COMING UP A STATUS REPORT ON THE NEW LOOK KCI ONE YEAR FROM NOW IT'LL OFFICIALLY OPEN BUT WILL IT BE READY ON TIME AND ON BUDGET WE PUSH ASIDE OUR REGULAR REPORTER ROUNDTABLE TO BRING YOU THE PROJECT'S LEAD DEVELOPER AND THE AIRPORT MANAGER PLUS WHILE CHIEFS FEVER IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST STORYLINES OF THE WEEK ANOTHER VIRUS CALLED KOVID CONTINUING TO SWEEP THROUGH THE METRO AS MORE SCHOOL DISTRICTS SHUT DOWN WE LIFT UP THE HOOD ON WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH TWO AREA SCHOOL LEADERS THOSE STORIES AND THE REST OF THE WEEK'S NEWS STRAIGHT AHEAD WEEK IN REVIEW IS MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF AARP KANSAS CITY DAVE AND JAMIE CUMMINGS BOB AND MARLESE GOURLEY THE COURTNEY S TURNER CHARITABLE TRUST JOHN H MIZE AND BANK OF AMERICA N.A CO-TRUSTEES AND BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU THANK YOU HELLO I'M NICK HAYNES YES COVID AND THE CHIEFS CONTINUE TO DOMINATE NEWS COVERAGE BUT THERE ARE SOME OTHER PRETTY IMPORTANT STORIES THAT HAVE FALLEN OFF THE RADAR BECAUSE OF IT A YEAR FROM NOW WE IN KANSAS CITY WILL BE PREPARING TO OPEN A NEW LOOK KCI AIRPORT IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS SINCE VOTERS APPROVED WHAT IS THE LARGEST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT IN KANSAS CITY HISTORY A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN INCLUDING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WILL IT BE READY TO GO AND WILL IT BE DIFFERENT THAN THE PROJECT PROMISED TO VOTERS JEFF STRICKER IS WITH US HE'S IN CHARGE OF THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM HE'S SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER FOR EDGEMOOR ALSO WITH US THE MANAGER OF THE AIRPORT KANSAS CITY AVIATION DIRECTOR PAT KLEIN WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO HAVE YOU BOTH WITH US I REMEMBER IN THE END OF 2020 A MAGIC DATE WAS OFFERED UP PAT KLEIN AND THAT WAS MARCH 3RD 2023 THAT WOULD BE THE OPENING OF THE AIRPORT BUT AS I MENTIONED A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE THEN UH WILL WE STILL BE OPENING ON THAT DAY OR WILL YOU BE ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS TO DELAY RIGHT NOW WE WILL NOT BE ASKING FORGIVENESS WE ARE PLANNING ON OPENING IN MARCH OF 2023 AND KNOCK ON WOOD WITH EVERYTHING THROUGH A PANDEMIC WE ARE ON TIME AND WE ARE ON BUDGET ON BUDGET YOU KNOW IT STARTED AS A ONE BILLION DOLLAR PROJECT AND THE LAST I LOOKED IT WAS AT 1.9 MILLION BILLION WITH FINANCING IS IT GOING TO TOP 2 BILLION NO IT'S UH WE WE BORROWED 1.5 BILLION AND THAT'S THE BUDGET WE'VE STUCK TO AND THAT'S THE BILLION THE BUDGET WILL WE'LL BRING IT IN ON ON BUDGET WITH OKAY WHEN YOU STARTED THIS FIVE YEARS AGO WE COULD NEVER HAVE PREDICTED JEFF WE WOULD BE GOING THROUGH THIS THING CALLED COVID THAT HAS REALLY UPENDED EVERYTHING INCLUDING THE AIRLINE INDUSTRY AND WHAT ANY ANYONE DOES IN THEIR LIVES HOW HAS THAT CHANGED THE NATURE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THE AIRPORT AND EVEN WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT SUPPLIERS AND AND THE LABOR SHORTAGES THAT WE'VE HAD HOW HAS THAT AFFECTED YOU THANKS TO THE PLANNING ON OUR TEAM IN KOVAN WHICH AS YOU POINT OUT NICK IS SOMETHING NOBODY COULD HAVE PREDICTED BACK WHEN WE SIGNED THE CONTRACT AND STARTED CONSTRUCTION BUT WE'VE BEEN VERY FORTUNATE IN WORKING WITH OUR TRADE PARTNERS IN THE TEAM TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'VE NOT HAD SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES MATERIAL HAS SHOWN UP ON THE JOB SITE WHEN WE NEEDED IT FROM A LABOR PERSPECTIVE WE HAVE ABOUT 750 MEN AND WOMEN SHOWING UP EVERY SI NGLE DAY BUILDING THE JOB WE'VE PUT IN PLACE UM LOTS OF POLICIES TO KEEP PEOPLE SAFE SAFETY IS OUR NUMBER ONE PRIORITY UM SO WE HAVE UM WHETHER IT'S FACE COVERINGS WHETHER THAT'S INCREASED HAND WASHING STATIONS WE ARE MAKING SURE THAT THE JOB WILL BE DELIVERED AS PAT SAID ON TIME AND ONLINE YOU KNOW