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Incumbents prevailed in some Missouri school board elections, while other Kansas City-area boards saw shakeups that could shift how they handle book challenges, diversity initiatives, class instruction time and how to best support students.
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Teachers, families and students in Missouri's Independence School District are adjusting to a four-day school week this year. Superintendent Dr. Dale Herl said data shows benefits to the shorter school week, but opinions from parents and staff are mixed.
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Seven candidates are competing for three open seats in this year's high-stakes Independence school board race. Here's what the candidates have to say about school policies regarding trans students, cell phone use in class and mental health care for students.
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Missouri state Reps. Aaron McMullen and Robert Sauls argue that Independence School District's move to a four-day week has been unpopular. They've both filed bills that would require towns with more than 30,000 people to vote before a school district can make the switch.
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Over 30% of Missouri school districts, mostly in rural parts of the state, have shortened their school weeks to four days as a responsive to chronic teacher shortages. As larger districts like Independence adopt the practice, state lawmakers are considering bills to reign it in.
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Under the legislation, Jackson County seniors whose homes are valued less than $550,000 can start applying for relief next year.
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A new school year brings new challenges to Kansas City-area districts. Ongoing problems, like staffing shortages and school safety, continue to weigh on administration while heat waves make learning hazardous.
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This school year will look a lot different for students in Independence, who head back to the classroom this week. Independence is by far the largest district in Missouri to make the switch to a four-day school week. Plus: Dealing with household clutter is a part of life, but for some Kansans it spirals into hoarding.
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Independence is by far the largest district in Missouri to make the switch to a shorter school week, leaving questions for families about what they can expect.
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Natianna Ohmart, an English teacher at William Chrisman High School, said the tax levy's passage would take financial pressure off her strained budget.
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That there are fewer candidates this year may be a return to the status quo, but it prevents the public from weighing in on who should govern local school districts.
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The Independence school board voted in December to adopt a four-day school week starting next school year, leaving some parents concerned and frustrated. But since the change was announced, school officials say teaching applications have increased exponentially.