Most working parents have little time to spare for extra-curricular activities.

Melissa Eddy, Kansas City, is no different. She’s a wife, mother of two elementary-aged children, and a pre-school teacher.

But that didn’t stop her from assuming one more activity: holding the members of the Kansas City, Missouri, School District (KCMSD) Board of Education accountable for its actions.

“I am a huge stakeholder in the process,” she said. “I stand to lose the most.”

Eddy, along with former KCMSD board member Dr. Bill Eddy (no relation), formed the grassroots task force, “Do the Right Thing for Kids.” (http://kc4kids.wordpress.com)

The group seeks to keep the community informed about what the school board is or is not doing; replace the current elected school board with one that is appointed or a hybrid version of appointed and elected officials; and pursue state legislation that would support board appointments.

“We’re trying to communicate to the community as a whole how poorly the district functions and let them know how broken the system is,” Melissa Eddy said.

To achieve this, parents grade board members’ performances at bi-weekly board meetings.

“It’s our way of highlighting how our board has not met the most basic principles of governance,” she said.

Members use criteria established by the Missouri School Board Association.

The task force issued its first report card in May and sends results to anyone who wishes to sign up for its free newsletter. Plans will begin in October to also grade board members’ performances at committee meetings.

Melissa Eddy said prior to the task force, she and other parents met periodically with Bill Eddy, who then served on the KCMSD board, to discuss district issues.

In their conversations with him, they learned about problems within the district. (http://kctribune.com/article.cfm?articleID=18365)

“He felt the district was so dysfunctional, so broken, it needed changed from the outside,” she said.

Parents were especially distressed when the school board forced Superintendent Anthony Amato to resign in January.

“He’s the 22nd superintendent the school district has had in the last 30 years,” she said. “We thought enough is enough! How can we help you?”

And the parents’ fear is not unfounded. The district lost state accreditation in 1999 and regained partial accreditation in 2002. The Missouri Board of Education could take over the district as early as 2010, if it fails to improve enough to reach full accreditation.

“We will be subject to state control if we can’t get our act together,” Melissa Eddy stressed. “The push is for local control before this happens.”

The Kansas City School Board “problem” is often perceived by the community as overwhelming, she said.

“Where do you start? It is overwhelming. I have yet to meet someone who does not believe the district is broken or is not dysfunctional.”

She said the goal is to have changes in place within the next 18 months, “to prove to the state that (Kansas City) is willing to take on and do what is needed.”

“I am so confident there will be changes. There have been times people have been fed up and I think we’re there again.”

(Part of a series on the Kansas City, Missouri School District)