Jury still out on charter schools

rayweikal@npgco.com — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

President Barack Obama and federal Secretary of Education Arne Duncan have been very up front about their belief that charter schools can go a long way towards helping communities meet stringent No Child Left Behind standards.

No Child Left Behind is the 2001 law requiring all students to be considered proficient in math and communication arts by 2014.

Charter schools are independent, alternative schools that still receive public funds.

In Missouri, [...]

Heads burried to avoid Adderal abuse?

rayweikal@npgco.com — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

It's always funny to watch old TV news footage from the late 1960s and early 1970s reporting on youth culture.

The reporters and experts handled words like "hippy" and "pot" like they're radioactive specimens, fascinating but not easily wielded.

What makes it fun is how clearly the adults are squares who don't get it. We get it, therefore we are not square.

I have sneaking suspicion I and a lot of other adults are now the squares who don't get it w [...]

To the bone in NKCS

rayweikal@npgco.com — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Tuesday night, Feb. 9, North Kansas City Schools Superintendent Todd White proposed $9.3 million in spending cuts to balance the 2010-2011 school year budget.

White's plan will preserve the school district's 16 percent fund balance.

That's the portion of the district's total operating budget available in cash at any time. It's basically a savings account for big institutions.

The day after White's budget cuts were announced, I started wondering why [...]

The death of a designer

meaganodonnell@npgco.com — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Famed fashion designer Alexander McQueen was found dead today. The tragic news has struck the fashion community hard. Many style blogs, Web sites and Twitter feeds reflect the industry's feelings on the designer's death.

According to Women's Wear Daily the 40-year-old British designer committed suicide in his home.

The publication reported that this statement was released (Lee Alexander McQueen is Alexander McQueen's full legal name):

Circo goes after Funkhouser

jeffsalem@npgco.com — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

The agenda said 5th District Councilwoman Cindy Circo was going to speak to the Northland Regional Chamber of Commerce Planning and Development Committee about the city's attempts to build a convention center hotel in downtown Kansas City.

But Circo used some of the discussion time to lambaste Kansas City Mayor Mark Funkhouser's recently unveiled Schools First initiative that would use $100 million in general obligation bonds to fix up neighborhoo [...]

A $9.3 million temporary fix

rayweikal@npgco.com — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

That's a really expensive band aid.

Last night, Feb. 9, the North Kansas City Schools Board of Education got its first look at $9.3 million in proposed budget cuts for the 2010-2011 academic year.

The proposal would impact roughly 40 jobs and involve tightened spending across the school district.

State a [...]

Class 3 District 4 wrestling preview

billknust@npgco.com — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

A look at each weight class and what Northland wrestlers will be shooting for a top-four finish and a spot at the 2010 state tournament.

103 pounds - Oak Park freshman Brad Perkins is the favorite here in a pretty loaded district. Also in the weight class is No. 2-ranked Nate Rodriguez from Neosho and No. 4-ranked Jaret Singh from Kearney. The wildcard is what Staley decides to do with sophomore Aaron Engle. He is ranked No. 6 at 103 pounds, but he could go up to 119 pounds or stay at 112 poun [...]

She made this

meaganodonnell@npgco.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Here is one of the coolest things I've seen in a while. I'm always searching for new blogs and Web sites for inspiration. This one has inspired me to want go to home and make a necklace out of things lying around my garage. I probably won't, but it is fun to think that way.

There's not much to say about it other than it's a Web site that features handmade items by the site creator, so just check it out. It's called "P.S.- I made this..."

Let it in [...]

Class 4 District 4 wrestling preview

billknust@npgco.com — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

A look at each weight class and what Northland wrestlers will be shooting for a top-four finish and a spot at the 2010 state tournament in Class 4 District 4. Class 3 District 4 will appear tomorrow (Wednesday, Feb. 10).

103 pounds - Park Hill freshman Paxton DiBlasi has wrestled well enough this season to be a contender for a district title. Also look at Park Hill South's Alex Fortuna and Winnetonka's Jeremy Krout as wrestlers who could sneak into the top four if things break right.

< [...]

Many who should take Adderal, don't

rayweikal@npgco.com — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Last week, I wrote that my piece on Adderal abuse by high school students would run in the Feb. 11 edition of the Sun Tribune. We've decided to delay that until Feb. 18 in order to expand our coverage and include more information about the medical perspective on this issue.

