KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Education commissioner Kent King demands that the Independence School District get access to seven schools being transferred from Kansas City.

The Kansas City Star reported on its Web site Tuesday that King says Independence needs access to the schools to get ready for the upcoming school year. He decried "obstruction" by the Kansas City district.

Last week, an arbitration panel ruled that Independence owes $17.1 million for a high school and middle school. But the suburban district also is entitled to $4.2 million from Kansas City's operational reserves.

On Monday, a Jackson County judge denied requests from Kansas City Building Corp., which had leased the schools to the Kansas City district, to delay the school transfer until the legal issues are resolved.

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Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com