By Jill Draper
Center School District in south Kansas City is without a superintendent after Yolanda Cargile resigned at the beginning of February.
Cargile had served as superintendent there since July 2020 when she was hired away from a similar position at Hickman Mills School District.
Center School Board members have completed interviews for hiring an interim superintendent and plan to make an announcement in the next few weeks, confirmed board president Marcie Calvin. The interim hire is expected to serve for the remainder of this term and throughout the next school year.
According to sources, the board voted nearly one year ago not to renew Cargile’s contract, which would have ended in spring 2026. The board gave no reason for their action and Cargile could not be reached for comment.
Among two dozen Kansas City area public school districts in 2024, Center ranked near the bottom in terms of its Annual Performance Report or APR score. Determined by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, these scores are based mainly on test scores, graduation rates and attendance.
APR scores from Kansas City and Hickman Mills school districts increased during 2024, while Center and Grandview school districts saw a decrease, scoring low enough to endanger their full accreditation in the future. Accreditation is based on consolidated APR from the past three years.
The Center School District’s administrative office lists three assistant superintendents plus four directors (operations and facilities, technology, business services/chief financial officer, and communications and development). Cargile reorganized the office during her tenure, resulting in the departure of five out of six administrators, sources said.
A contractor is currently filling the chief financial officer position, and board president Calvin said members hope to find an interim superintendent with some school financial experience. Meanwhile, she said the current administrative team is pulling together to accomplish end-of-the-year tasks like budget planning, the annual audit and staffing needs.
Center’s previous superintendent, Sharon Nibbelink, also resigned abruptly in May 2019 after four years on the job. Various district leaders left during her leadership, as well, including principals at the district’s only high school and middle school and an assistant principal.
In a message from the district dated Feb. 3, families were notified of Cargile’s resignation and directed to assistant superintendent Meagan Patterson as a point of contact until the position is filled.