Wichita School Master Plan includes $450M Bond Issue

A draft of the Wichita Public Schools’ Master Plan was presented to board members at their Monday Night meeting.

It includes the potential consolidation of schools, and administrative buildings, as well as a possible $450,000,000 bond issue.

Step-1 of the master plan is focused on twenty-five district buildings, that includes consolidating four elementary schools, five alternative school locations, and two administrative centers, and rebuilding eight school facilities.

A new bond issue would be the first for Wichita since 2008.

Details about the Master Plan are available on the district's web site as of Tuesday, 6/11, which also includes a survey the district hopes people will respond to ahead of the June 27 special meeting.

The school board also voted to table the decision regarding the sale of Park Elementary to the City of Wichita.

The plan is to have the building become the next homeless emergency shelter.

The motion to hold the vote until their June 27 was made in order for board members to gather additional information about the city's plans.

Board approval would allow the potential sale of the building for just one dollar, and for it to be converted to a multi-agency center.

Park Elementary is one of six schools the board selected to close in an effort to make up for a $42,000,000 budget shortfall.