Next steps for Valley Center school district after voters pass bond issue

VALLEY CENTER, Kan. (KSNW) – What’s next for Valley Center USD 262 after voters passed the nearly $59 million bond issue Tuesday night?

The bond issue will create additions to current buildings and construct new buildings as well.

Superintendent Greg Lehr says plans for the new elementary school will start soon.

“We actually have an elementary planning design team that will meet within the next couple weeks to look at actually designing the elementary school. We kind of have a proposal of what the outside would look like,” Superintendent Lehr said.

Superintendent Lehr hopes to open the new elementary school for enrollment for the 2026-2027 school year. He also adds that staffing may have to change after the projects are finished.

“We would shift quite a few of our staff members to those schools so there would be some redistribution staff. But, we may have to add some additional personnel. Maybe you look at custodians, things of that nature,” Lehr said.

The district is expected to grow over the next few years because it is the 21st fastest-growing district in the state in terms of percentage. That’s why the district planned the bond issue for expansion.

Lehr believes this will be a positive step forward for the district.

“It’ll be able to allow us to welcome those new families not into packed classrooms but into new spaces or adequate space,” Lehr said.

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