By Sylvia Maria Gross
Kansas City, MO – Anthony Amato plans to meet with middle and elementary school principals during his first full week as Kansas City Missouri schools superintendent. He says he's already begun meeting with high school principals, study test scores and interviewing for his top administrative positions. KCUR's Sylvia Maria Gross has more.
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Superintendent Amato says that he's looking for candidates from the Kansas City area but, if necessary, will look around the country to find people with talent and passion for public education.
AMATO: First, very smart people, secondly, people who are not only smart but have experience, third, people who also are, and I don't want you to misinterpret this word, aggressive in their thinking, who are not yes-people, who are not going to sit around at a table or cabinet meeting and just nod their head when the superintendent says something.
He's narrowed his choices for deputy superintendent to about three, and may invite them each to spend some time in the district before making a final selection. Amato said he's immediately examining the school district's operations, finances and human resources. He said he's willing to make difficult decisions like consolidating schools in order to bring the budget into alignment, with the cooperation of the school board and the community.