional education is lacking in critical areas. It’s a beautiful building right in our neighborhood...I would love it to house a rigorous, high quality program where my kids could walk to school! I am a teacher who values innovative public education. I am looking forward to hearing how things progress. Better options are needed! I think it would help the community. I cannot actively help with this but will pass on the word to other parents. Our girls are exploring their interests and knowing there could be an option to fit their curious minds is awesome. We’ve chosen private schools for now, but would strongly consider a move to this new type of high school and potentially a middle school. There needs to be a good neighborhood school for children to learn in a safe constructive environment. I feel that strong public schools are beneficial to the neighborhood and community. Every child should have COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 103 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE the ability to receive a good education. Right now the only option for quality high school education in our neighborhood is private education. I feel that many people feel they can not afford private schooling and decide to move to KS in order for their children to receive a quality public education for high school. An alternative to the very pricey private school options. Improvement to our community. I want my sons to have a more well rounded experience in challenging and successful public school. I would like the KCPS to work with parents on making this a success for Kansas City. Yes Good public school options are a cornerstone of a strong community. We love where we live in KC and I would love to send my child to a high caliber public school to prepare him for college and the next phase of his life. I would be interested in volunteering given the right opportunity. Kansas City has a considerable school-aged population with few low-cost, high-quality options available. I would love to attract more young families to live and stay in Kansas City with the strength of diverse public school options. I believe in public education for the value and spirit of a community. I believe it needs the buy-in and support of the families surrounding the schools, regardless of where the kids go to school. It’s important for the surrounding community to have a stable, successful school in that building. It’s important to have more options for high schools in midtown/Brookside/Waldo. As a retired Principal of a private college preparatory school in Kansas City, I strongly support and would volunteer whatever expertise I could “bring to the table”. I also may be able to encourage other distinguished retired faculty in providing guidance and insight to create a strong secondary academic environment. I went there,it was upbeat and I learned a lot..And made great friends, in a great part of the city. We understand that this may not take shape for our child, but more so than that, we understand the impact this has on all children in the area. We support increasing the education opportunities available to all families and we would love to see this happen at Southwest. I would like my daughter to have as many options as possible when it is time to choose a high school, including non-parochial options. It is important to our family, our neighborhood, and to our community, our city and our state. My children as well as every other child in the Kansas City Public School District deserves a top-rated, accredited college predatory high school (among grade and middle schools as well) that will give them the foundation needed to compete with other children from schools across the country. We owe that to our children and it is a crying shame that today we provide it to so few. We have been letting our children down for approximately 30 and it is time that we as a community start actively doing something to make sure that that happens - even if it is one school at a time. I personally am tired of paying for a school district that I can’t send my children to because of accreditation issues, as well as the poor quality of the education (excepting a few schools). It is time to take a stand and tell the school board that we aren’t going to stand for this sub- par education any more. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 104 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE 1. KCMO and those of us that choose to pay a premium to stay on this side of the state line deserve viable education options. 2. Neighborhood stability and safety The costs of private high schools would financial crush our family. We do not want to move to the suburbs for our kids to go to private school. We absolutely will NOT send our students to the KCMO public high schools. IF this high school could provide us with a solid, safe and accomplished high school that has college prep opportunities and enrichment/gifted abilities, we would be very interested. We do not have any faith in the current KCMO system. I am supportive of neighborhood schools! The neighborhood deserves a good school, and we should not only expect one, but insist on it. Strengthen the community Quality schools bring quality people to a neighborhood. It increases property values. It increases a sense of community. My kids are in high school so this won’t be ready in time for them, but I would have liked this option and I feel this part of the city needs more choices. Good schools are critical for urban development and quality of life. While many options for great new elementary schools have become available in recent years, options are still very limited for good high schools aside from private schools. my children are out of the home, but I would like to help others this age learn, grow, find significance with life. Would like to see a viable high school education facility available in the neighborhood. It creates a sense of community and would contribute to a healthier future. As a college professor, I can see the need to change the way to educate students. I try to do this in my lab when I host undergraduate and I think that starting with project based learning at an earlier age would be beneficial. Furthermore, I would want my children to learn next to ALL students in the KC area regardless of their ethnicity or social status. We need to use the facilities to help educate our children; it strengthens the neighborhood and brings life to a now vacant building. Schools anchor our community...and property values! My family moved to Kansas City 7 months ago from California where my son attended a particularly progressive and innovative school that considered his academic as well as his social-emotional needs. We are desperate to find a viable way to continue that sort of education and are finding the options to do so here in KCMO to be hard to find. I have a long career that spans many aspects of education from classroom teaching, to teacher-education to school administration and I would LOVE to be involved in this effort! Thank you for getting the ball rolling to help educational opportunities in KC to catch up to the other great things going on here. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 105 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE It’s right in our neighborhood and obviously much more affordable than private school. I want my child to have more diversity as well in his life and be as prepared as possible as a young adult. It is important for our city. The demise of our schools cost KC MO greatly. Kids are focused on studies and not on vagrancy, property values would increase, residents would feel safe. I would like to help anyway I can. I am a former superintendent with a background in project based, student responsible learning. I also worked at Southwest Science Math Magnet the first year that it was open. One aspect of this is the field and grounds at Southwest. They are in horrible and outdated condition. Kansas City needs well educated students for everyone’s future. if it runs like the gordon parks elementary school, where violence doesn’t exist, then I am all for it. the standard KC public is like sending your children into a war zone. The teachers don’t give a damn and does nothing to protect your children from attack. I am a Southwest grad class of 1970. My children are grown but I now have grandchildren. My daughter and husband have been looking for a home to purchase and they love the Brookside area. They have a preschooler and a baby on the way. The school system in KCMO is giving them second thoughts about purchasing a home in KC. Hale Cook has brought new hope that there will be a bright future for the area. I am a strong supporter of the visions behind this new innovative school available to all children in the KC metro. I grew up in this area, and attended Southwest. It would be great to see the school reopen and have the opportunity to send my grandchildren there. We want to move to the area so badly but schools keep us from doing so Quality education is important for all! That is a great building and shouldn’t be vacant! KC and kcps needs this! My son recently graduated high school. I believe that this cool would have fit his needs perfectly. I’m extremely excited to have this happening at Southwest. Would love for my children to go to a local high school in our community Education is the key to the future Our family made a very deliberate decision to move back to KCMO - and we chose to live in the city instead of Johnson County, Lee’s Summit, etc. We plan to send our son to Hale Cook (starts Kindergarten in Fall 2018) and are committed to supporting viable options for middle & high school in his future - and well before then for the older kids in the area. We didn’t decide to live here and commit to public schools only to have to move when he enters middle school and then high school. If he had to go to high school soon, we’d pray he got into Lincoln. But otherwise, I’m not keen on the other options. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 106 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE For my future children, I’d like to be able to live in a more progressive cultural area with schools that reflect that diversity and progressive thinking. I dont have the answers to your survey questions that you are looking for. I am interested in the progress of your program, however. I was an advocate of leaving Southwest open in the first place and have been carefully following the students who were moved to another school, against their will. This happened without the support of the Brookside community. I am interested in following your work, frankly becausw while I support the growth of the district, I am uncomfotable. The school was closed last year because of low enrollment. And now1,000 students would like to enroll. I would like to know more about what has changed. In anyway I can My 7th grade daughter is at Academie Lafayette and we’ve been through years of negotiations, fundraising and promises that such a high school would materialize. The lesson learned through it all is trying to work with KCPS on Southwest is doomed. It’s not even for sale, right? On a positive note though, I’ve discovered that there are indeed many excellent high school options - Lincoln, University Academy, AL’s proposed high school, STA and KC Academy. I’m not sure there is a need for Southwest and wonder if it may actually harm/ further segregate existing schools. I would be interested in hearing about this new school and how it will work. I also want to see its success for several years before I am willing to send my child there. I think it is a great idea, and I hope consideration is given also to reasons SW High has failed in the past, in order to give it anew beginning! I think it would be a wonderful asset to KCPS to have some other choices in H.S. and I hope they have some standards to get in and maintain as far as behavior is concerned. Our daughter has 1more year at Academie Lafayette, and we are very concerned about high school choices. I love my Kansas City Waldo neighborhood but worry about sending my daughter to any of the public schools. I am a public school teacher and want to have faith in the district to provide for our kids, but at the end of the day, we will move to give our child the best public education. KCMO needs to step up to fill this need for families like ours. I don’t want to end up in a place like Liberty just for the schools. Give us the chance here in KC! I have six daughters. They have each attended a wide range of high schools in the Kansas City area, including: Online Homeschooling, SMW, STA, Bishop Miege, Horizon, Kansas City Academy, and Accelerated Schools of Overland Park. My youngest fits no where. A science-minded 8th grader already doing what passes as Sophomore-level work at her private school, I am *desperate* to find a high school program for her! At present, she is slated for STA, but they provided no scholarship whatsoever. This is an incredible burden. A project-based education wwould be ideal! And couldn’t come at a better time!! Southwest High School was a great institution. Currently, it is a shell of what it once was. Our youngest child is almost out of high school so this does not really affect us. That said, we live in the district and pay taxes. I want a strong, exiting, welcoming school to breathe life back into this tired old building. This school can be a model for our city and for our country. Dream! We help with the support of our Grandson who would consider moving near us in Kansas City, MO from Leawood, KS if there was an attractive middle or high school to attend. