Kansas City (Mo.) board balks at plans for engineering and construction academy

TheKansas City (Mo.) school board still wants an engineering and construction academy, but its president has made it clear that she wants a cheaper version. Members of an industry council had promised to raise $30 million--tripling a proposed school district investment of $10 million--to build a regional showcase school. But Board President Marilyn Simmons says Kansas City should be able to get the engineering and construction program without a multimillion-dollar building project. A plan conceived before recent elections changed the makeup of the board called for renovation of an existing high school facility in a $10 million first phase, followed by construction of a new facility at a cost of $30 million.

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