KANSAS CITY'S PRCEY JOB

The Kansas City School District -- the one that has cost Missouri taxpayers more than $1 billion in desegregation costs -- is still looking for a superintendent. One candidate, John Murphy, turned down the job after an offer of a mere $250,000 compensation package. Murphy feels his asking price -- believed to be $275,000 -- is reasonable given the intense challenges and pressures posed by the job. He plans no compromise on his earning power.

Unbelievable.

Missourians should tell Murphy to stay in North Carolina. No superintendent is worth that much money. The former superintendent received a whopping $180,000, which was bad enough. The fact that Kansas City would even consider such a salary is indicative of the ludicrous excesses that continue to plague the district.

The district is laying off teachers and other staff due to court-ordered elimination of state funding for desegregation. Kansas City must relearn to tow the line in terms of tax collections paying for services. It should start the transition with a reasonably-priced superintendent. School board members should keep on looking.