IF WE WENT TO OUR LOCAL HOME DEPOT STORE WE'LL SAY THE PRICE OF LUMBER IS A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE NAILS ARE MORE EXPENSIVE THAN THEY ONCE WERE IF YOU'RE TRYING TO REMODEL YOUR KITCHEN GOOD LUCK TRYING TO FIND THE CONTRACTOR WHO CAN DO IT YOU HAVEN'T EXPERIENCED THOSE PROBLEMS NOW WE WERE FORTUNATE TO PURCHASE THE THE CONTRACTORS THAT WE NEEDED THE MATERIALS UH BACK IN A TIME BEFORE SOME OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN ISSUES THAT YOU'RE DESCRIBING IT UH IN HOME DEPOT AND OTHER PLACES AND SO NO WE'VE HAD NO PROBLEMS HOW ABOUT THE AIRPORT ITSELF WHAT WE'LL ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO SEE WHEN THIS OPENS IN 2023 A YEAR FROM NOW HAVE YOU MADE ADJUSTMENTS GIVEN THE FACT THAT WE MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN CONSIDERING SOME OF THESE HEALTH ISSUES IN THE LIKE WE'VE HAD IN THE PAST THE THE NUMBER ONE THING IN AIRPORT DESIGNS TODAY AND THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE IS FLEXIBILITY AND SO THE DESIGN OF THE AIRPORT EVEN BEFORE COVID WAS VERY FLEXIBLE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE ADDED TO THE DESIGN UM THAT PASSENGERS WILL SEE ARE THINGS AS SIMPLE AS TOUCHLESS YOU KNOW FAUCETS AND SOAP DISPENSERS WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO PUT IN PLEXIGLAS SCREENS AT THE TICKET COUNTERS THAT PEOPLE WANT WE WILL HAVE THE MOST ADVANCED FILTERS IN THE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS OF THE HVAC SYSTEMS TO FILTER OUT ANY TYPES OF DISEASES AND PARTICLES OR THE VAST MAJORITY AND SO IT SHOULD BE A VERY FLEXIBLE AND SAFE EXPERIENCE FOR PASSENGERS WHEN THE AIRPORT OPENS WHEN VOTERS APPROVED THE THIS NEW KCI TERMINAL PAT CLINE BACK IN 2017 I REMEMBER EVEN EMMANUEL CLEAVER SAYING GOD WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY HERE TO MAKE THIS THE MOST ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AIRPORT IN THE COUNTRY IS THAT STILL THE GOAL OR OF ALL OF THESE OTHER ISSUES OF SUPPLY CHAIN AND CHALLENGES OF MONEY MADE THAT DREAM TOO BIG NO NOT ONLY HAVE WE BEEN PUSHING THE ENVIRONMENTAL WE'VE BEEN PUSHING THE ACCESSIBILITY THE COUNCIL PASSED THE RESOLUTION THAT WANTED US TO LOOK AT ACCESSIBILITY OPTIONS EITHER SO WE'VE DONE THINGS LIKE THE THE BUILDING'S GOING TO BE LEE GOLD WE'VE GOT A SOLAR ARRAY BEING PUT ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF THE PARKING GARAGE THAT WILL BRING SOLAR INTO THE TO THE PROJECT UM WE'VE GOT THE AIRLINES TO AGREE TO MOVE THEIR GROUND SERVICE EQUIPMENT TO ALL ELECTRIC WE PUT IN ALL ELECTRIC BOILERS ON THE AIRPORT SIDE YOU YOU KNOW THERE'S BEEN ANNOUNCEMENTS UH WE'RE IN A FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR LOOKING AT A MUCH BIGGER SOLAR PROJECT ON OUR PROPERTY THAT YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF HOOPS TO RUN THROUGH SO I REMEMBER SEEING THE HEADLINES ABOUT WHAT COULD BE THE LARGEST SOLAR FARM ACTUALLY IN THE COUNTRY NEXT TO KCI BUT THERE WAS ALSO THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT THIS COULD NOT HAPPEN IT'S GOING TO CAUSE TOO MUCH GLEAM FOR PILOTS TRYING TO LAND THEIR PLANES THE THE SHINE COMING FROM THOSE WOULD MAKE IT TOO DIFFICULT YOU'VE OVERCOME THOSE OBSTACLES WELL WE'VE GOT STUDIES TO GO THROUGH UM THERE BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF AIRPORTS THAT HAVE SOLAR RAYS ARE UP ALREADY THAT ARE VERY NEAR RUNWAYS SO IT'S TECHNOLOGY THAT WE THINK WE CAN OVERCOME WE JUST GOT TO DO THE COST BENEFIT AND THE FEASIBILITY TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THOSE STUDIES ARE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT LET'S TAKE A QUICK PAUSE RIGHT NOW FROM THE CONVERSATION FOR A MOMENT TO TAKE A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE FIVE YEARS AGO AS I'VE MENTIONED VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS TO APPROVE THIS NEW REVAMP OF KCI BUT DID YOU KNOW THIS YEAR MARKS THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE