Biting the bullet - closing nearly half its schools

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City school board narrowly approved a plan Wednesday night to close nearly half the district's schools in a desperate bid to avoid a potential bankruptcy.

The board voted 5-4 after parents and community leaders made final pleas to spare the schools even as the beleaguered district seeks to erase a projected $50 million budget shortfall. The approved plan calls for shuttering 29 of 61 schools

Under the approved plan, buildings will be shuttered before the next school year. Teachers at six other low-performing schools will be required to reapply for their jobs, and the district will sell its downtown central office. About 700 of the district's 3,000 jobs — including 285 teachers — also are expected to be cut.

Many students have left for publicly funded charter schools, private and parochial schools and the suburbs. Fewer students means less money from the state.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35806883/ns/us_news-education/