KC Star:

The endangered Kansas City school board resolved Wednesday that it is willing to change its shape, while moving closer to partnering with the mayor’s office.
Mayor Sly James told The Star earlier Wednesday that he supports the board’s still-evolving plan to create an advisory panel appointed in part by the mayor.
Education Commissioner Chris Nicastro — who may soon be in position to recommend whether the local board stays or goes — has not been won over, at least not yet.
The commissioner was encouraged that the board wants to build a partnership with the mayor’s office, she told The Star Wednesday, but she said concerns remain about the long-term effectiveness of the elected board.
“Nothing has changed,” Nicastro said. “The concerns are still in effect.”
The board passed resolutions to back legislation that would preserve the local school board, shrink its size from nine to seven, and…