OPENING OF THE EXISTING KCI IN 1972 KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT WILL BECOME THE NEW HUB OF AIR TRANSPORTATION FOR THIS AREA WE'RE ALREADY A COSMOPOLITAN TOWN AND I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO GET ALL THE INTERNATIONAL AIRLINES I CAN FLYING INTO KANSAS CITY INTERNATIONAL AT KCI THE OUTGOING PASSENGER WILL BE ABLE TO DRIVE DIRECTLY TO HIS GATE IN MOST CASES HE WILL HAVE WALKED LESS THAN 300 FEET FROM HIS CAR TO HIS AIRCRAFT YOU KNOW JEFF I REMEMBER WHEN THE WHOLE CAMPAIGNS WERE GOING ON IN 2017 ONE OF THE BIG OBJECTIONS THAT MANY PEOPLE IN THE PUBLIC HAD WHY WOULD YOU DESTROY AN AIRPORT THAT IS SO INCREDIBLY CONVENIENT YOU CAN JUST GO A FEW STEPS AS THAT VIDEO PIECE SHOWED FROM YOUR CAR RIGHT TO THE GATE HAVE YOU MANAGED THAT IN THIS NEW DESIGN OR ARE WE EXPECTED TO LOSE ONE POUND SIZE GOING FROM OUR CAR TO THE GATE NOW WE HEARD AND WE DID A LOT OF EARLY WORK IN THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS IMPORTANT WHAT THE COMMUNITY LIKED ABOUT THE EXISTING AIRPORT WE HAVE A PARKING GARAGE RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE FRONT DOOR OF THE TERMINAL SO PEOPLE CAN PARK THEIR CAR WALK RIGHT ACROSS THE ROADWAY AND GET STRAIGHT INTO THE HEAD HOUSE WHERE YOU WOULD CHECK IN AND GO THROUGH SECURITY WE'VE ADDED THINGS LIKE MOVING WALKWAYS IN CERTAIN PLACES TO GET YOU THROUGH THE CONCOURSE TO GET YOU TO YOUR GATE SO IT'LL BE A VERY CONVENIENT AIRPORT THAT ALL THE PASSENGERS WILL ENJOY SPENDING THEIR TIME IN SOME PEOPLE ARE STILL WORRIED ABOUT THE BUSINESS CASE FOR THIS AIRPORT PAT WHEN YOU CONSIDER SINCE THIS PANDEMIC A LOT OF BUSINESS TRAVELERS THAT ARE THE MOST LUCRATIVE CUSTOMERS FOR THE AIRLINES ARE NOT TRAVELING RIGHT NOW AND ACTUALLY I REMEMBER ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROPONENTS OF HAVING A SINGLE TERMINAL WAS THE SONA COMPANY THEY MAY NOT EVEN EXIST BY THE TIME THE NEW AIRPORT OPENS UH NEXT YEAR DOES THAT MAKE THE FINANCING OF THIS MUCH MORE DIFFICULT DOES THAT MEAN IF YOU HAVE FEWER BUSINESS TRAVELS THAT FEES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO UP OUR COFFEE IS GOING TO COST MORE OUR FLIGHTS ARE GOING TO COST MORE NO THE BUSINESS CASE REMAINS THE SAME WE'RE BACK TO ABOUT 8 MILLION PASSENGERS UH PROBABLY IN 2021 WE EXPECT 2022 TO BE MUCH MUCH BETTER THAN THAT WE HAD 12 MILLION IN 2019 SO WE'RE RIGHT ON WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK WITH THAT WE ACTUALLY BELIEVE YOU KNOW THE THE STREET PRICING FOR THE CONCESSIONS WILL BE THE SAME BUT OUR CONCESSIONS WILL GO UP SIMPLY BECAUSE NOW OUR CUSTOMERS WILL HAVE CHOICES AND THEY WILL HAVE CHOICES WITH KANSAS CITY LOCAL COMPANIES SO AS YOU WALK THROUGH INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING TWO CHOICES TO GRAB AND GO OR OR TO GET SOME FOOD YOU'VE GOT ALL THE CHOICES IN FRONT OF YOU OF THE ENTIRE CONCESSION AREA AND WE BELIEVE WITH THOSE CHOICES WILL COME INCREASED UH INCREASED REVENUE TO TO THIS TO THE DEPARTMENT WHICH WILL UH HELP HELP FUND THE BUSINESS CASE BUT WOULD IT MAKE IT HARDER FOR AIRLINES TO WANT TO COME IN HERE TO PROVIDE DIRECT FLIGHTS WHICH WAS ANOTHER COMPONENT OF WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WITH THIS NEW AIRPORT IT WOULD MAKE US MORE ATTRACTIVE IF WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THESE BUSINESS TRAVELERS COMING THROUGH KANSAS CITY IT SHOULDN'T IT SHOULD NOT I MEAN WE'VE GOT UH YOU KNOW EVERYBODY WHO WE'VE GOT FIVE SIGNATORY AIRLINES THAT SIGNED ON TO THE DEAL AHEAD OF TIME UH WE STILL HAVE FRONTIER AND ALLEGIANT AND AND SOME OF OUR UH LOW-COST TRAVELERS TRAVELING THROUGH AND WE'RE ALWAYS OUT LOOKING FOR UH NEW NEW BUSINESS UH CARRIERS AND INTERNATIONAL CARRIERS AS THE AS THEY SAID IN 1972 FROM THAT VIDEO EARLIER YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER COMPLICATING FACTORS OF COURSE BEYOND THE PANDEMIC MISSOURI LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR A BILL THAT WOULD ACTUALLY INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF FUNDING GOING TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MAYOR LUCAS SAYS THAT WOULD LEAD TO A DEFUNDING OF FIREFIGHTERS AND MORE IMPORTANTLY HERE DEFUNDING OF KCI THE ARGUMENT BEING IF THERE'S LESS MONEY FOR THE UM MORE MONEY FOR THE POLICE THAT MEANS LESS PEOPLE LESS MONEY FOR YOU AT THE AVIATION DEPARTMENT DOES THAT MEAN THE FOOD PRICES GO UP AT THE AIRPORT OTHER FEES GO UP TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE NO AND I THINK WHAT THE MAYOR WAS GETTING AT IS THE THE POINT WITH THE AIRPORT IS EVERY DOLLAR GENERATED AT THE AIRPORT HAS TO STAY AT THE AIRPORT SO WE CAN'T WE CAN'T DIVERT OUR REVENUE TO GO FUND OTHER WHETHER IT'S POLICE OR FIRE OR PUBLIC WORKS IT'S NOT ALLOWED SO THE FAA WON'T ALLOW REVENUE DIVERSION SO HOWEVER THAT LEGISLATION ENDS UP AT THE STATE IT SHOULD IT IT WON'T AFFECT US BECAUSE OUR REVENUE HAS TO BE USED FOR AVIATION PURPOSES HOW CLOSE ARE YOU IN THE DESIGN OF THIS AIRPORT UH UM JEFF IN TERMS OF THE THINGS THAT WE SAW AT THE VERY BEGINNING INCLUDING THAT FOUNTAIN DID THE FOUNTAIN GO AWAY THIS TWO-STORY FOUNTAIN UH SO WE DO HAVE A FOUNTAIN AS YOU COME RIGHT THROUGH THE UH CHECK-IN ONCE YOU'VE GONE THROUGH SECURITY THAT IS PART OF THE PUBLIC ART UM PROGRAM THAT WE'VE PUT IN PLACE SO THAT AS TRAVELERS COME THROUGH THERE WILL BE A FOUNTAIN VISIBLE RIGHT AWAY I THINK AS I MENTIONED NICK WE DID A LOT OF WORK EARLY ON TO HEAR WHAT THE COMMUNITY WANTED SOME OF IT PAT JUST TOUCHED ON THE LOCAL FOOD OPTIONS THAT'S COMING THROUGH THE CONCESSION PROGRAM THE FEEL OF THE AIRPORT THE FOUNTAIN SO YES PASSENGERS WILL STILL SEE THAT YOU KNOW WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE SHOPS AND RESTAURANTS THOUGH NO CHICK-FIL-A WE KNOW THAT FROM THE HEADLINES BUT YES WE'LL HAVE MORE CHOICES WE KNOW THERE'LL BE GENDER-NEUTRAL BATHROOMS UH YOU'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES WHAT ELSE CAN WE EXPECT THAT WE MAY SEE IN OTHER AIRPORTS THAT WE'VE JUST NEVER SEEN AT KCI BEFORE WHEN WE COME THERE IN MARCH ON MARCH 3RD 2023.

YOU KNOW WE'VE GOT A LOT OF AMENITIES THAT WE DON'T CURRENTLY PROVIDE WE'LL HAVE AN INCLUSIVE PLAY AREA THAT WE'VE PARTNERED WITH VARIETY KC WE'LL HAVE A MEDITATION ROOM FOR FOLKS WHO WANT A QUIET AREA UM AS THEY PREPARE FOR THEIR FLIGHT WHETHER IT'S YOU KNOW FOR YOGA OR FOR FOR SOME MEDITATION UM WE'VE GOT A SENSORY ROOM FOR THOSE ON ON THE AUDIT SPECTRUM OR DEMENTIA FOLKS WE'VE GOT AN AIRLINE SIMULATION ROOM SO FOLKS WHO ARE MAYBE A LITTLE AFRAID TO FLY CAN THROUGH A ROOM GO THROUGH A MOCK WHERE THEY DO THEIR BOARDING PASS THEY WALK DOWN A BOARDING BRIDGE THEY THEY THEY COME INTO A ROOM WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE AN AIRPLANE AND THEY SIT DOWN AND THEY HEAR WHAT WHAT THE FLIGHT ATTENDANTS WILL SAY SO THERE ARE THERE ARE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES THAT WE DON'T CURRENTLY HAVE IN OUR TERMINALS THAT UH FLYERS WILL SEE IN THIS NEW TERMINAL THEY'LL LOVE IT IN ADDITION TO THE YOU KNOW THE MEDALLIONS THAT WE SAVED ON UH FROM TERMINAL A THAT WILL BE IN THE TERRAZZO FLOORS THERE'LL BE 39 OF THOSE SO THERE'LL BE A LOT OF HIDDEN EGGS LIKE THAT AND ITEMS THAT FOLKS REALLY WILL ENJOY THAT THEY THAT THEY CAN'T ENJOY IN OUR CURRENT FACILITY WELL JEFF AND PAT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US IS THE NEXT TIME I'M GOING TO SEE YOU UH WHEN YOU'RE GIVING OUT UH AEROPLANE-SHAPED COOKIES ON MARCH 3RD 2023 WITH RIHANNA DRAKE ADELE AND GARTH BROOKS IN THE BACKGROUND WITH US CAN'T PROMISE THAT THOSE PARTICULAR MUSICIANS YOU JUST RATTLED OFF NICK WILL BE THERE BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT CELEBRATION FOR A PROJECT THAT ALL OF US WILL BE PROUD OF FOR GENERATIONS EDGEMOORS JEFF STRICKER AND KC AVIATION DIRECTOR PAT KLEIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US UP NEXT LIFTING THE HOOD ON THE PAIN NOW GOING ON IN OUR AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS AS THEY STRUGGLE