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 107 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE This is necessary to improve and sustain the KCMO School District. We are an up and coming city yet again and it is important to have a great school system. We don’t need those new to the KC Metro just moving to KS for the school and we can become desirable as KS continues to gut their education system. ALL KCMO students deserve access to a quality and innovative education not just those that can afford private school! We need a middle school and a high school in the SW part of the city where the families in the neighborhood feel like they can send their kids - besides Lincoln. Hale cook has been incredible for our neighborhood, but families are still wondering what to do with their kids after that. We need a high school in the Southwest area of the city that is challenging, innovative and diverse. As a previous school Board member (94-98) some of us wanted to replicate LCP High at Southwest but couldn’t convince other board members to agree to this change; it’s time to do it now with this program. teaches our kids the tools they need for future success. I would like to help in any way shape or form. We moved her from Chicago. We would love to see a school like this that offers a diverse and excellent education. A quality neighborhood school where kids can learn with other children from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities should be a given in a large city such as KC. I would want my children to attend a school with both racial and socioeconomic diversity when successful the school can be an example for the entire district Because that has not been the case for the last 30 years I don’t have any kids and I will not have any. I would defiantly love to see this school actually teach real Christian conservative ethics, and wisdom! That would be the best for everyone! Thank you!! We need it. My nephew lives in KCMO. As a teacher who has taught in KCPS, I know the gaps that exist in our city. I love Lincoln Prep, but it’s a long drive for school each day when there’s a high school sitting empty within blocks of our house. To me, it’s dependent on which one our sons fit in better. If that’s Lincoln Prep, that’s great, but we will also consider the new Lafayette and Crossroads high schools anticipated to open in 2018. We may also go to one of the many private high schools. If there was one right by us, though, that was public, that would be our #1. I’ve often thought that high school is failing our children. The world and intelligence has shifted, but our system has not. We would love to be a part of this change. To challenge and prepare students for the real world which I feel many high schools are lacking these days. It’s important because our world is evolving and we want our children to become part of the positive change. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 108 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Creating a quality public school in an existing building in a community in need seems like a no-brainer. I am willing to volunteer my time and be part of brainstorming, if needed. Important to kc but esp this neighborhood. All children deserve a quality education nearby. Let’s not let that centrally located , historic school go to waste! Want my children to have best education possible. Our economy has changed, public education needs to evolve also. Honestlhy, parochial education is my preference. However, if there was an innovative option like this available in my back yard (literally) I would definitely reconsider!! I work for a technology company (www.degreed.com) whose mission is to change the way we value and recognize education because the system is broken. In my role, I work with Chief Learning Officers at some of the world’s largest companies (Caterpillar, Ford, Intel, General Mills, Citi, etc) - and they all struggle to find individuals with skills that match the needs of today’s (quickly evolving) business world. We have to think differently about learning and careers at the corporate level, and that starts with the way we think about learning in the classroom. I don’t have children yet, but plan to in the very near term. So while I don’t contribute to the numbers you need, I would love to contribute in an active way to this important effort - I’m a JD/MBA with extensive experience building business cases for innovative learning solutions in complex organizations. Please let me know how I can best help. Thank you. Rigorous, Innovative and Welcoming schools are important to every family and can already be found in many places. It’s not helpful, however, to place all existing schools in the “cheeks in the seats” basket and say they are failing. Many problems with our urban schools can be traced back to race, politics and economics none of which public schools have control over. White flight in the 60’s quickly re established Brown V. Board of Education leaving inner city schools to students and families without the means to move to now greener pastures. Charter schools have helped some of the remaining students at the expense of the bigger school system. They syphon off students with well informed parents that have the time to jump through the hoops of admission. Charter schools have moved into commercial spaces leaving public schools with vacant buildings in need of maintenance reducing already thin budgets meant for the students that need the most resources. Charter schools can set admission standards that filter out the lowest performing students and easily expel those “troublemakers” that slip through thus shifting more and more disadvantaged and high needs students into the public school system. And after all is said and done, the average Charter school doesn’t perform significantly better than most public schools. Again, I support Rigorous, Innovative and Welcoming schools. I don’t support talking down urban public schools that are trying their best with what they are left with. I look forward to tracking your progress and hope that you can effectively partner with KCPS in a mutual beneficial relationship. The KCPS has absolutely failed. It is time for them to step aside and actually care about the education of students and not politics. Education is deeply important to me as in it it contains the future of my kids. There is no way I would even consider sending my kids to a KCPS school. It increases the appealing options KCPS has to offer. Not sure of the best way to help; please email me with opportunities! COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 109 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I would really like to send my kid to a public school and not have to move to get a good school. We are considering moving out of Brookside to the Kansas side if good school options don’t become available. Education is the key to living an informed and healthy life. It affects all aspects of life, and giving students the tools to be successful in this world is of the utmost importance. KCPS has been woefully negligent for many years to provide a safe, academically strong, caring environment for students. While I do not support school vouchers, something needs to be down to encourage KCPS to get their act together. Decades of poor leadership in KCPS have left charter and private schools in the Kansas City area far and away a better choice for school. Kansas City needs a strong public high school for all these kids graduating from the good, new charter schools whose parents will have to move out of town to get them a quality high school education. I could help teach and/or tutor. I have a Masters in Environmental Engineering. Not all kids learn alike. I’m interested in a curriculum that encourages active, imaginative participation that allows kids to express themselves and learn in a more energetic way. I’m also positive that creating innovative thinkers would be a fantastic opportunity for KC kids! this will be good for our neighborhood we have 2 adult children no one in the KC PS It would be an asset to our surrounding neighborhoods and KCMO could finally support a quality school. Better schools make better communities. It’s important for the youth of America to learn how to live among diversity so that this country doesn’t continue to be shit show that it is now with Trump as our President. Also, critical thinking it the most important skill to learn and it is not currently being taught in the high schools today. Too many families have moved due to not having a public school that can compete with surrounding public schools and private schools. A public high school that could compete academically with the private schools in the area would be wildly successful. The waiting list at AL shows the support is there for a quality school. It would be awesome to see more families stay. My son will be a senior in high school and I felt I had to send him to private - I would have loved this option. I would volunteer in any way I could to help SW stay open and competitive in the KC area We are expecting a child in September and would love to stay in the kcmo area for as long as possible. Hale cook seems to be a great elementary school but there are no public high schools in the area that is send my kid to. My dad was raised in Brookside and went to both Hale Cook and Southwest back in the early 60s when it was a great school. It’s heartbreaking that it’s become such a dilapidated building. I would love to see the school revitalized and stand behind this proposal full heartedly! This would be extremely important for the whole neighborhood surrounding Southwest! Contrary to what many believe, not everyone in this area can afford to send their kids to private school. Also, the KCPS has such a bad track record that almost no one that I know would be anywhere near open to sending their kids to a KCPS high school without years of a new track record of positive change. The only high school with a possitive track record that I know of is Lincoln Prep. Lincoln Prep is not a neighborhood school, and therefore COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 110 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE low on our list of possibilities. At this point in time, there is more than enough demand to fill this school 5 times over. I have friends who are Catholic who would strongly consider this opportunity to send their kids to this neighborhood school, even though they are currently planning to send them to private school for high school. The kids and families in the area surounding Southwest High School are simply not being fairly served by KCPS at this point in time. This could be the beginning of a new and positive track record for KCPS and all of Kansas City, Missouri in general. Please make this happen. Critical that we have a wonderful option for our children. Innovation is needed in education and this is important to us. It allows inclusion of KCPS students, as well as charter school kids who have few HS choices. My oldest son would excel in this environment. It’s so exciting to see this kind of hand-on approach to learning in other cities. Why not Kansas City? I used to work at Southwest up until last May. I want the school to continue! having the choice to make awesome choices is the best! As someone who lives 4 blocks from SW, I’d like to see the SW building & grounds become as vibrant as the neighborhoods around it. As a parent, I’d like to know that as my son (and future children) grow & age, they have a successful, safe school right here in our own neighborhood that will absolutely provide them with the foundation to be happy, productive adults, regardless of what career paths they take. Quality education integral and available to all in every community is the bedrock of what makes America Great. There is no better investment a community can make than to continuously improve tge quality of our education system. My family loves South KC. Quality education integral and available to all in every community is the bedrock of what makes America Great. There is no better investment a community can make than to continuously improve tge quality of our education system. My family loves South KC. I believe a strong community begins with strong community schools I’m not impressed with the school options in our district. To have more options is always better. A strong band program is also important to my older son. They are our charter schools that are excellent but none are high schools. We need a high school that the man’s the same quality of education for my students and staff as charter schools COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 111 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I think it’s important for that historic SW building to be utilized in a way that benefits everyone in and around the community. I would love to see a building that education and community entities/business/nonprofits all shared, intertwined and had a stake in its success. It’s very important to me that my children receive a rigorous education with other students from diverse backgrounds. I want to support public education because I think a good education is a right for all people in all communities. Kansas City needs a vibrant, strong high school in this area of the city. Kansa City needs more good schools on every level which are accessible to all students, whether they can pay for their education or not. We must break the cycle of poverty which exists in certain areas of our town and I believe education is an important component. I believe in supporting public education and strong neighborhood schools, both of which are currently lacking in the KCPS. My daughter goes to Hale Cook and it gives me some confidence that KCPS wants to do the right think and start rebuilding, however I have my concerns that the larger KCMO community won’t support it once it’s successful and I’m not sure about the new superintendents stance on the school . Without strong schools I personally think the majority of public spending is wasted in KCMO (power and light, pet shelters, ect...). The only thing that is going to revitalize the area and increase tax revenues to continue revitalizing the area are better schools raising demand to live in KCMO. I grew up down the street from Southwest, but went to private schools my whole life. I strongly support community-based schools and project-based learning. I would love to volunteer to help make this a reality for our community. Count us in! The legacy of Southwest High School has been put to shame. This beautiful building should be used to educate our children RIGHT HERE in the neighborhood....and welcome kids beyond the immediate neighborhood who want an opportunity to learn. I live just around the corner. My boys go to parochial grade school and as of right now, we plan on private high school, as well. I would love to have Southwest be a viable option for them! Solid education strengthens an already excellent neighborhood. Would this school be available for students who do not live in the KCMO school district? We are in Hickman Mills and that really limits our options because we are not accepted in any of the KCMO charter schools. It’s a block away from our home which we plan to live in forever. I work in an engineering company and hope my daughter will go the STEAM route for her education. We also want diversity in her classmates which we don’t really see in Johnson County. All children need a exemplary High School experience. I support your efforts! Good for the neighborhood and city We love the neighborhood but value a quality education and prefer public schools. If KCPS could not offer the level of quality we expect in our public school choice we would need to move out of the district. