KANSAS CITY — Some lawmakers and teachers are calling for Missouri education commissioner Chris Nicastro’s resignation in the wake of reports by the Kansas City Star about e-mails showing a questionable bid process and a secret plan for a state takeover of the Kansas City Public Schools. State school board president Peter Herschend defended Nicastro and said planning for the Kansas City schools is still under way. Because the Kansas City schools lost their accreditation, the Missouri state school board has ultimate authority over them. The star reported that the e-mails indicate Nicastro has been working with the Kauffman and Hall family foundations and the Indianapolis-based CEE Trust Research Group on a proposal for a new school system. The Star described a bidding process that gave the work contract to CEE Trust after it had already been working with the state and the foundations. Nicastro overlooked other consultants that offered bids that were one-third of the Indianapolis company’s bid, the paper said. The Kauffman and Hall family foundations are paying the $385,000 cost of CEE Trust’s contract. CEE Trust executive director Ethan Gray told the Star that his company isn’t trying to privatize the Kansas City schools. The plan is due next month.
Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2 p.m.