TO STAY OPEN BUT FIRST HERE'S SOME OF THE OTHER LOCAL STORIES GRABBING THE HEADLINES THIS WEEK CHIEFS FEVER TAKES OVER KANSAS CITY AS THE ENTIRE METRO TURNS BRIGHT RED IS ANYONE TALKING ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE IT'S THE BEST GAME I'VE EVER BEEN TO PROBABLY BEST GAME ANYBODY I'LL EVER GO TO DID YOU KNOW THAT 90 PERCENT OF EVERY METRO HOME WATCHING TV SUNDAY NIGHT WAS TUNED TO THE CHIEFS YOU MIGHT WONDER WHAT WERE THE OTHER 10 WATCHING WELL THANKS TO YOU IT WAS US NOT SURE IF IT WAS OUR SUNDAY REBROADCAST OF WEEK IN REVIEW OR OUR NEW REBOOT OF AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS BUT WE WERE KANSAS CITY'S SECOND HIGHEST WATCHED CHANNEL SUNDAY NIGHT HAVE YOU PICKED UP YOUR FREE FACE MASKS YET THEY'RE HERE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALLOCATING THREE UPGRADED N95S FOR EVERY AMERICAN YOU CAN FIND THEM WHEREVER YOU GOT YOUR VACCINE FROM WALGREENS TO WALMART IT'S A WEEK THAT SEES MORE DRAMA OVER REDISTRICTING KANSAS LAWMAKERS SENDING TO THE GOVERNOR A NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP MOVING LAWRENCE TO WESTERN KANSAS AND SLICING WYANDOTTE COUNTY IN HALF SQUEEZING THE RE-ELECTION CHANCES OF SHARICE DAVIDS THAT'S WHAT I THINK THE MAIN MOTIVATION IS IS TO DILUTE THE VOICE HERE TRANSPORT SECRETARY PETE BUTTERJUDGE IN KCK PART OF A NATIONAL TOUR TO PROMOTE THE PRESIDENT'S INFRASTRUCTURE PACKAGE A NEW VISION FOR DOWNTOWN REVEAL TOPPING THE TO-DO LIST A NEW HOME FOR THE ROYALS TURNING THE BARNEY ALICE PLAZA INTO A GREEN OASIS AND PUTTING A LID OVER I-670 THAT DIVIDES DOWNTOWN THE MAYOR SAYS ALL THIS STUFF IS COOL BUT THE QUESTION IS HOW DO YOU PAY FOR IT LUCAS WAS ROLLING THE DICE THIS WEEK HE JOINS WITH BOARDMAKER HASBRO TO ANNOUNCE A NEW KANSAS CITY EDITION OF MONOPOLY BUT NO LONGER DO YOU HAVE TO BET JUST ON BALTIC AVENUE BUT INSTEAD WE'LL HAVE A CHANCE HOPEFULLY TO HAVE OUR PIECES ON THE CHIEFS THE ROYALS ZONA ROSA ANY NUMBER OF PLACES BY THE WAY YOU CAN VOTE AND WIN PRIZES FOR SENDING IN YOUR IDEAS FOR WHAT KANSAS CITY STREETS AND ATTRACTIONS SHOULD BE ADDED TO THAT NEW KANSAS CITY EDITION OF MONOPOLY EMAIL YOUR PEX AT KANSAS CITY AT TOPTRUMPS.COM THAT'S KANSAS CITY AT TOPTRUMPS.COM THIS WEEK TOP HEALTH LEADERS IN KANSAS CITY TO CONTINUE TO RING ALARM BELLS HANDS DOWN THEY SAY THIS WEEK MARKS THE TOUGHEST SURGE SINCE THEY'VE HAD TO FACE SINCE THE PANDEMIC BEGAN WHILE HOSPITALS STRUGGLE SO OF COURSE ARE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS PARK HILL THE LATEST TO ANNOUNCE THEY'RE SHUTTING DOWN DUE TO SO MANY SICK STUDENTS AND STAFF BLUE VALLEY AND SHAWNEE MISSION NOTIFYING PARENTS THEY COULD BE NEXT JOINING US NOW ARE TWO SCHOOL LEADERS WHO HAVE ALREADY EXPERIENCED THAT PAIN EDWIN BURCH HAD TO TELL THOUSANDS OF PARENTS SCHOOLS WOULD BE CLOSING IN KANSAS CITY KANSAS LAST WEEK DR BRENT YEAGER KNOWS HOW THAT FEELS HE'S THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE METRO'S LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICT OLATHE WHICH ALSO SHUT ITS DOORS LAST WEEK AFTER 800 STAFFERS WERE SIDELINED BY KOBET THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US BOTH OF YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS REMARKABLY ARE BACK OPEN WHAT MIRACLE HAPPENED THOUGH IN THE LAST FEW DAYS DR YEAGER THAT YOU WENT FROM BEING CLOSED TO OPENING AGAIN DID WAS THERE A MIRACULOUS RECOVERY OF TEACHERS OR DID YOU FIND A NEW UH PIPELINE OF SUBSTITUTES TO COME IN AND TEACH YOU KNOW I UH THE MIRACULOUS MIRACLE THAT HAPPENS PR OBABLY NOT NOT REALLY THERE UM YOU KNOW WE HAVE HIGHLY COMMITTED STAFF MEMBERS IN OUR DISTRICT AND YOU KNOW THAT ALONG WITH SOME OF THE CHANGES FROM THE CDC IN TERMS OF YOU KNOW SHORT AND QUARANTINE AND IN TERMS OF HAVING TO BE AT HOME STAFF MEMBERS HAVING THE ABILITY TO COME BACK AFTER THEY'VE BEEN QUARANTINED AT HOME FOR FIVE DAYS AND THEN BEING ABLE TO COME BACK FOR AN ADDITIONAL YOU KNOW FIVE DAYS ESSENTIALLY WITH A MASK REALLY HELPED US IN TERMS OF BRINGING OUR