Voters to decide on bond to improve KCK Public Schools
Nov 05, 2024
KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Wyandotte County voters within the Kansas City, Kansas School District will decide whether or not to approve a bond to improve multiple schools within the district.
Back in August, the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education approved a $180 million bond issue for voters to take up in November.
It would allow for three new schools to be built, along with facility upgrades and improvements.
KCKPS said the recommended facility upgrades and improvements are based on input gathered from students, parents, staff and community members through a survey.
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According to KCKPS, this is a zero-tax increased bond, meaning there will be no impact to homeowners.
A building addition to Sumner Academy is estimated to cost $7,000,000 and will consist of eight classrooms and restroom facilities and additional support space that will connect to the main building and allow the district to remove mobile classrooms from the campus.
Another project would combine Silver City and Noble Prentis elementary schools at the current Noble Prentis site and is estimated to cost $35,000,000.
Construction of a new building would begin while the existing building is occupied. The current building would be demolished after the new school is built.
Silver City elementary would be repurposed for a new Argentine Middle School after students moved into the new combined site.
The third project is for a new Central Middle School and is estimated to cost $66,368,900. The project would require a full demolition of the existing building and would temporary relocate students during construction.
Principal Bryan Dolezal showed FOX4 on Monday, Oct. 28, why it’s in need of major upgrades. It’s 110 years old and it’s age is showing.
“I know it’s classified as one of the oldest buildings, junior high buildings west of the Mississippi,” Dolezal said.
Some classrooms have original wood floors and some doors with original keys.
Dolezal showed FOX4 cracked walls and told us about the leaks. He praised the custodial staff for their hard work, but says the age of the building presents many challenges.
“I know there has been some arguments around academic outcomes and how we need to focus on student achievement, however I do believe we can do both. Our kids can be educated in a nice building, where comfort is not an issue,” Dolezal shared.
There are decades of deterioration for the near 700 students who call Central their middle school.
“Our air conditioning unit is extremely unpredictable. It’s not uncommon, during hot days, for some of our classrooms to be in the upper 90s to 100 degrees when you put 30 kids in there,” Dolezal said.
There are also no elevators, in either Central Middle School or Argentine Middle School.
“If you have mobility issues, this building does present a challenge,” Dolezal shared. ”We can’t serve students with wheelchairs. We have to find them an alternate location that has their program.”
There are also four mobile units, described as trailers, that also house classrooms at Central Middle School. They, too, present safety issues, according to a school administrator.
The last time Central Middle School had an any improvements was in 2016, from another school bond.
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Back in May, Wyandotte County residents voted down on a $420 million bond proposal for KCK Schools.
That bond included the rebuilding of Central and Argentine Middle Schools, replacing older elementary school buildings, eliminating mobile classrooms, a new state-of-the-art public library, a new district aquatic center and comprehensive renovations to existing schools campuses.