By Sylvia Maria Gross
Kansas City, MO – The Kansas City Missouri School Board has reportedly chosen Anthony Amato to head the city's schools; contract negotiations are pending before they make an official announcement. The board decided not to renew Bernard Taylor's contract in October, but he's remaining at the helm until June 30th, when he leaves to become superintendent in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Kansas City residents has mixed feelings about Taylor, but he led the district through five years of relative calm; he had been the 20th superintendent in 30 years. This year, the school board is determined to have a smooth transition, and they want the community's support. For the first time in Kansas City, community members actually interviewed the five finalists. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross was there.