Will Hopes Be Dashed?

Every year there are high hopes that a new election cycle will bring positive changes to the Hickman Mills School District via board members who actually care about their awesome responsibility and take it seriously. This year has been no exception, but those hopes may once again be dashed.

One candidate, Clifford Ragan, has not paid his property taxes for two years, and so the Secretary of State has deemed him unqualified to appear on the ballot and sent that ruling to the Kansas City Election Board. The KCEB has placed a disclaimer on their website stating such and further saying none of Mr. Ragan’s votes will be counted. That is a positive step.

School districts rely on property taxes to function; yet, Mr. Ragan somehow thinks he is exempt from supporting the very school district he is now attempting to help lead by being a director on the school board. At the least, this is hypocritical; but the issue gets worse.

While we don’t know if it’s from Mr. Ragan or someone else, there is now a rumor spreading that Mr. Ragan has been “made aware” of the situation and is taking care of it. Not only is there NO WAY TO DO THAT, but this is not an issue that has recently come to his attention. Last year a board member moved out of the district and Mr. Ragan applied to replace her. His TAXES WERE MADE AN ISSUE AT THAT TIME, so not only has he been aware, he has had ample time to “take care of it” if he had actually wanted to.

The culture of any organization is top down. Is it any wonder the Missouri State Board of Education considers Leadership an important criterion when deciding whether a school district should be fully accredited or not? The burden for that accreditation is generally placed on teachers, but it ultimately is the responsibility of the leadership, the board of education. It would seem being a good leader would be difficult if you can’t follow the law.

Voter Alert

Just checking to make sure of my polling place and saw this on the Kansas City Election Board website:

NOTICE: For voters voting in the Hickman Mill C-1 School District race, Clifford Ragan III has been disqualified as a candidate for Director, 3year term.  Even though his name will appears on the ballot, his votes will not be counted.   

https://www.kceb.org

Let me point out that the election board is an organization one would think would check and double check the information it’s putting out. Sadly, we can see that isn’t true because Mr. Ragan is running for a board seat on the Hickman MillS school board, not the Hickman Mill school board. The school district takes its name from the community in which it was founded and that is the community of Hickman Mills. Maybe they just misplaced the s and put it behind appear, but I digress.

Mr. Ragan has been endorsed by both Freedom, Inc. and Southland Progress, so many undoubtedly have received a flyer in the mail urging voters to support this candidate. It’s a shame that neither group checked his credentials prior to endorsement; or maybe they did and chose to ignore them?

This is all very troubling because while little is known by the general public about school boards, they are the ones who actually run school districts, not superintendents as many believe. It is therefore imperative that the right people be elected to these boards for the sake of our children and our future. This, of all places, is NOT a place for politics.

It’s Not Just Tailgating We’ll Lose

From the Mayor on down it seems our history, our legacy, is only important if it suits their needs. There has been very little talk of the “K” or even of the Truman Sports Complex. In current discussions, you hear Royals Stadium or the baseball stadium, but the true name, Kauffman Stadium, is rarely spoken. Is that intentional? Is that designed to make it less personal?

Ewing Kauffman and his wife Muriel returned major league baseball to Kansas City, promising to bring a World Series championship here as well. They guided the Royals organization through its first 25 years, during which time the club did, in deed win six division titles, two American League pennants and a World Series crown.

Sadly, it seems the success of a previous era is no longer reason to continue to honer the man who did so much for KC and for baseball. When asked post blank what the new stadium would be called, the response was that no name had been identified yet. Sad – and irreverent.

A Google search for the Truman Sports Complex expresses my thoughts more poignantly than I ever could:

“Nestled at the crossroads of Interstate 70 and Interstate 435, the Truman Sports Complex stands as a testament to the visionary spirit of Kansas City and the indomitable love for sports that course through its veins. Home to the iconic Arrowhead & Kauffman sports venues, this complex isn’t just concrete, tailgating, and plastic sears; it’s a living chronicle of the city’s passion, innovation, and unity.”

Additionally:

“Kauffman isn’t just where baseball is played; it’s where dreams come to life. It’s where George Brett’s legendary career unfolded, where the Royals clinched their first Wold Series title in 1985, and where countless fans have cheered for their favorite players. The stadium’s aura transcends its physical structure; It’s a repository of cherished memories and shared passion.

[When] you step into Kauffman, …. you’re not just entering a venue; you’re stepping into a time capsule of Kansas City’s passion, innovation, and undying love for the game that unites us all.”

For a city that prides itself on its history, we’re sadly now being asked to forget it. Why? So we can be like so many other cities that have a downtown stadium, so we can join the crowd.
We’re being asked to forget our uniqueness, what made us stand out in the baseball world, and join the growing crowd of cities with a downtown stadium.

Why?

Will They Stay or Will They Go?

The big election is only a week away, though many of you have probably already voted. If you’re still trying to make up your mind whether or not to succumb to blackmail, I urge you to read this article from Strong Towns.

While it’s kind of a long article, it is certainly worth the read. I’ll just point out a couple of items:

The current stadium is “consistently listed among the top ten most beautiful, most fan-friendly parks”.

The cost of the 2006 renovations was $250 million and we, the taxpayers, picked up $225 million of that tab. John Shermans’ net worth has been reported to be between $1 to $1.5 billion.

If you decide the article is too long for the time you have to read yet more about a downtown stadium, at least consider these two quotes:

Research from groups across the political spectrum have shown that the promised economic benefits generally don’t materialize, especially when a stadium is only going to be used periodically.

…

If building a new stadium is going to generate a profit, the teams can pay for it themselves. I can only assume the reason they don’t want to pick up the full bill is because new stadiums often aren’t a great investment.

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2021/9/28/should-kansas-city-taxpayers-foot-the-bill-for-a-new-downtown-stadium

You might also find it fun to recall that the mayor said in 2019 “We need a new downtown baseball stadium like I need a new Maserati. It’d be cool to have, but I don’t have the money.”

Kudos to Councilman Curls

On the whole I don’t have much good to say about the city council–or the mayor. Maybe that’s because of the lack of representation that has been shown to my district. Councilman Curls, however, has shown himself to be a bit different. He actually seems to want what is best for his district, the fifth.

I see on the City Plan Commission docket for Tuesday, he is requesting a moratorium on gas stations. As an environmentalist, I say It’s about time. I almost couldn’t believe my ears when I heard the Mayor declare a climate emergency, but I haven’t seen a lot that he has done in the way of mitigation since uttering those words – quite the disappointment. Even empty words garner publicity and most people would believe he would follow through with something meaningful. KC’s loss.

Councilman Curls, however, seems to be stepping up to the plate even if environment wasn’t his first thought. As I understand it, he is opposed to gas stations in his district simply because there are so many already. The fifth district could certainly use some new development, but gas stations don’t really seem to fit the bill. Some have ventured to say they’re simply fronts for liquor stores.

At any rate, this seems to be a positive step in the right direction and it’s heartening to see an elected official seem to have no agenda accept what’s best for his district.

We Shouldn’t Forget Our History, Or Those Who Came Before

You have to wonder about architects. Do they just see a vision in their minds of what a building should look like and then sell that concept to their client, convincing them that it’s the way to go matter what?

Red Bridge Shopping Center is a prime example. It was built in 1959 as a welcoming neighborhood shopping center with a primarily brick facade. Then in 2020 Wonderscope was built on the northwest corner of the Center. Mostly glass and bright colors in geometric designs, its three stories stick out like a sore thumb. Coming from the east on Red Bridge Road, you can see the roof from over a mile and a half away, looking like a blight on the treetops.

More recently, everyone has become excited about the new grocery store to be built soon. According to “The Telegraph”, “The new store front will mirror the architectural aesthetics and ambiance of the shopping center.” From the picture provided, it seems to be very angular and while there seems to be some wood veneer which echoes the somberness of the rest of the center, there is much more light coloring to this building. To “mirror…” they really should use brick. Maybe the goal here is to help tie in to the Wonderscope building which is somewhat kitty-corner to the grocery?

Whatever the reasoning is for either of these buildings’ exterior, it certainly would have been more admirable to consider the history of the area itself. Just to the east, between the shopping center and the Blue River, is a National Park Service informational exhibit marking actual swales (ruts) left by the wagon wheels of those who crossed the river on what has become known as the Three Trails (Oregon, Santa Fe, and California). This trail alignment then goes roughly down Holmes, passing Red Bridge Shopping Center. With all the pavement in the area today, it’s difficult to know the exact trail route, so there’s every possibility it actually crossed shopping center land.

The owners of this property should be proud of the heritage of the area and its contribution to emigration, trade, and mining; and that should be reflected in the architecture to better help us all remember.

Is a food desert a 20 minute drive or a 5 minute drive?

The January 4 edition of “The Telegraph” reports that the Ripple Glass bin is gone and not likely to be back at Red Bridge Shopping Center. Owen Buckley, president of Lane 4 which is the property manager for the shopping center, seems to be discouraging its return. Even though it says Ripple Glass, apparently there are those who think it’s simply a dumping site for things they don’t want. The purple bins are the best way to recycle glass since the recycling center at Red Bridge and 71 highway won’t take drinking glasses, but Buckley has an understandable point.

Interestingly, he went on to say that there are two other Ripple bins “within five minutes of the Red Bridge site” one of which is the Price Chopper at 103rd and State Line. That quote reminded us of a previous blog, No Food Desert Here, about the fact that the shopping center was losing its grocery store, but there was no need to worry because the Mayor was involved and would move some taxes around to see that the area got a new grocery store.

Anyway, in that blog where the area was being labeled a food desert, we included a report from KCTV5 which stated, “South KC Alliance President John Sharp said that nobody wants to live in a neighborhood where they have to make a 20-minute drive to get basic needs for their household.” That is a true statement and doesn’t actually say that the folks in the Red Bridge area would need to do that, but we did find the contrast with Own Buckley’s statement interesting.

Hickman Mills Deserves Better

Channel 4 news included a story about celebratory gunfire. Apparently it’s a regular and ongoing concern for those living in a KC neighborhood close to Raytown. This story and its connection to the still not passed in Jeff City Blair’s Law are certainly worth covering. The fact that there was so much gunfire, yet no injuries were reported is amazing.

What I don’t understand about this article is why the sentence “(one person was injured in the Hickman Mills area when a bullet grazed one man’s leg)” was included, especially since it was also in parentheses. The celebratory gunfire was somewhere close to 79th Street which is well north of Hickman Mills, so how is that sentence even relevant to the story?ick

It’s reporting out of context like this that has given Hickman Mills and still gives Hickman Mills a bad reputation.

Hickman Mills School District not living up to its vision

“Becoming well-informed on educational and community issues in order to determine the best direction for our school district.”

It may be the last line of the district’s Vision, but that doesn’t make it any less important.

At its regular meeting Tuesday morning, the City Plan Commission will be hearing a case about the reuse of the Kansas City Public Schools’ Franklin Elementary School as a community center:

Case No CD-SUP-2023-00020 – Franklin Elementary School SUP – A request to reapprove a Special Use Permit in District R-2.5 to allow for Public and Civic Uses (Office/ Administrative) for the reuse of Franklin Elementary School as a Community Center and KCSD Operation offices, on about 4.5 acres generally located on the north side of E. 35th Street,

This seems like a thoughtful reuse of a closed school building, unlike the Hickman Mills School District which had two closed buildings they had to ultimately simply demolish. Actually, they were more like two abandoned buildings, left for vandals to destroy everything on the inside and actually set on fire – multiple times.

When these buildings were in use as schools, they both had very good security systems, but no one was ever told what happened to those. For all the public knows, these buildings were simply left to rot with security turned off to save money. In the end, both were simply torn down, especially sad since one was named after a founder of the school district.

There were several suggestions for future use given by the community, including a community center and possibly a small clinic. By far the most compelling was for the use, and expansion of, the Community Assistance Council. This is an organization which provides residents in the Hickman Mills area with help finding fundamental resources not just for a healthy life, but often times to actually prevent homelessness and enable them to become self-sufficient. This is an organization which has been around since 1976 and which outgrew its current location in the district’s original administration center years ago.

The use of a no longer required elementary school would have been as close to a perfect fit as anyone could have wanted; yet, the district simply left the empty building until the only practical thing to do was to tear it down.

As is probably evident from previous blogs, the Hickman Mills School District is NOT community friendly. In fact, it seems to have no thoughts about the community or about the affect happenings in the community might have on the school district itself. It’s actually kind of sad because people used to believe that the two were united and dependent on each other. That no longer seems to be the case. While I will not reflect on those issues in this blog, be assured I will in the future.

Now, simply reflect on the impact the School District’s decisions, or non-decisions, have had on hindering, if not outright harming, good work that is trying to be accomplished by a worthy organization within its boundaries and for its constituents. Also, bear in mind the Hickman Mills School District has the highest transiency rate in the area. Perhaps with a larger facility and possibly more assistance, those numbers could be decreased.

Taxes to Hickman Mills are paid grudgingly

The other day I went to the post office to check the price of shipping a package and happened to run into a lady in the lobby complaining about having to pay her taxes, saying they were only going to the Hickman Mills School District, so it was basically a waste of time and money. The district doesn’t seem to be doing anything with the money they have.

Obviously, they’re doing something with their money, but one does have to wonder about their priorities. They had a perfectly good purpose-built administration building, but opted to sell that and purchase the former Pinnacle Career Institute at 103rd Street and Hickman Mills Drive. That building will now be refurbished in order to house administration and create a room for the board of education.

The building will also house a “real world learning center” which actually is probably a good idea, except that this concept seems to be the main focus of a district which hasn’t been fully accredited in over a decade. In fact, real world learning is about all that is ever talked about. Test scores and accreditation are never really mentioned even though state accreditation is what most people look at when purchasing a new home, not to mention higher test scores should equate to better outcomes for those who pursue higher education.

Back to the lady’s comment, though, about how the district spends money. They seem to be big on storage. They built a new facility on the edge of the district stadium, supposedly to store sports equipment, and the Board has approved funding for a new storage facility at the Buildings and Grounds facility which is technically in Grandview. That fact is really neither here nor there, except for the fact that an extraordinary amount of dollars must be being spent on vehicular travel; yet, the Board sees no reason to move the facility to a more centralized location.

Also, the superintendent will be happy to tell you about how important he believes the history of the area is; yet, he hasn’t spent one dollar on the only one-room school house in Jackson County and the last remnant of the school district’s beginnings, even though it’s about to fall in.

It’s really no wonder that people are choosing to move out and that no new developments, aside from gas stations and convenience stores, are happening.

The Board of Education, as the literal head of the school district, needs to review priorities and set some goals for administration which will enhance student achievement and at the same time benefit the greater community. Those goals should also include priorities in spending that demonstrate to the community that they understand their responsibilities both to the district and the greater community.