There are many ironies that come with this story, which is really about students using an ADHD drug to help deal with the social, academic and extra-curricular pressures of high school.

No [...]

Burke talks campaign

jeffsalem@npgco.com — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Mike Burke, a Kansas City mayoral candidate and former city councilman from the Northland, said the first few months of his campaign met his expectations.

I just got off the phone with the Northlander, who stayed on the offensive whenever Mayor Mark Funkhouser was brought up during the interview. For example, Burke said if he was elected in 2011 he would "take all the drama out of the mayor's office" and that the "constant bickering" on the 29th f [...]

The Adderall connection

rayweikal@npgco.com — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Chris Cline might be evidence that we're pushing our children too hard to do too much too soon.

Chris, 18, was an honor roll student and standout soccer player at Park Hill High School. Last fall, though, he was caught abusing Adderall, a prescription medication used to treat ADD and ADHD.

Adderal is a [...]

Park Hill-Park Hill South rivalry game will remain

billknust@npgco.com — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

While some rivalries remained in tact and new ones were formed when the state realigned the football districts, a significant one was lost for district competition. Park Hill High and Park Hill South will no longer be in the same district.

Park Hill will be in Class 5 District 12 with St. Joseph Central, Oak Park and Staley. Park Hill South will be in District 11 with Fort Osage, North Kansas City and Winnetonka. This came after it was announced they would be in different conferences [...]

Art teachers exposed!

rayweikal@npgco.com — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Ok, I wrote that headline to get your attention.

Those who ascribe to the cliché that "those who can't do, teach," might want to visit the Gladstone Community Center.

For the next several weeks, the center is hosting a exhibition of work by art teachers from North Kansas City Schools.

An opening reception was held last night, Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the center.

A couple hundred people were on hand to admire a wide variety of pieces produced [...]

Olympic clothing by Ralph Lauren

meaganodonnell@npgco.com — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Who better to outfit the U.S. Olympians for the upcoming 2010 winter games than classic American designer Ralph Lauren?

The athletes will march into the games during the opening ceremony wearing classic Ralph Lauren-styled outfits. They'll wear navy and red puffer jackets and slim white pants. The outfits look classy and very patriotic on the models, but I'm not sure how well some of the athletes will carry the look.

The styles a [...]

Northland letter-of-intent signings today

billknust@npgco.com — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Plenty of kids all over the country are signing letters-of-intent with different colleges and universities today. It is no different in the Northland. Here is a rundown of every athlete who signed a letter-of-intent this morning. If I missed anyone e-mail me at billknust@npgco.com.
The schools will be listed in alphabetical order.

North Kansas City High
Gustavo Guzman, boys soccer, Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods
Ryan Miller, boys soccer, Benedictine College
Dannika [...]

Alligator shoes

meaganodonnell@npgco.com — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

I apologize readers, it's been a while, but I'm back.

I just came across this interesting little piece about Tod's, an Italian design company that produces fine leather shoes and other goods.

The $5,400 men's shoes are hand stitched from two pieces of leather. If you haven't yet, flip through the photos on the link I have linked above to see the artisanship that goes into each of the slip-on shoes. Although I'm not advocating the use of alligato [...]

Budget hearings ahead

jeffsalem@npgco.com — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 06:00:00 +0100

Well, my managing editor is back from maternity leave, which means I'll be spending much less time guiding our editorial department with her back at the helm and much more time doing some actual reporting. You may have noticed I haven't been updating this blog with regularity the past three months, so now you know why.

I'm really looking forward to getting back to what I enjoy most about my job, and that's writing about and reporting on the happen [...]

Singing in the rain?

rayweikal@npgco.com — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:00:00 +0100

I could see that the gears in Fred Sanchez's head were turning.

The Park Hill School District Board of Education heard a review last night, Thursday, Jan. 28, on the 2009-2010 demographic report.

The annual report outlines the current state of district enrollment and makes projections for the next 10 years.

New district alignment reaction

billknust@npgco.com — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:00:00 +0100

The first thing that jumped out at me when I saw the new district alignments was how competitive the Class 5 District 12 competition will be and the quality of coaching in that district. Right off the bat you have Fred Bouchard, Greg Reynolds and Keith Ross along with a new St. Joseph Central coach fighting it out for two spots.

Staley's district definitely got an upgrade. Instead of blowing out Platte County, Westport and Kansas City Central the Falcons will have to work to make [...]

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