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 112 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE A good locale high school will help maintain property values. It is necessary for our city and neighborhood as well as our democracy to have a vital public school system. I love the idea of a neighborhood school! I come from a public high school and want a strong public school system for my kids. It isn’t enough to punch the boxes on the list, kids need an inviting, challenging, school that helps them grow, adapt and expand their view of the world as well as their place in it. The videos shared on this site were fantastic and made me wish I were able to go back to school. I am not sure what I can do to help but I am open to learning more. Our neighborhood needs a good high school. Such a school would stabilize the neighborhood and be an asset, adding value to our investment as homeowners. Southwest is a beautiful building with a distinguished history. I would like to see it come to life again. As an alumni and tax payer, it is a waste for this facility to sit empty. There are many people who cannot afford private education. Many of the public schools are not college preparation despite what the district says. This location would provide a creative and needed option for many families. Many families from the French Academy have already indicated a desire for a diverse high school at Southwest. As an alumni and a nurse educator, I had hoped to volunteer at the school and can speak to the quality that was once there. I fully support and believe in project-based learning and would love such a progressive option for my son. My child currently attends Academie Lafayette and I would love to see a strong public high school option for him. As a parent I care most about providing him a strong foundation allowing him to pursue any of his chosen college and career. As a 1967 Southwest High School graduate, I felt sad to learn of the school’s closing. I had wanted the building to be used again. I am excited to learn that the school may be used as a school again and that it would be rigorous, innovative, and welcoming for students from throughout the city. I live close by, and although our children are grown, having Southwest thrive again would benefit the neighborhood and all the attending children. This is a beautiful building that is meant to be used as a school. This is a beautiful neighborhood that deserves to have this building utilized to its full extent. This would be a win-win situation for Brookside, Southwest high school, and Kansas City school students. I want something different than traditional public school, something more relevant, thought provoking and innovative. I was the only Planetarium Director the District has had - twice, from 1990-1998 and 2007-2010. Having a lab facility/learning environment like the Planetarium offers a unique opportunity for engaging students in more than just Space Science. Under my direction the Planetarium was a lab-extension of the classroom as opposed to being used as a movie theater under recent Administrations. It served the KCPS in all grade levels as well as the community through public programming and special events. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 113 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I would like to volunteer my time to help re-open the Planetarium and to help prepare or train the Educator’s who will operate the Planetarium. I think if Southwest can partner with KCPS it would be huge for our district. KC doesn’t need more charter schools; its’ public school system needs a lot of help, heart, and hard work! Easier said than done, right? I think Southwest could be a model for this. I graduated from SW in 1973. In 1999, I was a founder and the vice president of the board of Southwest Charter School, a project-based, innovative, autonomous, diverse public school which was originally supported by a huge percentage of Brookside parents. However, time after time, the KCPS basically screwed us by making promises and then not keeping them, and we lost our students back to the private schools. Eventually, Southwest Charter became Imagine Renaissance Academy, and moved the school WAY over into Northeast KC. In 2004, when my daughter was a junior at the school, I left the board, because the charter was being completely ignored, and, in the end, we ceased to exist. I wish you all the luck in the world--but I have my doubts about the district keeping its word. (I am a retiree of the KCMO district--spent 21 years employed there.) 1959 Graduate: very loyal I am a teacher of gifted students in Olathe. We need more programs that really help our student learn in a way that works for them, at a pace that they can maintain (faster or more rigor for my students), unlocks their creativity and problem solving skills and exposes them to real world experiences to help them decide on future endeavors. It looks like this model would encourage more of this than a typical public school model. I want my children to be engaged and motivated in their education. I want them to enjoy school and want to learn. I also want a quality high school that both my kids can attend since one of my children will probably not be able to test into Lincoln Prep. We currently live in Kansas but this would be something that could draw us across the state like into Missouri. A school like this that focuses on educating the whole person in multiple magnitudes will create a brighter future and open so many more doors that it would be more than worth the move!! KCMO students and families desperately need and deserve a high school That affords them access to a future of success. Currently this is limited to families that can afford private school or have been fortunate enough to get one of the limited seats at Lincoln. This is incredibly unfair to say the least. This would improve options for families who want to stay in the KCMO school district and send their children to a public school. The reason we did not send our children to a public high school is because there was not a school near out home that offered a college prep curriculum. Three of my kids have a gifted IEP with extremely high IQ. (My youngest hasn’t been tested yet.) They are creative and innovative and are all struggling in the typical public school setting. I desperately want a better experience for them! My mother went to Southwest high school back when it was a thriving neighborhood school, and I’d like to bring that back for my future children as well as for other KCMO children who deserve the opportunity to achieve rigorous academic success. As a former teacher and active member of the KC education scene, I know just how few options there currently are for a high quality high school education. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 114 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE It is important to me that there is a project-based middle and high school as a feeder school for Border Star and Holliday Montessori that does not “weed out” students based on test scores. Fostering innovation is what America is supposed to be about. What can I do to help? I am an OIF Veteran who is currently employed as a Care Giver. The Brookside area is so amazing but our schools are a problem. I don’t want to be forced to move away or pay a small fortune in tuition just to ensure that my kids get a quality education. The area needs viable options! I helped raise two children and have tutored for 20+ years in math and language. There needs to be a new heart/focus on modern life but also traditional education that I think is largely absent in public education. If something similar is your plan, how may I help? Want to see a school in the Southwest building that would honor the proud tradition of the former graduates of Southwest. Southwest HS is a beautiful building and I would love to send my kids to a neighborhood school. I think Lincoln is our next choice, but I know everyone wants to get in there and it’s location is not ideal. It’s exciting to imagine a new facility utilizing recent technology for our students’ future. We live near Southwest and know that it is important to the Brookside area. Also, my wife was a counselor at Southwest and has seen the positive impact that a well-run school can have on the region. It doesn’t have to be at Southwest, it just has to exist in KC. I’ve seen High Tech High in action. It works. Every school system in the country should have that option as a model. Creates space for students to be community, national, and global leaders. Allows for application of knowledge beyond testing. It is important for the community and the neighborhood. Please send updates on progress. I have always wanted my child to attend public school. I recently moved to Kansas City and have been highly concerned about the quality of public schools so would like to help improve them. Because I believe the current public school system is failing our youth. I believe in less homework. Less focus on test taking, (which prohibits the ability to accurately problem solve) and focus on whole concept learning. We need a good public High School option in the neighborhood. Gives another option besides having to pay for private catholic school for families that are not religious. Also close proximity to my home. Would want to know if there will be a sports program as my daughter is an athlete but also very academically focused. A good public high school option in KCMO, other than Lincoln, is critical. Also there would likely be significant buy-in from the southwest corridor of the city, which the KCMO district is not currently serving well (or, at least, parents there are by and large not using the district schools). We love living in the city, but the public school system is outdated and failing our local children. I would love to see a revival of education in KC! COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 115 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE It is important to my family because I would like to stay in Kansas City, as I love the community. However, my future child’s education is more important then location for me. I want my kids to have a innovative and creative opportunity to learn, and would like them to come out of school more knowledgable then I was. I would like to volunteer in any way I can! Even if it’s painting the walls =) I would like a diverse learning environment for my children that provides for a top notch and innovative education that is in my neighborhood. I am a high school Spanish teacher who is a huge supporter of project-based lelarning. Ufortunately, a lot of spanish prpgrams do not allow thos to occur. I work in Brookside and am a former resident. I think it is a wonderful worthwhile project. I am a strong supporter of neighborhood schools . I also feel that a strong well supported high school would benefit everyone’s resale home value. I would like a public school option for my family. I’m supporting public schools BECAUSE the integration of minorities and underserved is a HUGE social issue. Segregation hurts us all. Private and charter schools further divide our communities. If this school isn’t a public school and only serves privileged students, I cannot support it. I was an alumni. The Indian on the wall was my inspiration for the most part. Graduated in 1972. I love SW!!! Southwest taught me how to handle different challenges life will throw at you. I think an informal approach to education is the best way to learn for this new generations. I am a proud product of the Kansas City Public School System! I graduated from Southwest High School over 30 years ago. I’ve been, and will continue to be, a advocate for KCPS. The hard work of teachers has remained the constant variable. Students in the urban core derve an education described at the “New Southwest”. Schools and churches are the beating heart of any community. Show me a thriving community and I’m sure the community that embraces it will thrive as well. I would just like there to be another option other than Lincoln Prep that has equally high standards and a solid reputation. My grandson is very curious and open minded and I want to keep it that way. KCMO residents need more low cost education options at the high school level. I work in development and would be willing to support fundraising. I need a differentiated learning style for advanced students. Its hard to have an advance student stuck at the same pace of other students that might not be as advance in certain subject areas. Advance students tend to get overlooked. I need a program that will provide a challenge towards advanced learners. