Throw in the mix of problems short term superintendents and micromanaging school board. Here in Kansas City, we've gone through ~28 superintendents in the last ~32 years. Each is essentially a "bungee boss" who comes in and tries to change everything only to discover that it's damn near impossible to change anything with a powerful teachers' union and a school board high on power.

It's incredibly important in the handling of kids to have consistency and knowledgable authority figures. But when the schedule is dictated by the whims of the school board and the teachers and staff admit they don't know what's going on, it's no wonder the kids have no respect for the system.