Superintendent Covington screwed Kansas City big time

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Victor Sweet, a notorious gangsta in the action film ‘Four Brothers,’ once said: “You don’t pay a hooker for sex, you pay her to leave.” And that’s exactly what transpired within the beleaguered Kansas City School District.

Superintendent John Covington, who offered his ’shocking’ resignation on Wednesday then on Friday accepted a high-paying chancellor’s job with a low-performing school district in Michigan, closed a U.S. record 26 public schools in KC.

A U.S. record. Now he’s being paid quite handsomely to make a silent exit. “It was with a heavy heart that I tendered my resignation to the board,” said Dr. Covington in a letter to Mayor Sly James, Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro and a cast of others.

“…My departure does not signal an end to transformation in the Kansas City Public Schools rather a passing of the torch…”

Well, the torch has been passed on many occasions. As a matter of fact, the school district has employed a mind-boggling 25 superintendents over the last 40 years; which includes 6 superintendents since 1999.

So, we certainly know how to ‘pass the torch’ in KC.

School board member Arthur Benson, the jilted sidekick most instrumental in recruiting Covington’s prostitution talents to Kansas City from Pueblo, Colorado, also offered his resignation on Wednesday only to rescind it two days later because he suspects betrayal.

“I am completely distraught,” said Benson after learning of Covington’s interest in the Michigan job. “This has been in the works for a long time. I especially feel pained by being ill-used by John Covington.”

That’s right Benson. Covington used you like a cheap tampon.

As for the interpersonal dispute and alleged malfeasance between Dr. Covington and school board President Airick West? At this point, doesn’t really matter. Like I reported a year ago, Covington had no real intention of sticking around in Kansas City.

I saw it coming a mile away. And you should’ve too.

Like a no-nonsense hooker, Covington performed a few sexy lap dances on civic leaders, provided some freaky doggie-style humpin’ to taxpayers, took the cash, then moved on to his next trick in economically-challenged Detroit.

And get this: Covington’s lovin’ ain’t cheap. According to the Detroit Free Press, John Gigolo… um, I mean John Covington, signed a lucrative four year contract worth $225,000 annually with a phat signing bonus of $175,000.

Remember, the difference between a hooker and a gold-digger is a hooker gets paid up front.

Hate to be the one to say “I told you so” but guess what? “I told you so.”

In 2010, many of you found fault in my prediction Dr. Covington would close the schools, take the cash and escape mysteriously into the night. 12 months later we’re left with a bunch of empty K-Y Jelly packages, vacant buildings, a posse of jilted parents and 50,000 bewildered students.

Also, my sources tell me Covington fabricated a dispute with West to get out of his contract. The media foolishly played into it, now Covington is free and in the clear.

As customary, Kansas City deserves a dunce cap. No wonder the rest of America thinks so little of us. We’re gullible. Most of us don’t know rat poop from Cocoa Puffs. Hell, even Stevie Wonder could see through Covington’s dastardly scheme.

Also, I never took the school board seriously when they chose to reject Covington’s resignation. That’s equivalent to telling your boss “I won’t accept it” after he or she says “you’re fired.”

Today, we’re reduced to the rather familiar position of having to contemplate what the academic future holds.

See, the school district has accreditation. But only under a provisionary basis. Even though his schools posted dismal test scores, Covington’s improvement plan was reportedly working. However, his abrupt resignation could be viewed as a major setback by the state board.

Meaning?

The district could be in serious jeopardy of losing its accreditation.

Not good. Not good at all.

Let’s reflect on Covington’s ‘Motel 6′ stay in Kansas City.

The embattled superintendent  began working for the district in 2009 after serving 3 years in the same role in Pueblo, Colo.

By firing teachers and shutting down 40 percent of Kansas City’s schools, Covington’s hire paid immediate dividends when he helped the district slash $68 million from its dwindling budget.

The controversial move, designed to ameliorate failing academics, was met with logistical reaction from the teacher’s union, area residents, students and school faculty members.

As a real estate professional, I’d be the first to say the school closings may have caused irreparable damage to local economy. One of the first things families inquire about prior to purchasing a new home is “how close are the schools?”

Asking a potential buyer to make a 30-year investment in a property that’s 10 to 15 miles away from the nearest campus is comparable to asking Whitney Houston to lay off the crack pipe for a few hours. I would imagine the school closings have already intimidated a slew of would-be entrepreneurs.

Why is that important?

Because Kansas City has a youth problem. And a big one at that.

Disgruntled teens have resorted to loitering, violence, and enlisting in ‘Flash Mobs’ because they claim to “have nothing to do, and nowhere to go.”

Not only does Covington’s contraction plan suffocate new commerce and the prospect of adding much-needed social venues for our disenchanted youth, it also ensures property values in certain locales of Kansas City will never achieve pre-recession levels.

Oh well, that’s not Covington’s problem. He’s living phat and happy in Michigan while we’re left behind to pick up the pieces.

The people of Detroit better beware. John Gigolo is gonna screw you next.