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 116 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE We are committed to living in KCMO and buying a house here. We believe that in order for our city to truly see the kind of prosperity and progress everyone wants to see, that people must be committed to STAYING here, paying taxes here, and being a part of the solution. That means we also want to send our children to thriving public schools, which is an integral part of any thriving community. We are interested in exploring this, and may be considered supporters - if there can be assurances that this is not going to take away from the vision or progress the KCPS district is trying to make. The fact of the matter is that enrollment in KCPS schools is dreadfully low, and OPENING a district high school could siphon resources from 4 other neighborhood high schools that really need it. We are cautiously optimistic about this option and will be watching it carefully, and getting involved if we see this as a viable option for EVERYONE. By bringing awareness of the school to the community. It is important because the KCPS district sucks, for lack of better words. I had to move my son to my mother’s house because she lives in NKCPS district. I FEARED for my sons future if he continued to attend KCPS as he is now in 7th and the middle schools and high schools in KC district are pretty gruesome when it comes to gangs, violence and bullying. The schools say they have a no tolerance for bullying but the students whom get bullied have a different story to tell. So this would be a great fresh start for KCPS systems if in fact you all plan to be strick and firm with what you stand for and by, otherwise in a couple of years this will just be another thing that the city has been given that the not so grateful residents of the area will have disrespected and ran down! Very important to the whole city to have strong public high school in the southwest corridor. It’s important to us because we have lived near the school for 38 years and seen so many failed attempts to transform it. We sent our own children to private schools, but would have loved to send them to a public high school if it matched the quality of the old Southwest High that friends our age (late 60s) attended. This is a terrific project for the City and should have tremendous appeal in all sectors. It is vital for educating the City’s future leaders. We send our kids to catholic schools and feel strongly in the catholic education to build on our faith. However all kids are different and the project based learning model intrigues me particularly for one of our kids. It would be nice to see new approaches and options, in case the catholic school option we have does not fit with our child. Current high school teacher living in Waldo. Would like to work in a HS that serves my neighborhood. To give kids the competitive edge in life I need a school that is proven to have high standard and get outstanding marks for excellence. Improve in math. I had a difficult time trying to find a quality high school for my oldest son this school year for next school season. He will be attending Lincoln College Prep next school season. It would help our children in the community better chance at being successful in all aspects of life COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 117 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE My child has ADHD, he struggles with “normal/traditional” schools. He does not have a lot of options that fits his needs and he deserves a quality education. PTA , Helping kids achieve getting scholarships and grants to advance to college. my son always needs positive influences and i’m open to anything that will help my son be a good person and an independent man.... i graduated from Southwest I am a product of KCPS and I was not to satisfied with the teachers I had. Now I am a parent, I want the best for my child. A positive environment that promotes a strong learning environment. The city schools need to regain all buildings for the future of the city. It brings education back to the inner city where it is desperately needed, I would like my daughter to be at the forefront of that. its going to make a huge difference in the community because you do not have to be a certain race to get a high quality of education. Diversity What constitutes as learning in most schools across America is questionable at best, fraudulent at worst, and painfully, for most children among the bottom sector of socioeconomic status, almost always oppressive. Any initiative that seeks to bring kids from varied backgrounds to develop experiences that foster critical literacies and thoughtful action are the only real chances we have at creating a fundamentally better group of human beings among this earth. This work is important for my family because it is what we have spent our entire adult life time supporting and developing. My husband does work fostering Critical Literacies in school communities across the globe while my work is rooted in Critical Inclusivity amongst schools all over New York City. We both work at Teachers College at Columbia Universtiy-the ideas you’ve championed in your creation state are talked about all the time, but few of us see them actualized. For whatever it’s worth, we support you in this endeavor. PS, Shaun Crockett is my big brother, and he directed me to your site. Happy to know that he is connected to you all! Much luck to you. My children are grown, but as a designer invested in education design and the improvement of our city’s education system, I’d love to assist in the advocacy for this project. There may also be some synergies to leverage between your proposed program and STEAM Studio, the project-based education program housed at Gould Evans. My child is bored with tradition school which the video said was created to prepare kids for factories. My child is very intelligent but the boredom from the regular school curriculum doesn’t inspire her creativity which is her largest strength. Instead she does just enough to get by. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 118 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I live in that neighborhood and I graduated from SW in 1965. All my kids are grown. My husband and I don’t yet have children and would love to have a robust public school option in the neighborhood! Many of our friends move out of the neighborhood when their kids get of school age. We don’t want to do that. Take Brett Posten out to lunch and also volunteer for UAS in anyway our family can help. Our city needs more high school options in the brookside/Waldo/plaza area. The idea of uniting these districts and beyond, while providing an innovative learning experience is valuable not only to students, but also to the community in adding a quality high school. We pay exorbitant prices to send two kids to private high schools. This is the case for many, or they simply move to kansas. Viable high schools increases quality businesses staying in the area, and recruiting quality emplyess. therefore increasing property values I’ve paid for all my kids to go to private schools. It angers me that after paying taxes for over 40 years there is not a safe option with good academics for high school in the area where patrons pay huge amounts of property taxes. It really amounts to discrimination. I do not live in KC anymore, but I am a graduate of Southwest and an educator, and I would like to see the building continue to be used for educational purposes. Would not have to send kids to private school to receive a decent education in Kansas City We are looking to continue the diverse learning model at Hale Cook Elementary with the. choice to push STEAM programming for our daughter’s secondary school. Brookside and Waldo and Wornall Homestead during the past 26 years have become renewed areas. Good, affordable schools are required to keep these new, young families in these neighborhoods. We love our neighborhood and support public education through our experiences in Shawnee mission and blue valley. We realize this experience the diversity element that would better prepare our children for the next generation of America. We just want to make sure our kids are still exposed to the fundamentals of math, science, language/writIn and reading comprehension. We live nearby and would like offer support either financially or through volunteer work. It’s important for the Community ! Have you contacted all the alumni websites etc, that have reunions ? I raised my kids in the school district in the 90’s and felt compelled to remove them when they got to the high school grades. I believe we need a good public education for our kids to make our community great. We need a strong school in the southwest corridor. I would like to see the Southwest High School building put to good use instead of a dumping ground for the district. I graduated from SWHS in 1974. As a Southwest alum I’m very interested in seeing the school become viable again. I would love to help if the involvement of the KC Public Schools is dropped. They had numerous chances to keep SWHS open, COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 119 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE including a great opportunity with Academie Lafayette. I’ll attend one or more of the informative meetings, to get a better idea of what your plans are. I think the way we teach our children is too boxed in with not enough new opportunities of ways to learn. The world has changed drastically, along with it have the way our children see life. Without teaching the way they want to learn, past 8th grade we will continue to loose more of them to crime. I loved in the video where he mentioned that if you treat them as adults they will act as adults... I have a 13 year old grandson that would blossom in this type of atmosphere where he will probably continue to struggle in today’s educational facility. I would love to see KC have an opportunity to experience a revelationary educational experience in an area that if you can’t afford private schools there isn’t much left to offer. I believe the school system needs to change from what it is today. Working in technology, I don’t see schools adapting to create adults that can thrive in the world today. We focus on standardized testing without taking care of basic needs of our students. Teaching to the test is not the way to teach valuable skills and impart real knowledge to new generations in America. Kansas City badly needs a successful high school in the Southwest area in order to maintain a stable, involved citizenry, Just to keep SW alive If this school was an option, I would stay in Missouri. Our country is only as strong as the public education we provide. I am an educator and strongly support a school such as this in my neighborhood, in my city. Please just remember that it will only work with an incredible leadership team and strong professionals guiding students. My son’s experience at Banneker charter was a daily ordeal. He described loud rowdy kids who openly disrespected teachers. Noise. Twice a physical fight broke out between two kids, right in the classroom. We took him out and he’s finishing 7th at Kansas city Academy. If a high school opened in Waldo brookside, it would be a great fortune to my family. We are not in a financial position to continue private tuition for long. The only other option is to move out of the district. housing price stability. great for community which currently sends its kids to private schools. Project-base education is awesome!!! I have experienced it effects in my kindergarten classroom. We need this type of educational opportunities for our middle and high school scholars in our neighborhood!! When scholars learn how things in our world work and learn to use everyday tools it is a win-win for all. Our scholars need this. As you plan the future of this school please plan with lasting future- not a 3 year plan and then try something else. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough information to tell one way or another. I am a 1986 graduate of Southwest High School. I hate to see a beautiful school building in a nice neighborhood go to waste. My grandkids live with me and I would like them to go to a high school that is near to my home and the school may offer a better level of education in the city. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 120 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I attended Southwest back at a time when every kid in the district wanted to be there. The school was outstanding and the neighborhood around SW was alive with students involved in the community. It was the late 70’s; before bussing. I have a 12 year old son at Visitation. We are weighing our options between MIEGE and Rockhurst. Moving across the state line into Kansas and into the Shawne Mission school district is a real possibility. I would love to see SW open once again. It would be my first choice for my college-bound 7th graders of attend high school. I am committed to seeing Southwest re-open and offer my complete suppot. I would love to be on a planning committee. Please contact me! 816-656-8447 Laura A (Nastali ) Samenus Class of 1983 We love Brookside and want to live here long term. It is important to us for our daughter to get a great education focused on what our world will be in the years to come. Having her grow up with a diverse mix of people and cultures is also extremely important. We are concerned that the public school options will sacrifice her education while private school would sacrifice diversity. Uniting at Southwest seems to combine both! We just moved to the area and the school is beautiful it’s sad to see that it’s not flourishing. This area already takes so much pride in it’s neighborhood, just think of what a flourishing school would do. Despite the cool buzz marketing you’re still a charter school swooping in after the closure of a primarily black public school. Gross. My students are gifted. They have been part of the gifted programs offered by districts since kindergarten. As a teacher, have a curriculum that challenges all students is very important to me. As my children get older and begin needed more input, a school that will focus them and grow them is exactly what I am looking for. The lack of affordable, quality education options in the area has been the #1 reason we’ve not moved back down to the area from JOCO. Fix it, and we’re back. Support through taxes I am a Southwest Science/Math Magnet High school graduate (1995) and would hate to see such a beautiful building go to waste. Technology is such a huge part of our future and as a health care provider, I have had the privilege of using technology daily, as well as support other users as a trainer. I would want my boys to be a part of an educational opportunity that builds character through rigorous academics that actually encourages them to be innovative and continue to build in the future. Value to Kansas City educational community... I think it’s important for our community and a way to keep families here, and better serve them. Any way 10 years ago I found out the stock market was hacked. And that our regional economic system was under attacked. I found out because every time in 2005 there was an airplane crash, either the DJIA, NASDAQ, SP500 had a 78 to the left or right of the decimal point. Shouldn’t have and asked Bill Gates about it. Long COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 121 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE before I had heard of Stuxnet or that you could do such a thing. (Information available on request). It took a lot of people and a lot of time to figure out what happened. Warren Buffett would come one then and when it was safe say it was safe - but he said airlines were a death trap. Bill Gates responded by opening a school at my church - patron saint of pilots but the community was infuriated that he was out of their political bounds and control. But we’ve worked together and he’s done things for me, including major donations to causes that I care about (My husband and I have a vow of poverty, we don’t need his money - I’m interested in macoreconomics and preserving communities). The biggest thing he did was with my interest in the environment and Breakthrough Energy Ventures. We don’t like to butt in where we are not wanted. But with the engineers and interest in the environment using that for a base for a project based high school might be something you might want to consider. My research shows that no really big tech town happens without a research library. Please join me in trying to persuade Linda Hall Library to take that lead and build a great Kansas City. We don’t want to intrude but it is an opportunity that might be welcomed Not only did I find out the stock market was hacked, but when I went to find out what voodoo economics meant - and read an economic encyclopedia - the next day on a list of homicide victims in KC - I found an unusually high number of economic theorists by looking at list on the church I was talking to the minister about. And I said, is this threatening to you. Warren Buffett and Bill Gates answered by sending me an invitation to subscribe to the Economist with an ad of them aboard a NetJet. I had lived through the farm crisis and knew what a breaking down community was. I applied it to the housing crisis and lots of other things. I’m a great code breaker. There’s some people that will do anything to maintain control. The story I want to tell is about transformative economics. But I will tell you one more story and that is the story of drugs in Kansas City, from where I was looking. There was a really nasty letter in the paper about how our students didn’t deserve an education. The next day drug dealers surrounded the school and threatened to shoot out windows and kill the student. I called President George H. W. Bush, being fully aware that this city wouldn’t help. Within 1 1/2 months the Police Action in Panama. The Star ran an article about how our drugs (and it had been in the paper how we were the center of the drug trade and the murder rate was really high) were not Panama. I knew they were because William Bennett carried a radio and ours was a communications magnet and Ewing Kauffman would later get an award for fighting the drug war. I would look for what the war was all about and it would say Noriega had declared a state of war existed between the US and Panama, a soldier had been killed, one soldier’s wife almost raped, and our big railroad, Kansas City Southern owned the property there so they would have lost a lot. And 70% of our international trade goes through there. I got sick and had to get out of the school. It was really intense. Warren Buffett bought BNSF to fight that war when he said he was all in for America. I wanted to organize at the grassroots level, so I went to census reports and look through social statistics. Crime, employments, teenage pregnancies, contribution made to charity, stuff like that. And the second best neighborhood after Mission was all black - around 43rd and Jackson. The person that had mentored me in the schools, Jimmie Marie Thomas (great lady) was one of their leaders. And that neighborhood became a model of what I thought we should try to achieve. I went to a black church that I really liked that preached full employment - Mac Charles Jones of St. Stephens Baptist Church - he became the civil rights coordinator for National Council of Churches. He said If you want to help. Go to our churches, shop in our businesses and stuff like that. He became a big mentor when the Full Employment stuff came around. I miss them and would like to talk about how this neighborhood, after Noriega began to be known as the murder capital of the world. That was not what my studies had shown. I became to study the effects of the people organizing as Mao Communists and the Black Mafia. And how everyone wanted to protect the drug dealers (lots of money) and how my students and that neighborhood did not count. I don’t look so much at individual people or try to enrich individual people, but that neighborhood, that community, I think about and how the George Washington Carver was there. I took my money went to a black bank, shopped at Rena’s pie shop and Tru Value on Prospect , hired a black dentist and gave my best. I know what the community is capable of. I’m not some wide eyed idealist and I just wanted to listen to dreams and see if I could help. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 122 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I want to write about transformative economies - and I hope Kansas City makes it. It’s different than you think. I’m looking at Peru, Yugoslavia, Enron and I think Glasnost. Peru, I’ve asked people that have studied with Stanford’s Dr. Weinstein to help me look at why the increase in glacial cap melting and weather terrorism. I’m asking for Corona Space satellite pictures to see if Agent Orange was used - the environmental movement started over that, and I’m kind of curious. I’ve read things on Glasnost, its the one I know the least. I think some of the civil wars are contrived in Yugoslavia as they tried to break free of Russia. Enron was run out of business in 22 days by the press because people were so upset about the California Energy Crisis that I would read in Cyberwars was caused by Al Qaeda. (Actually, it’s really interesting and was to make Kansas City a strong financial center. So its’ good. How and what happens when we try to change, and really the world has changed and it needs to. Lots of work to do ahead. I’ve started and am really nervous about it. It’s been a long time of work and I wish I could take a Baynesian Statistic class with someone. There’s really good information. I think it is a much needed community asset. Without this we will continue to lose families and our growth as a neighborhood and area will continue to be stunted. We need this for so many reasons! Its important to the fabric of the community I moved my family out of the KCPS District because of lack of community support, funding, and accreditation for it’s schools. I would very much like to see families remain in KCMO and revitalize neighborhoods. I currently live in Johnson Co, KS and my child attends middle school in the Blue Valley Schools. However if a Project-Based Learning High School were to be opened in the Southwest HS building, that would be a serious enticement to move to the MO side of the line for my son to attend. This is Kansas City’s biggest problem. We cannot keep losing families to the suburbs. I believe strongly in this, but when the time comes, we will make the best choice for our family. Please don’t make me move to Johnson County! I attended Southwest when it was a model of an excellent, rigorous community of learners in the Sixties. I am returning for my 50th Reunion in September, and hope that Southwest could again be a source of pride for its students, teachers, and families and an inspiration for the entire KC Public School District. Doni can stay in KCMO to have a family We love this area and believe it’s growing, the only reason we would move is because of the school choices and cannot afford private school In high school a grew bored with the curriculum, found myself getting into trouble regularly. Though I finished in the bottom percentile of my high school class, I later excelled at KU in pursuing my undergrad and later went on to excel in law school. Traditional education did not work well for me, it’s nearly a miracle that I graduated college later in life. We love our neighborhood, and we hate the thought of having to move away to find quality public education. As an attorney for public school system, I am a huge believer in public schools. With the right support, resources, parent involvement, and student focus, they can (and often do) work for kids. It’s exciting to see a push for that kind of school in our neighborhood. We like midtown and want to stay here. This kind of high school is a new thing and it seems like a great idea -- I completely agree with almost everything the High Tech school principal said in the video, particularly COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 123 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE regarding challenging kids by having high expectations of them. We believe that 40 years of failure in the public school in KCMO is enough, and new organizations need to take the wheel. These empty school buildings, paid for by our tax dollars, should be used for educating KCMO children. We do not have kids yet, but we plan to send our kids to a similar school when we have them. We would like our children to have an excellent academic opportunity that’s also close to home. enhances the value of the area and the value of our homes...I support making Southwest, once (1930s-50s) one of best hs in US, a charter school!!!!!!---fyi my kids are grown. As a graduate of Southwest High, it is sickening to see how the kcps has destroyed education. My fiance and I just got engaged and plan to start a family. She is a school pysch in the Lee’s Summit school district. We need to bring the resources suburban kids have to the City schools. Diversity within and challenging learning opportunities throughout educational institutions are essential for our children. Learning to work together while brainstorming, problem solving, and researching all possible solutions to a problem or issue are skills needed to be productive, community oriented, citizens of the future. We need this type of educational focus in our neighborhood -in our neighborhood at a free standing, empty, historical building previously used as a high school. In addition, this renovation will add opportunities for economic and cultural growth! We love living in the area that we live and if this school was viable we would send our children to it. We love what has happened with the effort to re-open Hale Cook and our oldest is enrolled to start first grade there in the fall. We want to have an option for high school that does not require us to move or to send our children to a private high school. We need better schools in KCMO metro We would like to see a strong community school take shape in our neighborhood. KC deserves a strong school system with good options. Provides our community with a balance of all ages and interests As a high-school teacher myself, the importance of preparing our children for the world outside of school can not be expressed enough. I watch the gap between those that are succeeding in our current system and those failing get wider and wider. We must have more options and more opportunities for our students to find a path to their future. It is time to make this school a highly functioning neighborhood school. There is plenty community support. The school board needs to consider needs of neighborhood children and not be concerned with power. This approach could be a great thing for the neighborhood and have positive impact for many kids. No one benefits the way it is now. TIME FOR CHANGE and MOVE FORWARD. Because I am former Student My grandkids go to Academie Lafayette, and Southwest would be an ideal site for a junior high/high school. Please Convince the Kansas City school board to make that happen! Thank you COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 124 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE My only daughter graduated from Lincoln College Prep about eight years ago---a great high school and we need more of them in KCMO. While I have no children seeking a prospective high school to attend, I