The Kansas City School District has acknowledged charges by the Jewish community Relations Bureau that the Jewish community is unrepresented in administrative positions and has promised to take prompt measures to rectify the situation. The promise was contained in a letter from Dr. Andrew S. Adams, superintendent of schools, to Irving Achtenberg, chairman of the JCRB which submitted a report entitled “Affirmative Steps Required to Increase Jewish Supervisory Personnel in the Kansas City School System.” “You are correct when you conclude that the number of Jewish people on our staff at this time is not in proportion to the number of Jewish people who live in the School District.” Dr. Adams wrote. “I am preparing to immediately reinforce this factor in our school staffing patterns.”
He said he would “instruct our Personnel Department to insure that all supervisory and administrative positions in this School District are open to all qualified candidates and that Jewish applicants are carefully and fully evaluated for appointments.” Sidney Lawrence, director of the JCRB, expressed pleasure with the “frank response” by Dr. Adams and indicated that the community agency would like to hear from Jewish personnel interested in applying to the Kansas City School District as potential teachers or administrators, the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle reported. The Jewish Community Relations Bureau charged last month that only one Jewish person in the entire School District holds an administrative post.
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