KC district considers new uses for closed schools

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) - The Kansas City School District is considering new uses for schools that were closed as part of its cost-cutting consolidation plan.

District-wide information sessions are planned for April 4 at the Bruce R. Watkins Cultural Center and April 6 at Manual Career Tech.

Because of massive budget problems, the school district opened this fall with about 40 percent fewer schools.

Kansas City residents complain that schools closed in previous years have sat vacant, attracting vagrants. This time around, officials have vowed to do a better job of finding suitable uses for empty buildings.

The district describes its repurposing initiative as a "community-driven planning process." The district is inviting the public on tours of shuttered schools and asking for ideas to transform the buildings.