applaud your efforts and want to see SW High put back to a good use. Let me know what your needs are and I’ll see what I can contribute. Such a school is important for the metro region to develop and retain Kansas City talent and for promoting civic minded citizens. The need for great quality education in the Kansas City Missouri area. As a high school teacher in Independence, I see first hand the positive effect that high quality education has on a community. In order to keep good families in our area it is imperative that we have options. We live here and want a good local school within short distance The Plaza/Brookside/Waldo area of the city is a treasure and should have an outstanding high school as it once did. KCPS needs to right its wrong from the 80’s when they caused the down fall of this once great and award winning KC school. I’ll do my best to put out the word and get support for this school. Where can I get a yard sign? Waldo is a great and diverse community with tons of young professionals and new families. There is currently not adequate and safe public education in this neighborhood. I have my son in public education today because I believe in the value of exposure to diversity and being connected to a community. It costs less than the Catholic school I’m currently paying for (although we are very happy with the parochial schools so far-- just not happy with also paying via our extensive taxes for schools we don’t use) I also live in the neighborhood near Southwest and don’t want a huge abandoned building sitting there potentially damaging my property value. As an educator, who did my student teaching at Southwest H.S. and helped as a teacher and administrator to create Southwest Charter which emphasized project base education, I think a real need exists in the southern part of the city for an innovative, challenging high school that is not plagued with discipline problems. It would richly benefit the entire area by offering high quality, rigorous college prep curriculum and again graduate well prepared community and world leaders of the future. I am an educator and I am unhappy with the system. I am trying to change it from within and I want a problem-based school for my child to attend. There isn’t anything like what I’m looking for in the city currently. The KCPS is broken. We can throw all the money we want at it but it’s beyond repair. As a parent who sent her child to a “magnet” school for four years , I feel as though she didn’t receive the quality education as promised. And yes, at times she was discriminated against for being the only white child/person in her third grade class. I’m excited for this new education model at Southwest. However, I would like to see enterance exams for any student to attend.(it’s a futile effort if the student can’t read, write, complete math problems or communicate intelligently) In order for the program to be successful the parent(s) have to show some ownership in the program. Parents need to volunteer and be held accountable for their participation. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 125 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE Though I don’t yet have children, I am already thinking about the sort of education my children will need to thrive in our ever-evolving world. I have long believed that I will need to supplement their education (at least from what I personally received) to achieve this. The vision of Uniting at Southwest is exactly what I recognize is missing in most education environments: hands-on creative problem solving in a diverse environment. Incredibly excited for this project! I want my son to receive the best education possible. I believe the best opportunities are going to be those that he has to work cooperatively with others and gain real-world knowledge and experience. We have minimal options for High School in KC and the options we do have aren’t ideal. We would like to be a part of a supportive community that is interested in redefining school success to reflect qualities that promote learning through investigation, not memorization and testing. Our family believes that this type of education creates an environment where youth thrive and propel themselves towards a life of discovery. My husband and I just bought a home a few blocks from Southwest. We plan on starting a family soon and we believe in a great education that includes a diverse student body. I see the benefit of project-based learning firsthand in the work I do everyday. I think a school dedicated to this approach would benefit many youth and provide a valuable option to meet different learning styles. The description represents the world our children live in today. We have to learn more, be together and it starts in our community. A community can’t grow together if everyone moves to find a school for their children. Private high school are crazy expensive. Also, I think my child would do better in this type of learning environment. It would allow us to send our daughter and future children to an excellent school that will train them for the larger world around them without forcing us to both work 2 jobs to pay for it or move to a different community My children are grown but I believe this opportun Important to community I am a public educator and understand the value of project based learning. We moved out of Waldo 5 years ago because we were not happy with the schools. We would love to move back if KCPS had a program that was desirable for middle & high schoolers. We want to support the interior of Kansas City. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity for a good education in their neighborhood. Would love to see another opportunity for our public school children, especially since you are stepping into the paradigm shift of how we educate our students. Project based learning will prepare our kids to be innovators, problem finders and solvers. Young men an women with these skills be ready for the 21st century jobs that await them. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 126 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE We really enjoy the KCPS school our daughter attends, FLA, she is in Mandarin immersion and I doubt we would pull her our for a middle school. Would consider the SW campus for High School, as it has the planetarium. Assuming Foreign languages like Mandarin would be taught. Today’s society and outlook on diversity and inclusion is growing. So should our schools. The educational system needs to change and having a problem-based learning school could move us in the right direction. However, the issues of equity and social justice should be core values, as the school is in one of the poorest parts of KC. We ALL lose if we do not enable ALL of our youngsters to leave school equipped to live and work in the real world. Just a comment: Don’t overlook the support of people who live in the neighborhood but don’t have children. I have a child with ADHD (inattentive). He is a witty, smart, think-out-of the-box kind of kid and does not fit the sit in class all-day lecture model. He wants to learn by doing, discussing and teamwork. The teachers that incorporate innovative teaching techniques are the teachers he responds to the best. Children are grown. We need a viable, progressive, high caliber middle and high school to fill the void left by SWH’s closing. This was one of the finest school districts and high schools in the country 50 years ago. Now it is among the worst. The neighborhood suffers from this. Property values suffer. I’ve seen so many kids get a raw deal from KCPS, I want a better public option Being apart of the Big Brothers Big Sisters organization, I see the struggles my Little goes through on a daily basis. Not all students are made for college and not all child learns from reading a textbook or listening to a lecture. It is important to understand that every child/student is different; we must figure out how to cater to each on individually. They are our future!! I’d like to send my kid to high school there. Tuition at private schools will most likely be unaffordable for me. Don’t want to move to Kansas but will ifind the time comes and it isn’t a high school. Good one. EVERY child deserves a great education that is relevant and rigorous! I am in the tech industry and we really need programs that support future employment opportunities. The ages of children shown are grandchildren who moved to KS but might return to KCMO if there were a viable educational option. KCMO needs another high quality high school. The Southwest High School building is an asset that should not be allowed to go to waste. Uniting at Southwest is a grass roots community initiative indicative of the strong interest and support for this concept. I have been a part of this community through our family business all my life. Now living in the area with my own family I realize how much the area needs more high quality public high schools. Southwest at one time was cosidered one of the premier high schools in the city and I strongly feel this is our opportunity to give it that status again. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 127 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I educate low income youth and strongly support endeavors to create equitable educational opportunities for KC youth. HI! So excited to learn of this. My granddaughter lives in Brookside with her parents! My children have attended Sumner Academy in KCKS District 500 (3 graduated and one current). It has been a BIG plus to me since I grew up in KCKS and remain here because my children can attend Sumner. I wish you all the best in success for this project. We believe in good public community schools. We believe public education should be a vital and preferred choice in our community and not determined by wealth. We also believe that good public schools help to build strong communities and can be something that can help Residents of this country start acting like citizens again instead of just consumers. My wife public relations support and I could help with applied research needs (analyze survey or focus groups). We could also speak with students about our career fields (public relations and public health). I live near the school and both my parents attended Southwest. It is vital to have good public options that can provide a solid base for kids to progress on to college or a vocational training school. There is not a strong school district in the area that I feel is safe and beneficial for my children As a public school teacher, I want to see KCPS rejuvenated, and I believe innovation is going to bring people back to the district. Rigorous curriculum gets students college and career ready. A community school works! Let’s get back to that :). It will bolster the neighborhood as it once did and afford public schooling to area residents. My kids are grown up, as are my grandchildren basically, but I treasure the education I received at Southwest. As a member of the community at large My wife and I are former residents of the KCMO area in close proximity to Southwest High School. We are both educators, and strong advocates of public education. We are currently in Fayetteville, Arkansas where I am completing a PhD in Curriculum and Instruction. At the end of our time here, our dream would be to return to KCMO and more fully enter into the movement for progressive education in public schools. We would like to be kept up to date regarding any advancements made in the effort to re-open an enhanced Southwest. Again, it would be one of our greatest joys to return to KC and contribute to the creation of the school you all seem to envision. Southwest was a fine high school once and I want it to be so again. Proud graduates go back many, many years. I graduated in 1954 and would be willing, in some small way, to help SW live again. SW area is the only one with no public schools, so many neighbors with kids move soon after grade school, unfortunately to Kansas. What a shame!! We love living in midtown and want to raise our kids here. But the lack of academic strength close to our home almost makes me wish for the ease of the suburban districts. I hated growing up in the suburbs and being one of very, very few kids like me racially and culturally, I hated the lack of arts, culture, and interaction among neighbors, and I felt stunted by the abysmal walkability. I COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 128 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE spent all my time outside of school in midtown and downtown and in the bottoms, wondering why the artists and engineers and thinkers and doers of the city all had to send their kids to private schools or move to the suburbs for stronger school districts. Then at 18 I fled to Chicago as soon as I could, graduating early and soaking up the city. I completed my semester of student teaching in a Chicago Public Schools high school and set my sights on returning home for the comfort but working to bring family viability back to KCMO. Now that I’m back in KC and raising a family, I wrestle often with how we’re going to choose schools for our kids. I’ve seen the magnet schools and “turnaround” schools of Chicago from the inside, and I returned to my hometown ready to teach when 29 schools were closed. I’ve watched the charter schools open up in KC, one very near my home, with high hopes. I’ve argued with myself whether it’s better to send our kids to academically strong schools that lack in diversity of race, economics, background, ability, orientation, and identity and attempt to supplement their social education outside of school, or send them to schools with strong community among people who are different from one another but attempt to supplement their academics outside of school. Because education isn’t just academics, and academics aren’t just books and tests. I want our kids and Kansas City’s kids to become the strongest, most compassionate, best