STAFF BACK AND AND BEING READY TO BE AT SCHOOL AND SUPPORTING KIDS THAT WAY YOU KNOW WE WERE TOLD AT THE VERY BEGINNING OF THIS PANDEMIC EDWIN THAT UH WE WOULD NEVER HAVE TO CLOSE SCHOOLS EVER AGAIN IN FACT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT ALL THIS GREAT ZOOM TECHNOLOGY AND EVEN IF WE HAD THIS SNOW COME DOWN WE CAN NOW GO VIRTUAL AND SO WE GET SICK PEOPLE SICK WE CAN GO ONLINE WHY DIDN'T YOU GO ONLINE IN THE KANSAS CITY KANSAS SCHOOL DISTRICT LAST WEEK WHY DID YOU SHUT DOWN AS YOU KNOW UH THE STATE LEGISLATURE HAS CHANGED THAT THAT THERE ARE LAWS IN PLACE THAT DOESN'T ALLOW US TO GO VIRTUAL AND THERE'S CERTAIN REGULATIONS THAT WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY BUT WE'RE NOT ABLE JUST TO GO REMOTE LIKE WE WERE BEFORE YOU KNOW WE HAVE A 40-HOUR LIMIT FOR REMOTE LEARNING AND TO BE HONEST WE MAY END UP USING THAT AT SOME POINT DEPENDING ON WHAT HAPPENS WITH SNOW DAYS AND THINGS LIKE THAT YOU KNOW AS WE MOVE FORWARD IN THE SCHOOL YEAR THE CHALLENGE FOR US AND WHY WE WEREN'T ABLE TO DO IT'S REALLY TWOFOLD THE FIRST ONE IS YOU KNOW WITH 800 STAFF MEMBERS OUT SICK WE WEREN'T ABLE TO SUPPORT LEARNING WHETHER WE WERE IN PERSON OR AT HOME UM YOU KNOW BECAUSE THOSE SAME STAFF MEMBERS WOULD BE THE ONES PROVIDING EDUCATION AND SUPPORT AND AND YOU KNOW THINGS RELATED TO THAT BUT WE ALSO HAVE A GOOD NUMBER OF STUDENTS IN OUR DISTRICT THAT DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND INTERNET YOU KNOW AND SOME OF THOSE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW THERE'S SOME PIECES THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF TIME TO GET IN PLACE AND GET TO THE RIGHT KIDS TO MAKE SURE WE CAN DO THAT SO IT REALLY DIDN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE WHETHER WE WERE IN PERSON OR VIRTUAL WE JUST DIDN'T HAVE THE STAFF TO DO IT THE KANSAS BOARD OF EDUCATION KNOWING THE SHORTAGE OF TEACHERS JUST DROPPED THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER NO LONGER DO YOU NEED A COLLEGE EDUCATION DR YEAGER YOU CAN HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA AND PASS A CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK AND YOU COULD BE IN YOUR SCHOOL DISTRICT TOMORROW DID YOU GET A HUGE PIPELINE OF NEW TEACHERS COMING YOUR WAY AS A RESULT OF THAT OR HAVE YOU NOT SEEN ANY DIFFERENCE YOU KNOW WE'VE SEEN A LITTLE BIT OF DIFFERENCE AND YOU KNOW THERE'S A SMALL NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW APPLYING WHO WEREN'T ABLE TO BEFORE WE ARE STILL WORKING THROUGH THAT A LITTLE BIT IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT YOU KNOW I CAN TELL YOU IN OUR SYSTEM WE BELIEVE 18 IS TOO YOUNG TO BE A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER IN OUR DISTRICT UM WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE STATE BOARD HAVING THE CONVERSATION AND BEING WILLING TO ALLOW US TO EXPLORE THIS A LITTLE BIT BUT UM YOU KNOW IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS I ANTICIPATE THAT WE'LL BE SHARING KIND OF OUR EXPECTATIONS WITH THAT AND LIKELY THAT WILL BE PEOPLE WHO ARE 21 AND YOU KNOW HAVE GOOD BACKGROUND CHECKS IN TERMS OF REFERENCES AND THINGS LIKE THAT IT'S A IT'S A DELICATE LINE TO WALK BETWEEN JUST KIND OF ALLOWING ANYBODY IF YOU WILL TO COME IN AND TEACH AND BE WITH OUR KIDS WHEN WE HAVE A STAFF THAT'S WORKED TIRELESSLY TO BE ABLE TO YOU KNOW HONE THE ART AND CRAFT AND THE EXPERTISE THAT THEY PORTRAY EACH DAY DID YOU GET FLOODED WITH NEW SUBSTITUTE APPLICANTS SO YES WE DID RECEIVE SOME APPLICANTS UM BE NICE THAT WE HAD A LARGE NUMBER AS YOU HAD INDICATED AND ASKED IN YOUR QUESTION BUT IT HASN'T BEEN AN OVERWHELMINGLY LARGE NUMBER OF APPLICANTS BUT WE HAVE UH HAD SOME APPLICANTS UH SOME APPLICATIONS THAT COME IN AND WE HOPE TO CONTINUE TO TRY TO USE THAT TO HELP PROVIDE SOME TEMPORARY RELIEF SO WE'RE USING THAT AND UH WE'RE WORKING CLOSELY WITH OUR HR DEPARTMENT TO UH GET THAT MESSAGE OUT AND TRY TO GET SOME MORE APPLICANTS HERE TO ASSIST US I WAS I I