Unified Government approves Wizards project, but...

(Unified Government of Wyco Mayor Joe Reardon)

KANSAS CITY, KS – If there was ever a concern the Cerner Corp/Kansas City Wizards project would end up in Kansas City, Kan., it has been put to rest. The Unified Government of Wyandotte County erased all doubt by approving the highly coveted $400 million stadium project originally destined for neighboring Jackson County. The colossal coup is expected to deliver an incredible 4,000 new healthcare technology jobs at Cerner, in addition to several thousand jobs at the Wizards sports complex. Like J.J. Evans used to say: “It’s DYNOMITE!” It should also be noted; the jobs at Cerner will pay an average salary of $54,000. Outstanding!

Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson agreed wholeheartedly with the approval and granted his blessing. “I applaud the work of Mayor Reardon, the Wyandotte County Commissioners, Secretary Thornton and the entire team at the Department of Commerce for bringing thousands of jobs to Kansas and helping our state get back on track,” said Parkinson. “The proposal we offered was responsible and did not overreach; as a result, we were successful.” Last year, I wrote an article for the Kansas City Star begging the Unified Government to recruit companies that offer more competitive salaries. Why? Most of the stores and shops at the Legends of Village West offer moderate wages; somewhere in the $7.00 to $10.00 per hour range. Not good enough.

According to citydata.com, the median income of Kansas City, Kansas residents is a measly $36,000; compared to $48,000 for the rest of Kansas. So, as you can tell, there is a serious problem. My editorial, though positive in intent, received vicious criticism from the Kansas City Kansas Chamber of Commerce. Chamber President Cindy Cash issued a rebuttal through the Star; pronouncing yours truly as an opponent to new development at Village West. Cash’s assumption is certainly not true. The goal of the column was simply to generate fair, public discussion on effective ways to improve KCK income.
 

Obviously, the migration of Cerner, in addition to Sara Lee Corp, is a step in the right direction. Now the focus should shift to an area that deserves emergency attention: EDUCATION. Folks, I understand the problems that plague KCK Public Schools are the responsibility of the school board. I get that. However, a surreal situation exists in KCK. If you’re familiar with Unified School District #500, you understand a paradigm shift is in order. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of residents have relocated in recent years with hopes of enrolling their children in what are perceived to be better school districts (specifically Johnson, Jackson and Leavenworth counties).

Heck, I’ve even heard stories about KCK residents falsifying their property addresses just to send their kids to schools located outside the district. Pretty sad. Through the years, the diffusion of residents has increased the tax burden on those brave souls who decided to stay. And, as many of you are painfully aware, Wyandotte County has evolved into one of the highest taxed jurisdictions this side of the Mississippi. Resident defections have also yielded a negative impact on the new housing market as several real estate developers continue to struggle to sell homes. Yes, the mill levy has decreased over 25% since 1997. Proponents of new retail development will argue that point til they’re blue in the face.

However, property values in KCK have doubled and tripled during the same stretch; resulting in even more taxes for an income-challenged populace. Financial futility, like most things in life, is also at the core of the school district’s problem. To obtain maximum funding, KCK schools are forced to meet attendance quotas involving student head counts. In other words, mo’ kids means mo’ money. The byproduct of this flawed educational method equates to classrooms being dominated by ‘class clowns,’ over-matched teachers and poor standardized test scores. Ok, I know what you’re thinking. What the hell does this have to do with Unified Government? Take a chill pill. I’ll explain.

The UG has the power, and apparently the unique ability to obtain capital, to lend a helping hand to the school district. It seems every time I look up, the county is approving some type of multi-million dollar retail/entertainment development. What about education? Besides, a generous donation and/or influx of additional revenue would give educators more wiggle room to discipline their students. This is what made ‘Crazy Joe Clark’ so successful in Michael Schiffer's 1989 hit film “Lean on Me.” Clark, in an effort to protect his prized students, suspended/expelled the minority of misfits who weren’t learning anyway.

KCK Schools could benefit from implementing a similar scholastic strategy but can’t because student attendance is mandatory to secure state funding. Catch my drift? Mayor Reardon, the Board of Commissioners, County Administrator Dennis Hays, if any of you read this article, please schedule a meeting with school board officials at your earliest convenience and offer some form of monetary assistance. Our kids and our future depends on it.

Wayne Hodges, an MBA from St. Mary University, is the Editor-in-Chief of MassAppealNews.com. He is also an adjunct professor, MPA at Kansas University, and intern with the Kansas Senate.