problemsolvers of human beings we’ve ever seen. We need that, and they need us to figure it out. Whether the answer is reopening Southwest as an innovative, XQ-type or Kansas City Academy-type school, focused on project-based learning within a diverse community that recognizes and develops each child’s individual strengths and opportunities, or working to bring these highly coveted qualities, resources, and culture to the schools we already have in the city, I’m impatient for something that will take time. Our kids aren’t getting any younger. I like having a neighborhood community to rally around a school. I grew up in BV district and loved that. MO needs that public option! I graduated from Southwest in 1984. I live in Waldo. There are no high schools near home except for private schools. My son would blossom in a super school. Diversity of students is important, and the STEAM focus. I want my child to have a great education, without having to pay the expensive tuition of Rockhurst or Pembroke. I would love to see an accredited middle school and high school take the place of the old, dilapidated Southwest High School. This is the only hope for a good public/magnet school system in the area. I want a neighborhood high school because I don’t want to be forced to either move away, or pay tremendously for private school. Having a school that close would do wonders for my family. Whatever you need! Improve the neighborhood I have lived across the street from SWHS for 35 years, but sent three kids to a private Christian high school. It’s too late for us, but I wish for a new school at SW with academics and decorum such that I could have sent my kids there. Also, the “southwest corridor” needs the stability of an excellent and stable school at SW. I was educated at Southwest High School. I believe that that education gave me a great many of the tools I needed to navigate life as an open minded, progressive, human being. I am an avid proponent of a strong and vibrant public education system. A system that teaches critical thinking skills and allows children of all ethnicities and religious (as well as non-religious) back grounds to interact and come to know each other COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 129 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE as fellow human beings first and coequal citizens. So too I believe that that form of education is key to the survival of our nation. It will give those children the skills they will need to dismantle the totally irrational, antiscience, fear based infrastructures of: ignorance (both nationalistic and fundamentalist) that, like cancers are so aggressively infecting and perverting our national dialog and the choices we as a nation and a people are so foolishly making in this day and age. I didn’t realize until jumping into the real world that I could be passionate about the work I do. Although I excelled in high school, college was not a place where I thrived. Memorization, studying, listening and trying to focus all put me to sleep and my grades were a testiment to that. But in the world I live in today I am able to do project related work that helps me show value, improve my skills and be obsessed with the work I do. I have been on a soap box about the need for kids to learn through doing and I truly feel this is our way to save the future of our communities. We all benefit from an educated populace We need to support radical improvements in the district not just struggling to maintain the status quo. Based on being a prior Student and Alumni many years ago. I have a freshman entering high school this fall, 2017. If Southwest would’ve been an option we would’ve looked at it. Nothing like this school exist in the city. I am a believer in public education. We however chose a private school for our son to attend this coming fall. We found that the rigor, the camaraderie and the academic expectations were the highest at the school we chose. I am a retired teacher, advisor & have been in the University Admissions setting in various capacities for 35 yrs. A quality high school in our community will enhance every area of our lives. Thank you for doing this! We would like a well-regarded high school in our neighborhood. It is important to potential new residents. a welcoming school at SW is important to me as it has been reported to include ALL area schools, including Troost Elementary & Benjamin Banneker Elementary, originally omitted from talks of reopening SW. It would carry on a family tradition started by my mother (born 1923) and her sister, and my two sisters and me (class of 1964). My high school-age granddaughter lives in Denver and attends Denver East High School, a vital inner city outstanding public school like I hope Southwest will one day become again. I would love a great school to send my kids to after they attend border star. SO thankful to have border star for the ages they are now but I do worry about what we’d do next. We would probably move if no new public high schools are available when they are ready for high school. I am a graduate of the class of 1962 and know what a tremendous asset SWHS has been and can be in the future. Diversity and the appreciation of it is the key to success. Being able to encourage and cultivate ideas from those around you is what living a full and happy life stems from. It should begin in our school system. The community deserves an academically top tier high school--as Southwest when I attended it in the 1960s. COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT FALL 2017 PAGE 130 CONSTITUENT COMMENTS (UNEDITED) ALL RESPONDERS CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL OR PHONE I am a teacher and parent and I believe that our children need quality education to help them succeed at the bars society has set for. I currently home school and if this could be an innovative school them I would consider sending my child there. I have helped already. Sent in some $..I have informed the 37 neighbors on our block and handed out to them some of the United At Southwest yard signs. Yes i fear the costs of what this kind of school would cost. it would be sad seeing one of the many schools grow to this quality of this idea and many other schools not get equal. once again what this would cost is still a big question.. but all together i would like to see the general school opportunity to grow , i know as a kid i was never interested to go to school , some of these kinds of classes and project opportunities could have changed that Because it’s sad that there is no safe, academically rigorous high school in the southwest corridor of the KCPS. And I’m tired of hearing the district say, “Send your kids to Southeast,”--I wouldn’t send my dog to Southeast! And I speak as a graduate of Southwest (1973), a founder of the now-defunct, project-based Southwest Charter School, a district parent for more than 20 years, and a now-retired KCPS teacher and administrator, also for more than 20 years. Southwest needs to reopen, and Southwest needs to serve the kids in the neighborhood--and that’s a HARD sell! I would help by contacting school board members, writing letters to the editor, and possibly making a small financial donation. It is good for the entire community I’m just sick of my tax dollars going to sub-par schools. Both of my kids graduated from kc public schools (one of them was Valedictorian), but neither got a good education. Not happy with The teaching and results currently happening in our public schools in Kansas City Missouri. There needs to be a strong alternative. Soon. 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Mike Rainen Detra Ralls Robyn Ratcliff Anne Rauch Nathan Rawlins Lawrence Rebman Shellie Rebman Jennifer Red eggiard Federico Reggiardo Nancy Reicher Philip Reicher David Reid Celtina Reinert David Reinert Gary Remley Felicia Rhodes Megan Rhodes Lu ce-Petrie Jonathan Richard Kristie Richardson Ryan Richardson Lucus Richerdson Andy Rieger Jamie Riffle Rodney Riffle Jerad Riggin Kelli Riner ames Roberts Jeremy Roberts Cal Robertson Karen Robertson Dennis Robinson Erica Robinson Marcella Robinson Nate Robinson Kathleen Rocha odenberg Jill Rodick Stephen Rodick Jennifer Roos Jeff Rosenblatt Keith Rosenblum Alisa Roth Abby Royal Karen Rundle John Russ Andi Russell ussell Casey Ryan Pessetto Gladys Sabatés Mabry Alex Sachs Ashley Sadowski Yesica Saenz Shahid Salaam Leo Salinger Laura Samenus Amand yneishia Sanders David Santacroce John Santner Denise Saunders Thomas Scatizzi Monica Schaefer Forrest Schaeffer Andrew Schmidt Jill Schmidt everly Schroeder Maria Schryer Rachel Schulz Laura Schweisberger Matthew Scott Yacento Scott Chris Scranton Emely Seaton Pam Seator Jesse S exton Trace Shapiro Chris Shaw Deborah Clark Shaw Katheryn Shields Tyler Shiney Steven Shoemaker Rachel Siegel Suzanne Siler Lindsay Sills B onald Simpson Sally Sinn Janelle Sjue Andrea Slater Sherese Smalls Arlene Smith Asami Smith Charles Smith David Smith Galen Smith Janet Smith ate Smith Kristel Smith La’Sha Smith Mallary Smith Marla Smith Megan Smith Rebecca Smith Sherita Smith Stephanie Smith Warren Smith Kendall S etta Sola Andrea Solarino Melanie Somogie Clifton Sonm Jason Soyland Andrew Spitsnogle Julia Splan Brenna Spurgeon Alan St. Onge Martha Stak elly Stange Eva Steinman Glenn Stenquist Kejaun Stephenson Sarah Stevenson Barb Stewart John Still Meghan Still Richard Stitt Kristin Stokely Dar ennifer Stover Russell Stover Jim Stowers Kathleen Stowers-Potter Jenny Strack John Strada Dennis Strait Brian Strohm Mark Stuppy Ashton Suddut ullentrup Rachel Sullivan Josie Sutkin Bob Swisher Elaine Swope Michael Sykord Franci Talamantez-Witte Terry Tarwater Arionne Taylor Zach Taylor PUBLIC SUPPORTERS Southwest High School Alumni Supporters 1. Sharon Atchison 2. Stephanie Bayne (Donaldson) 3. Derron Black 4. Deena Blake 5. Kathy Brown 6. Mary (Mary Helen) Clark 7. Kathy Coggins 8. Jane Coon 9. Patty Corteville Fitzpatrick 10. Barbara Cramer (Morse) 11. Donita Devance 12. Linda Edwards Paul 13. Bart Eisfelder 14. Celia Espinosa (Banks) 15. Janet Fitzgerald (Lagergren) 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. Other Public Supporters 46. 47. 48. 49. 50. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74. 75. Dan Aagaard Kelly Abalos David Abrams Evan Absher Kate Absher Marjorie Adair Anna Adelman Tim Ahlenius Douglas Ahrens Shaheer Akhtab Andie Albers Jacob Albers Jeffrey Allen Julia Allen Dalvin Ammons Andy Anderson Kathy Anderson Kyle Anderson Roy Anderson Veronica Anderson Ann Anthony Bruce Appel Sara Asmussen Rhonda Atkins Sarah Aylward Jenny Azima Kuykendall Coleen Babcock Gregory Bair James Bair Marcella Bair COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT 76. 77. 78. 79. 80. 81. 82. 83. 84. 85. 86. 87. 88. 89. 90. 91. 92. 93. 94. 95. 96. 97. 98. 99. 100. 101. 102. 103. 104. 105. Mary Foland David Fowler Carolyn Funk Kindt Virginia Giokaris Stephen Gunn Audra Jordan Charles Linn Susan Lockhart Todd Loudis Bonny McAllister (Halbeck) Patty Moore Armstrong Terry O’Leary Easton Pell Michael Polk Frank Reaves Karen Russell 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. Alex Sachs Mark Edward Smith Kimbrlyn Stevens Jim Stowers Kathleen Stowers-Potter Bob Swisher Leslie Tannahill Yvonne Ventimiglia Debra Verge Liz Verkler Kelly Waldo Dillman Jeffrey Wallace Deanette Watson Michael Wilcox willing to have their names shared Parrish Baker Helen Banhart Norma Banks Bill Barnhart Clea Barry Jean Barsotti Zachary Bassin Laura Bauers Mariah Bayha Kenneth Beals Julia Bean Summer Becker Jessica Beesley Robyn Beghtol Kristan Bell Frankie Bellucci Russ Bennett Mark A. Benson Jr. Merritt Benz Jay Besheer Barbara Bever Am Bhesania Steve Biegun Ralph Biersmith Dan Bird Deena Blake Brandon Blaylock Greg Boege Nancy Bollier Chelsea Booth 106. 107. 108. 109. 110. 111. 112. 113. 114. 115. 116. 117. 118. 119. 120. 121. 122. 123. 124. 125. 126. 127. 128. 129. 130. 131. 132. 133. 134. 135. Charles Bostic Stephen Bowen Julia Bower Laura Bowling Tameka Bowman Rashanae Boykins Lashun Bozeman Kevin Bradford Susie Bradford Ruth Bradshaw Kathleen Brandt Jennifer Breedlove Roxane Bremen Ayanna Bridges Mary Brink Tess Brothersen Antaeania Brown Chris Brown Darrell Brown Hilary Brown Jamila Brown Mahogany Brown Richard Brummel Jennifer Bruning Chelsea Brunzie Coly Bryant Brea Buchmeier Nickol Buck Emily Buckley Erica Buhr FALL 2017 PAGE 133 PUBLIC SUPPORTERS 136. 137. 138. 139. 140. 141. 142. 143. 144. 145. 146. 147. 148. 149. 150. 151. 152. 153. 154. 155. 156. 157. 158. 159. 160. 161. 162. 163. 164. 165. 166. 167. 168. 169. 170. 171. 172. 173. 174. 175. 176. 177. 178. 179. 180. 181. 182. 183. 184. 185. 186. 187. 188. 189. 190. John Buhr Annie Burndrett TJ Burndrett Beth Burnett Zach Busey Jessie Bustamante Kate Buster James Buzalas Alex Byrd Kelley Byrne Danielle Canacar Beth Canipe Kelly Cantwell Amy Carlson Laural Carlson Ben Carmean Katie Carr Joe Carroll Rachel Carter Sam Carter Susan Castro Tony Caudill Laurie Chipman Chris Christensen Jayna Cirincione Melanie Clark DeRon Clay Elaine Clemons Herring Clifford Mike Cline Steve Cline Katie Clune Quinn Coats Heather Cochran Devon Coffey Kennedy Coleman Richard Coleman Jimmie Collier Angela Collins Kendra Collins Philip Colombo Kristin Conkright Ryan Cook Adam Cooper Karlie Cooper Ann Coppage Ashley Copple Kelly Corzine Ashleigh R. Costilon Heidi Coulter Anne Michelle Cour Sarah Cousineau John Couture Jim Covert Carmen Crabbe COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT 191. 192. 193. 194. 195. 196. 197. 198. 199. 200. 201. 202. 203. 204. 205. 206. 207. 208. 209. 210. 211. 212. 213. 214. 215. 216. 217. 218. 219. 220. 221. 222. 223. 224. 225. 226. 227. 228. 229. 230. 231. 232. 233. 234. 235. 236. 237. 238. 239. 240. 241. 242. 243. 244. 