WAS NOSING AROUND THE OLATHE SCHOOLS WEBSITE YES I DID DR YEAGER AND I SEE YOU WERE PAYING 133 DOLLARS A DAY AS A SUB NOW IF YOU'RE TEACHING AT THE HIGH SCHOOL THAT'S SEVEN HO URS WORTH OF WORK YOU HAVE TO GET UP EARLY IN THE MORNING HAVE TO DEAL WITH ALL OF THOSE KIDS PERHAPS GET YOU KNOW PUT YOUR OWN HEALTH AT RISK AROUND BEING EXPOSED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE IS IT REALLY ABOUT THE MONEY OR ARE THERE MORE CHALLENGES TO BE ABLE TO GET SUBSTITUTES TO COME INTO THE CLASSROOM RIGHT NOW YEAH THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION YOU KNOW WE'VE INCREASED OUR OUR SUB WAGES A LITTLE BIT OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS BUT WE'VE SEEN AS AS WE'VE DONE THAT THAT IT REALLY HASN'T CHANGED OUR SUB POOL IF YOU WILL WHAT WE HAVE NOTICED IS THE SUBS THAT CONTINUE TO WORK WITH US AND STAY WITH US AND OLATHE IT'S REALLY ABOUT THEM BEING PART OF OUR FAMILY PART OF OUR ORGANIZATION YOU KNOW THE SCHOOLS THAT THEY FEEL CONNECTED WITH THOSE SORTS OF PIECES ARE PROBABLY MORE IMPORTANT UM YOU KNOW THAN THAN LOOKING AT THE PAY YOU KNOW WE WERE ALSO INVITED BY THE WAY MARK BEDELL THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE KANSAS CITY MISSOURI SCHOOL DISTRICT TO BE WITH US I KNOW THAT HE COULDN'T BE HERE BUT I KNOW EARLY IN THE PANDEMIC THEY WERE HAVING SO MANY ISSUES INCLUDING ALL OF THE OTHER PROBLEMS NEVER MIND WHAT WAS HAPPENING WITH COVET ITSELF BUT WE THEY COULDN'T EVEN GET BUS DRIVERS DR JAEGER HE WAS ACTUALLY DRIVING ONE OF THE SCHOOL BUSES IT GOT THAT BAD ARE YOU DRIVING THE SCHOOL BUS ARE YOU DOLING OUT MASHED POTATOES IN THE CAFETERIA BECAUSE YOU ARE SO SHORT-STAFFED WELL I WILL SAY GOOD NEWS FOR THE OLATHE COMMUNITY I HAVE NOT DRIVEN A SCHOOL BUS YET THAT PROBABLY WOULD NOT BE GOOD FOR OUR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT EDWIN HAVE YOU HAVE YOU HAD TO TAKE OUT YOUR SUIT OFF YOUR SUIT JACKET AND START SERVING UP CHICKEN NUGGETS IN THE CAFETERIA NO I'M LIKE DR YEAGER UH I DON'T THINK YOU WANT ME DRIVING A SCHOOL BUS NOW I'M WILLING TO MAYBE WASH THEM DOWN MAYBE THAT THING BUT YOU DO NOT WANT ME BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A SCHOOL BUS BUT I WILL SAY IF I MADE IT THIS IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH OF US TO PUT THAT PITCH OUT THERE ANYONE LOOKING FOR A JOB AT EITHER ONE OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUBBING BEING A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER OR DRIVING A BUS WE HAVE AN OPENING FOR YOU WHEN WE THINK ABOUT SCHOOL DISTRICTS TODAY WE HEAR ABOUT THIS TENSION OVER MASK WEARING NOW ABOUT RACE TEACHING IN SCHOOLS IS A BIG DEAL WHAT IN YOUR JUDGMENT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT KEEPS YOU UP AT NIGHT DR YEAGER THERE THERE ARE SO MANY THINGS THAT COULD KEEP ME AWAKE AT NIGHT RIGHT NOW BUT THE THE MAIN THING IS OUR STAFF YOU KNOW WE HAVE TO HAVE THE VERY BEST IN FRONT OF OUR KIDS EACH AND EVERY DAY THEY DESERVE THAT AND YOU KNOW THERE'S SO MANY EXTERNAL THINGS PUTTING PRESSURE ON OUR STAFF RIGHT NOW THAT ARE LARGELY OUT OF OUR CONTROL UM THAT IS IS REALLY DAMAGING OUR ABILITY TO RETAIN AND ALSO KEE AND RECRUIT THE HIGHEST QUALITY STAFF YOU KNOW WE HAVE EDUCATORS ACROSS THE SYSTEM AND I DON'T THINK THIS IS UNIQUE TO OLATHE THAT WENT INTO EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT KIDS AND THEY WANT TO MAKE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON OUR WORLD AND FOR MANY OF THEM THAT'S BEING QUESTIONED EACH DAY SOMETIMES IT'S A IT'S APPARENT SOMETIMES IT'S SOMETHING ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT THAT YOU KNOW TAKES ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN THE WORLD FEELS ANGRY AND UNFORTUNATELY SOMETIMES OUR CLASSROOMS ARE A MICROCOSM OF THAT AND THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME AWAKE AT NIGHT WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSIDERING LEAVING THE FIELD OR NOT ENTERING THE FIELD AND THE