The KCKPS school board is intensifying its work on the 2022-23 budget as summer approaches. But dealing with the budget is a year-round process that involves the state of Kansas, the federal government and input from the public.
Maria Benevento
Maria Benevento is The Beacon’s education reporter. She joined The Beacon as a Report for America corps member. In addition to her work at The Beacon, she’s reported for the National Catholic Reporter, Columbia Missourian and St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Her education reporting began in 2017, and she became a full-time Kansas City education reporter with The Beacon in mid-2021. She graduated from Creighton University in 2015 with a bachelor’s degree in theology and American studies. In 2021, she graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a master's degree in journalism. She’s lived in Missouri most of her life and first moved to Kansas City in 2017.
Posted inEducation
‘We need to get it together’: Park Hill school board election reinforces focus on diversity, access
“Current events in society and in our nation and in our community have definitely proven to us that we have greater work to do,” said Terri Deayon, the district’s director of access, inclusion and family engagement. “But it’s been encouraging to see our work and the things that we’ve been doing this year begin to take shape.”
Posted inEducation, Kansas State Government
Lawmakers want to expand eligibility for free community college in Kansas
Less than a year into offering free community college for Kansas students in some high-demand fields, the state legislature is proposing adjustments to expand access. While 663 students received the Kansas Promise Scholarship during the first semester of the new program, according to an early 2022 report to the Kansas Legislature, nearly 75% of those who applied didn’t receive an […]
Posted inEducation
Lawmakers want to expand eligibility for free community college in Kansas
While 663 students received the Kansas Promise Scholarship during the first semester of the new program, according to an early 2022 report to the Kansas Legislature, nearly 75% of those who applied didn’t receive an award.
Posted inEducation
William Jewell has two groups doing slavery research. Some say that’s a problem
In front of a large audience at the college’s April 22 Duke Colloquium, history professor Christopher Wilkins said members of the Slavery, Memory and Justice project — which also includes alumni — had hoped the college would endorse their work, amplify it and follow their suggestions on “best practices.”
Posted inEducation
College. Work. Starting a business. KC grads with disabilities have options
Kim Riley, founder of the Transition Academy, said it’s not unusual for people with disabilities and their families to be confused about choices after high school. The nonprofit connects people with services for a variety of situations that could affect access to jobs and school, including physical disabilities, neurodivergence and intellectual disabilities.
Posted inEducation
This KC program uses mentorship to improve kids’ reading skills and love for books
“I try to make reading fun, and try to instill the passion for reading in the students that I work with,” said Mark Myers, who originally learned about Lead to Read at work and has been a mentor for several years. “But I get so much perspective from them and a real joy from working with them.”
Posted inEducation
Meet the Kansas City-area school board election winners, see their priorities
In the seven major districts we’ve been tracking, six incumbents kept their seats, including a North Kansas City board member who’s been serving since 1995.
Posted inEducation
Liberty school board candidates say they want to listen. Which voices will they prioritize?
The four non-incumbent candidates have different ideas on strategies for listening to, prioritizing and elevating the community’s concerns.
Posted inEducation
Unrecorded meetings. Public comment rules. Is the Independence school board transparent? Some candidates say no.
As five candidates compete for two spots on the Independence school board in the April 5 election, transparency has become a key issue for two newcomers: Anthony Mondaine and Jason Vollmecke.