245. Brooke Craig Dustin Craig Mitchell Crain James Crawford Amanda Crawley Constance Creaver Angela Cronk Katharine Crosson Ed Crouch Karren and Thomas Crouch Jim Cumley Chrisrty Curran Rhonda Danders Michelle Daniels Crissy Dastrup Joshua Davenport Joe Davis Julie Davis Rhia Davis Shellana Davis Tara Davis Thomas Davis Tom Deacy Katherine DeBruce Brian DeLancey Kirsten Delay Molly Denninghoff Lindsey Dewitte DeNetta Dickerson Bryce Dickmeyer Ellen Dicks Amber DiGiovanni Ashely Dillan Susan Dinges Virginia Dobesh Alise Dodds Jen Dolson Meghan Dooley Vanessa Dorman Andrea Doudna Alexander Dowell Lakeshia Drummer Chris Dudding Ashley Dudek Kate Duffey Ashely Duggan Sonia Duncombe Dennis Dunmyer Coralie Dyer Elizabeth Eastman Leah Eastman Jason Eaton Bill Eddy Leslie Eden Byron Edwards 246. 247. 248. 249. 250. 251. 252. 253. 254. 255. 256. 257. 258. 259. 260. 261. 262. 263. 264. 265. 266. 267. 268. 269. 270. 271. 272. 273. 274. 275. 276. 277. 278. 279. 280. 281. 282. 283. 284. 285. 286. 287. 288. 289. 290. 291. 292. 293. 294. 295. 296. 297. 298. 299. 300. Quincie Edwin Bart Eisfelder Thea Ekis Amanda Eldridge Matt Ensz Ginny Epsten Christi Erickson Lori Erickson Lori Eshelman Susan Eubanks John Euston Dee Evans Melissa Evans Rita Fabin Patrick Fagan Kirk Farmer Sarah Feldmiller Scott Ferguson Kevin Fernholz Celeste Fessler David Ficklin Holly Fisher Linda Fisher Marlene Fishman Tara Fitzgerald Stephen Flanery Rhonda Fletcher Jill Flinton Becky Forman Debra Fox Michelle Francis Scott Francis Elizabeth Fredrickson Nick Freeman Angela French Phil French Michael Friedman Dan Frueh Joel Fry Anissa Furney Ashley Gall Emilia Galvan Elizabeth Gamble Jerrika Garner Michael Garrett Sidonie Garrett Kenneth Garrett Jr. Shannon Gentry Rebecca George Robert George Dan Gibfried Dana Gibson Laura Gilchrist Bethany Gilges Cara Gilmore FALL 2017 PAGE 134 PUBLIC SUPPORTERS 301. 302. 303. 304. 305. 306. 307. 308. 309. 310. 311. 312. 313. 314. 315. 316. 317. 318. 319. 320. 321. 322. 323. 324. 325. 326. 327. 328. 329. 330. 331. 332. 333. 334. 335. 336. 337. 338. 339. 340. 341. 342. 343. 344. 345. 346. 347. 348. 349. 350. 351. 352. 353. 354. 355. Keana Gilwin Erin Gingrich-Gaylord Willie Gleason Kate Gleeson Susan Glennemeier Elizabeth Glynn Derek Gnemmen Tyler Goad Cathie Godsey Steve Godsey Josie Goff Gail Golden Jane Gowen JoVanna Graham Peter Graham LaShawn Gray Steven Green Stephanie Greenwood Claudia Greim Amanda Griffin Bill Griffiths Laurie Grove Keith Guertin Alamia Guess Paige Guffey Damon Guinn Harriett Gunderson Angela Guzman Rebecca Haessig Regina Haley Katie Hall Thomas Hall Tamkia Halls Erin Hambrick Catherine Hamelin MaryLou Hamlin Brian Hand Brent Hankins Alison Hanks Maria Hapke Tamishia Hardy Brent Harmon Rebecca Harp Douglas Harris Rhody Harris Alison Hart Annie Hart Mitchell Hart Tia Harvey Stephen Hassard Sally Hathaway Sarah Hattaway Emma Hawkins Lynn Haynes Patricia Heatly COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT 356. 357. 358. 359. 360. 361. 362. 363. 364. 365. 366. 367. 368. 369. 370. 371. 372. 373. 374. 375. 376. 377. 378. 379. 380. 381. 382. 383. 384. 385. 386. 387. 388. 389. 390. 391. 392. 393. 394. 395. 396. 397. 398. 399. 400. 401. 402. 403. 404. 405. 406. 407. 408. 409. 410. Sara Heins Ashley Held Daniel Held Clement Helmstetter Drew Hemphill Don Hendrickson Cara Hennessy Brenda Henry Sharon Henry PaKou Her Tracy Herber Stacy Herndon Brian Hershberger Jonathan Hess Parker Heying Jason Hierholzer Erick E. Hill Jodi Hillen Sarah Hine Bryan Hinkle Kyle Hlavacek Kirsten Hobbs Margaret Hoffman John Holbrook Yolanda Holden Jack Holland Paula Holmquist Amber Horne Whitney Hosty John Houston Dean Hubbard Kathleen Hughes Julie Hull Lisa Hummel Holland G Humphrey Ashley Hund Brenda Huntley Jude Huntz Judy Hutchison Mary Hutchison Monty Hutchison Jessica Hutton Robert Hyland Liz Icenogle Pholaphat Inboriboon Phil Jachowicz Lisa Jackson Tia Jackson Ray James Maroua Jawadi Ari Jean-Baptiste Jessie Jefferson Yvonne Jenkin Deborah Jenkins Christie Jessee 411. 412. 413. 414. 415. 416. 417. 418. 419. 420. 421. 422. 423. 424. 425. 426. 427. 428. 429. 430. 431. 432. 433. 434. 435. 436. 437. 438. 439. 440. 441. 442. 443. 444. 445. 446. 447. 448. 449. 450. 451. 452. 453. 454. 455. 456. 457. 458. 459. 460. 461. 462. 463. 464. 465. Ginnie Job Carmnita Johnson Jeff Johnson Jessie Johnson Judy Johnson Kirk Johnson Lindsay Johnson McGregor Johnson Roy Johnson Brian Jones Chris Jones Christiana Jones LaKreesha Jones Shawntae Jones Candi Joneth Andrea Jonson Megan Jordan Jackson Jovoan Les Kahl Trina Kahl Stephanie Kalahurka Leo Kallenberger Will Kane Rory Kane Akers Savannah Kannberg Katy Kanne Bryan Kearney Melissa Keck John Keeling Matt Keeney John Keller Joyce Keller Shawn Keller Krystal Kelley Bryan Kelly Stephanie Kelly Jonathon Kemnitzer Mitchell Kempker Nichole Kennedy Gib Kerr Lisa Kiene Grant Killion Stephanie Kilpatrich Kevin Kilroy Martin Kimmel Cloyd Kissick Marie Kissick London Kizda Lea Klepees Kevin Koch Karis Koehn Pamela Kopulos Valerie Kramer Jeff Krum Rick Krupco FALL 2017 PAGE 135 PUBLIC SUPPORTERS 466. 467. 468. 469. 470. 471. 472. 473. 474. 475. 476. 477. 478. 479. 480. 481. 482. 483. 484. 485. 486. 487. 488. 489. 490. 491. 492. 493. 494. 495. 496. 497. 498. 499. 500. 501. 502. 503. 504. 505. 506. 507. 508. 509. 510. 511. 512. 513. 514. 515. 516. 517. 518. 519. 520. Julie Kuchar Andrea Kuenzel Brenda Kumm Kourtney Kyle Anna Lacy Jessica LaFollette Joe Langle David Larrabee Chris Laskero Bill Lattimer Julie Lattimer Jennifer Laughlin Mary Colleen Lawler Veronica Lawrence Helen Lea John Leach Kelly and Ryan Lee Tiffany Lee Sarah Legg Danielle Lehman Christian Lenz Henry Leonard Leanna Lepper Gayle Levy Lawrence (Larry) H. Levy Jennifer Limbocker Hannah Lime Jenny Limer Ashley Lindemann Mike Lisac Sheila Locke Gwen Lomax Lilly Long Greg Love Dave Lueck Lauren Luhrs CaBreah Lyman Mona Lyne Michelle M Jo Malikah M. Katie Mabry Rebecca Magill Christie Makar Alex Mallett Millie Mallot Joyce Manning Michele Markham Kelsy Marr JC Martel Ellen Martens LaKisha Martin LaPanda Mason Monica Massey Laura Masterson Gloria Matheny COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT 521. 522. 523. 524. 525. 526. 527. 528. 529. 530. 531. 532. 533. 534. 535. 536. 537. 538. 539. 540. 541. 542. 543. 544. 545. 546. 547. 548. 549. 550. 551. 552. 553. 554. 555. 556. 557. 558. 559. 560. 561. 562. 563. 564. 565. 566. 567. 568. 569. 570. 571. 572. 573. 574. 575. Nick Matheus Melinda Matthew Viola Maxwell Sandy Aguirre Mayer John Mayers Amanda Mayes Anthony Maytt Jennifer McAdam Jim McCall Tara McCall Beth McCarthy Bob McCartney Lacey McCormack Robert McCormack Margaret McCormick Melinda McDonald Will McDowell Jill McEnaney Ryan McEnaney Tom McFarland Kirsten McGannon Joyce McGautha Katherine McGee Erin McGiffert John McGurk Katie McGurk Lee McKinzy Patricia McMahon Sarah McMillon Larry McMullen Debra McQueeney Kate Meinke Myra Merritt Jonathan Meyer Kimberly Meyer Rachel Meyer Angela Michka Paul Miles Natalie Millard Eric Miller Jared Miller Rich Miller Susan Miller LaTasha Milsep Kassandra Minor Destin Mitchell Karen Mitchell Brande Molina Ray Moncrieffe Becky D. Monroe Samantha Monsees Crystal Monteleone Kaisha Morel Craig Morey Dave Morris 576. 577. 578. 579. 580. 581. 582. 583. 584. 585. 586. 587. 588. 589. 590. 591. 592. 593. 594. 595. 596. 597. 598. 599. 600. 601. 602. 603. 604. 605. 606. 607. 608. 609. 610. 611. 612. 613. 614. 615. 616. 617. 618. 619. 620. 621. 622. 623. 624. 625. 626. 627. 628. 629. 630. Garison Morris Jordan Morris Kevin Morris Daniel Morrow Matthew Moses Michelle Moses Michelle Moses Kevin Muesenfechter Merritt Munoz Ralph Munyan Bethany Murphy Lloyd Murray II Kristie Myers-McClendon John Navarre Stacy Neff Jennifer Nicholson Jessica Nickels Rachel Nodland Dan Norburg Phyllis Norman Kevin Normile Angela Norton Jay Norton Flora Nyakatura Lisa O’Hara Matt O’Laughlin Tom O’Leary Dan O’Meara Elizabeth Oberle Carol Odam John Olen Kathryn Orr David Orvis Sally Paretes Jennifer Parker LaVance Parker Laura Pastine Kimberly Paulsen Dylan Payne Whitten Pell Amanda Perry Joe Perry Kip Peterson Peggy Peterson Daniel Petrosky Ramond Pettit William Pfeiffer Paula Phelan Anne Phillips Sam Pierron Nicki Pinault Marsha S Pinson Gwynn Pirnie Pat Pitre Brandy Poiry FALL 2017 PAGE 136 PUBLIC SUPPORTERS 631. 632. 633. 634. 635. 636. 637. 638. 639. 640. 641. 642. 643. 644. 645. 646. 647. 648. 649. 650. 651. 652. 653. 654. 655. 656. 657. 658. 659. 660. 661. 662. 663. 664. 665. 666. 667. 668. 669. 670. 671. 672. 673. 674. 675. 676. 677. 678. 679. 680. 681. 682. 683. 684. 685. Michael Polk Rosemary Polk Michael Post Robert Potter Angela Potts Melodie Powell Stephen Powell Pete Pozos Tiffany Price Jason Pryor Danielle Pusateri Vanessa Quinlan Joe Quinly Bridget Quinn Jean-François Quintin James R. Mike Rainen Detra Ralls Robyn Ratcliff Anne Rauch Nathan Rawlins Lawrence Rebman Shellie Rebman Jennifer Redd Cathleen Reggiard Federico Reggiardo Nancy Reicher Philip Reicher David Reid Celtina Reinert David Reinert Gary Remley Felicia Rhodes Megan Rhodes Lucinda A. Rice-Petrie Jonathan Richard Kristie Richardson Ryan Richardson Lucus Richerdson Andy Rieger Jamie Riffle Rodney Riffle Jerad Riggin Kelli Riner Diane Rizzo James Roberts Jeremy Roberts Cal Robertson Karen Robertson Dennis Robinson Erica Robinson Marcella Robinson Nate Robinson Kathleen Rocha Megan Rodenberg COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT 686. 687. 688. 689. 690. 691. 692. 693. 694. 695. 696. 697. 698. 699. 700. 701. 702. 703. 704. 705. 706. 707. 708. 709. 710. 711. 712. 713. 714. 715. 716. 717. 718. 719. 720. 721. 722. 723. 724. 725. 726. 727. 728. 729. 730. 731. 732. 733. 734. 735. 736. 737. 738. 739. 740. Jill Rodick Stephen Rodick Jennifer Roos Jeff Rosenblatt Keith Rosenblum Alisa Roth Abby Royal Karen Rundle John Russ Andi Russell William Marc Russell Casey Ryan Pessetto Gladys Sabatés Mabry Alex Sachs Ashley Sadowski Yesica Saenz Shahid Salaam Leo Salinger Laura Samenus Amanda Sanders Tyneishia Sanders David Santacroce John Santner Denise Saunders Thomas Scatizzi Monica Schaefer Forrest Schaeffer Andrew Schmidt Jill Schmidt Chuck Schmitz Beverly Schroeder Maria Schryer Rachel Schulz Laura Schweisberger Matthew Scott Yacento Scott Chris Scranton Emely Seaton Pam Seator Jesse Sendejas Rachel Sexton Trace Shapiro Chris Shaw Deborah Clark Shaw Katheryn Shields Tyler Shiney Steven Shoemaker Rachel Siegel Suzanne Siler Lindsay Sills Bob Simmons Donald Simpson Sally Sinn Janelle Sjue Andrea Slater 741. 742. 743. 744. 745. 746. 747. 748. 749. 750. 751. 752. 753. 754. 755. 756. 757. 758. 759. 760. 761. 762. 763. 764. 765. 766. 767. 768. 769. 770. 771. 772. 773. 774. 775. 776. 777. 778. 779. 780. 781. 782. 783. 784. 785. 786. 787. 788. 789. 790. 791. 792. 793. 794. 795. Sherese Smalls Arlene Smith Asami Smith Charles Smith David Smith Galen Smith Janet Smith Janet Smith Kate Smith Kristel Smith La’Sha Smith Mallary Smith Marla Smith Megan Smith Rebecca Smith Sherita Smith Stephanie Smith Warren Smith Kendall Smith-Cassidy Retta Sola Andrea Solarino Melanie Somogie Clifton Sonm Jason Soyland Andrew Spitsnogle Julia Splan Brenna Spurgeon Alan St. Onge Martha Staker Rodd Staker Kelly Stange Eva Steinman Glenn Stenquist Kejaun Stephenson Sarah Stevenson Barb Stewart John Still Meghan Still Richard Stitt Kristin Stokely Darron Story Jennifer Stover Russell Stover Jim Stowers Kathleen Stowers-Potter Jenny Strack John Strada Dennis Strait Brian Strohm Mark Stuppy Ashton Sudduth Samantha Sullentrup Rachel Sullivan Josie Sutkin Bob Swisher FALL 2017 PAGE 137 PUBLIC SUPPORTERS 796. 797. 798. 799. 800. 801. 802. 803. 804. 805. 806. 807. 808. 809. 810. 811. 812. 813. 814. 815. 816. 817. 818. 819. 820. 821. 822. 823. 824. 825. 826. 827. 828. 829. 830. 831. 832. 833. 834. 835. 836. 837. Elaine Swope Michael Sykord Franci Talamantez-Witte Terry Tarwater Arionne Taylor Zach Taylor Drew Temple Douglas Thaman Amanda Thomas Calvin Thomas Denece Thomas Timmie Ruth Thomas James Throckmorton Mike Tiehen Rosalyn Todd Sarah Toll Lisa Tootle Sam Trave Steven Traylr Don Trotter Mike Truta Sean Tucker Stacy Tucker John Turek Howard Turley Sara Turner Kara Tweedy Stacy Tyler Andrea Uhl Molly Uhlenhake Jessica Underwood Rick Usher Thomas Usher Dakota Van Deursen Tania Van dyk Antonia VandenAkker Frances Vandergriff Barbara Vanice Robert VanMaren Nathan Vavroch Debra Verge Liz Verkler COMMUNITY RESPONSE REPORT 838. 839. 840. 841. 842. 843. 844. 845. 846. 847. 848. 849. 850. 851. 852. 853. 854. 855. 856. 857. 858. 859. 860. 861. 862. 863. 864. 865. 866. 867. 868. 869. 870. 871. 872. 873. 874. 875. 876. 877. 878. 879. Shelle Verkler Brandy Vessey Josh Vessey John Vogt Elizabeth Volk Stephanie Volker Karen Von Der Bruegee Helen Von Der Bruegge Roberta Voorhees Cynthia Wagers Kevin Wake Kelly Waldo Dillman Jackie Walker Jeffrey Wallace Ryan Walters Maria Ward Erica Warren Trace Warren Destiny Washington Kelli Washington Lewis Waskey Domonic Watkins Angela Watson Greg Watson Shanekwa Watson Barbara Weary Jeff Weis Jon Weith Sarah Weitzel Emily Welch Mike Welch Steffane Wells Robert Wempe Heidi Weseloh JacQues Wessen Emily Wheeler Amber Whidden Denae White Laura White Raykell White Melissa Whitener Megan Whitesell 880. 881. 882. 883. 884. 885. 886. 887. 888. 889. 890. 891. 892. 893. 894. 895. 896. 897. 898. 899. 900. 901. 902. 903. 904. 905. 906. 907. 908. 909. 910. 911. 912. 913. 914. 915. 916. 917. 918. 919. Ryan Wiebe Kelli Wikoff Michael Wilcox Dana Wilders Gerald Williams Jessica Williams Kristen Williams Latrice Williams Nannie Williams Randi Williams Deborah Williamson Clare Wilson Rochelle Wilson Bo Wimbush Katherine Wind Madi Winfield Jennifer Witte Emma Wolf Lori Woods Tamara Woods Emily Wopata Nicole Wosje Aric Wright Erik Wullschleger Tom Wyrsch Lynne Yarnevich Shannon Yeates Amanda Yorgensen Jamie Young Julie Young Nina Young Barbara Young Vogt Mary Yzon Toni Z Julie Zajic Annie Zander Michael Zatorian Elizabeth Zeller Jeramy Zimmerman Janet Zwillenberg FALL 2017 PAGE 138 *7 guunml'?' UHITIHG AT . EDUTHWEET UN 11 HI M5 3 Sun Ill .h?t I .P a is? ?Tran-"- hl .v 1 . 4.11155- . I I ?k i is? Qt"! .L'r . unmar- suulnw - Jul? - ?an" I. 'l I a I 1