SQUEEZE OF COURSE IS ON SUPERINTENDENTS THE PERSON AT THE TOP JUST LIKE YOURSELF I SAW THE KANSAS CITY STAR EDITORIAL BOARD OUT WITH A BRAND NEW EDITORIAL HEADLINE SOME 200 MISSOURI KANSAS SUPERINTENDENTS MAY QUIT AMID COVET TURMOIL HOSTILE PARENTS HAVE YOU GOT ANY NEWS TO SHARE WITH US THIS HALF HOUR DR YEAGER NO IF I WERE GONNA SHARE THAT NICK IT'S SO GREAT TO BE ON WITH YOU I WOULD HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH MY BOARD OF EDUCATION FIRST BUT I I SO APPRECIATE YOU SAYING THAT YOU KNOW BUT YOU DO RUB SHOULDERS WITH OTHER SUPERINTENDENTS OF COURSE DO YOU GET THE PRESSURE ON THEM ABSOLUTELY AND THE PRESSURE IS REAL WE SPEND A WHOLE LOT OF TIME THAT REALLY HAS NOT MUCH TO DO WITH EDUCATION UM AND TAKING CARE OF OUR STAFF A LOT OF IT RIGHT NOW IS JUST JUST CATCHING THE THINGS AS THEY COME IN FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS YOU KNOW THE POINT OF THIS IS TO TRY AND LIFT UP THE HOOD AND LOOK INSIDE SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SEE SOMETHING WE DON'T ORDINARILY SEE MOST OF US HAVEN'T SET FOOT INSIDE OF A SCHOOL FOR A LONG TIME EDWIN IS THERE A SIDE OF WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THAT YOU DON'T THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE SEEING RIGHT NOW YOU KNOW WE'RE SO FOCUSED SOMETIMES WE GET WRAPPED UP INTO THE THINGS THAT AREN'T HAPPENING OUR WAY BUT THE WORK THAT'S GOING ON AND THE INTERACTIONS THAT ARE GOING ON EACH AND EVERY DAY IN THE MIDST OF THIS TURMOIL THE LOVE AND COMPASSION AND THE SMILES ON THE STUDENTS FACES AS THEY COME IN AND SEE THEIR CLASSMATES AND SEE THEIR TEACHERS AND THE INTERACTIONS THAT MANY OF OUR STUDENTS NICK MISSED FOR MONTHS AND EVEN TO A YEAR THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO GET BACK ON THAT UH BASKETBALL COURT OR ON THE FOOTBALL FIELD AND INTERACT AND PLAY SPORTS THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE MIDST OF ALL OF THIS AND REALLY WE ARE FINDING SOME SORT OF NORMALITY IN THE MIDST OF THIS CHALLENGING TIMES AND I THINK OFTENTIMES NICK THAT IS MISSED THANK YOU FOR THAT UM ON OUR WEEKEND REVIEW PROGRAM LAST WEEK UH STEVE KRASKE FROM KCUR TOLD US THAT PARENTS DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT BOOKING A LATE MAY VACATION WITH YOUR FAMILY THIS YEAR BECAUSE CHANCES ARE GOOD YOU'RE STILL YOUR KIDS ARE STILL GOING TO BE IN SCHOOL WE'RE GOING TO BE EXTENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR ARE YOU EXTENDING THE SCHOOL YEAR DR YEAGER AT THIS POINT NO YOU KNOW WE HAVE IN KANSAS UH STATUTORY REQUIREMENT TO MEET A CERTAIN NUMBER OF HOURS IN SCHOOL IN OLATHE LIKE MANY SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE STATE OF KANSAS WE HAVE ABOUT WHAT I WOULD CALL SIX DAYS BEYOND WHAT'S REQUIRED IN TERMS OF STATE STATUTES SO WE HAVE USED TWO OF THE SIX DAYS RIGHT NOW IF FOR SOME REASON WE GET A BLIZZARD IN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND WE HAVE TO TAKE SOME SNOW DAYS AND THAT KIND OF THING WE STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO TAKE ABOUT FOUR SNOW DAYS RIGHT NOW WITH THAT WITHOUT THAT HAVING MUCH OF AN IMPACT ON OUR CALENDAR SHOULD WE GO HIGHER THAN THAT TYPICALLY IN OUR DISTRICT WE WILL LOOK AT EXTENDING THE SCHOOL DAY A LITTLE BIT AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS VERSUS GOING INTO THE SUMMER AND PART OF THAT IS YOU KNOW TO YOUR POINT TO ALSO TRY TO HAVE A LEVEL PREDICTABILITY FOR OUR FAMILIES AND OUR COMMUNITY BUT ALSO FOR SOME OF THE PROFESSIONAL LEARNING AND THINGS WE HAVE PLANNED FOR OUR STAFF AFTER THE SCHOOL YEAR OFFICIALLY ENDS FOR KIDS SO I DON'T ANTICIPATE THAT WE WOULD UH LENGTHEN THE SCHOOL YEAR AT THIS POINT IN TIME FROM THE KANSAS CITY KANSAS SCHOOL DISTRICT THANK YOU EDWIN BURCH AND THE SUPERINTENDENT OF OLATHE SCHOOLS DR BRENT YEAGER AND I'M NICK HAINES OUR REPORTERS ARE BACK NEXT WEEK BY THE WAY UNTIL THEN FROM ALL OF US HERE AT KANSAS CITY PBS BE WELL KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON