SPECIAL MESSAGE

TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE EIGHTY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI:

Pursuant to Article III, Section 25 of the Constitution of Missouri, I respectfully request consideration of the following legislation:

Recommendation 1 of the Governor's Task Force to study the management of the Kansas City, Missouri School District. The Task Force recommendation is:

RECOMMENDATION 1: The Task Force recommends that the General Assembly cause an election to be held in November 1989 to determine whether a change in the manner in which the Kansas City Board of Education is constructed is necessary in order to restore credibility to the District's leadership. The legislation shall provide for a referendum in which the District's voters may decide whether to: (a) maintain the Board in its present form, or (b) replace the current Board with nine members who will serve for a five-year period. The Task Force recommends that a broad-based nominating committee consisting of seven representatives from such groups as the Chambers of Commerce, the Civic Council, the Ministerial Alliance, et cetera, be established, with the final composition of the committee to be determined by the General Assembly. The nominating committee would accept applications and nominations, solicit nominations, and interview candidates. The committee would nominate a total of 27 candidates for the nine positions.

The Task Force recommends that the State Board of Education be authorized, before the November referendum, to name from among the 27 nominees a slate of nine members to serve at-large on the Kansas City Board of Education, with a minimum of four to be representatives of minority groups. If the referendum is affirmative for the nine member slate, they will serve a five-year term beginning immediately after the certification of the results of the November 1989 election.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Great Seal of the State of Missouri, in the City of Jefferson, this 17th day of April, 1989.

[John Ashcroft's signature]
GOVERNOR

ATTEST:

[Roy D. Blunt's signature]
SECRETARY OF STATE

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