Kansas City board of education votes to close nearly half of district's schools

In Missouri, the Kansas City School Board has voted to close nearly half of the public schools in the district. At a meeting last night packed with parents and teachers, the board voted 5-4 to close 26 schools and cut 700 staff positions, including nearly 300 teachers. Today, School Superintendent John Covington called it a “right sizing plan” citing a $50 million dollar budget gap and a lack of funds from decreasing enrollment. Still he acknowledged that the decision would be tough on families and the community.

We’re joined now by Carolyn Szczepanski, she's a reporter with the weekly, The Pitch, in Kansas City and she's been following the issue.