After two fires, Arrowhead staff and parents call for emergency plans and better school meals

Arrowhead Middle School staff and parents addressed the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education on Aug. 26 about the impact of two fires this year that have displaced students and disrupted services. Commenters and school employees reported missing classroom time, insufficient temporary facilities, and a lack of supplies and student-support information in relocation sites.

Why this matters: Repeated displacement can interrupt special-education minutes, cancel electives and strain staff capacity; speakers called for a formal, written contingency plan to provide supplies, accessible facilities and continuity of services.

Teachers and parents described the effects. Pamela Penn Hicks, a community advocate, said families reported that school meals were "unappetizing and in some cases, make them sick" and asked the district to provide "quality nutrition to all students." She also called for "a comprehensive emergency plan" after noting that when Arrowhead students moved to temporary sites, "students and teachers were sitting on the floor" and essential supplies and signage were insufficient.

Sydney Williams, a vocal-music teacher at Arrowhead Middle School, said students will miss up to 13 weeks of in-building instruction between the November fire and the recent incident. She told the board the relocations had led to canceled honors, direct special-education instruction and English-learner services, and described staff exhaustion: "This is an unsustainable soul crushing effort and it cannot continue." Williams said teachers lacked access to students' critical information such as Individualized Education Program (IEP) status and medical needs while teaching transient or unfamiliar students.

Superintendent Dr. Tyrone Stubblefield told the board the district estimates it will take another four to six weeks to complete cleaning and restoration before Arrowhead staff can return. The superintendent said the district would survey staff, students and families and offer the option for students to be temporarily placed at other middle schools with capacity. He added that if families choose reassignment, placements could remain through the end of the semester to avoid double disruptions.

Board members asked for follow-up: several asked for specific contingency plans, supplier lists, and assurances the district would document follow-up with affected families and staff. The superintendent said the district would send the survey to determine preferred temporary placements, provide results to the board and continue improvements at the temporary college-hosted site while repairs proceed.

Ending: Board members and district staff said they would follow up with a written plan and staff- and family-facing survey results; staff requested a timeline and supplier list to ensure future relocations provide classrooms with appropriate furniture, equipment and special-education supports.