Frequently Asked Questions
Below are Frequently Asked Questions about the Facility Improvement Plan and Bond Issue grouped into categories.
If you have a question that isn't addressed in the answers below, email WPSBond@usd259.net.
- The Plan
- New and Updated Buildings
- Building Maintenance
- School Consolidation
- Program and Curriculum Updates
- Finance
- Voting
The Plan
- How was the community involved in developing this plan?
- What improvements will be made if the plan is approved by voters on Feb. 25, 2025?
- Why do our buildings need to be updated?
- What’s included in the plan?
- What is the construction timeline?
- How will the zero-tax-rate-change bond issue increase safety and security?
- What happens if voters do not approve this zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal on Feb. 25, 2025?
- Why should we do this work now and not wait until later?
- Beyond improving our schools, how will the bond issue help the community?
How was the community involved in developing this plan?
With aging buildings, reduced enrollment and rapidly changing needs of students, the Wichita Public Schools Board of Education turned to the community for input and solutions.
In the summer of 2023, WPS commissioned Cooperative Strategies (now a part of Woolpert) to create an educational facilities master plan to guide its long-term school facility improvements. The team from Woolpert has assisted hundreds of school districts nationwide with similar programs. As part of the process, two community surveys gathered more than 5,000 responses about the district’s challenges and priorities. Woolpert also facilitated a series of focus groups and community meetings to share findings and gather thoughts and feedback on the challenges and opportunities facing WPS.
Wichita’s 2024 Facilities Master Plan was developed based on this input, along with Woolpert’s analysis of building conditions, enrollment and capacity, and the adequacy of school facilities for meeting the needs of today’s learners and those to come for generations in the future. In gathering feedback from the community, the district learned that, overall, participants recognized the need for change, rebuilding and/or renovating buildings, and reducing expenses to concentrate resources on today’s students.
On Aug. 26, 2024, the Board of Education approved the Facility Master Plan – Step 1, which serves as the roadmap for WPS facilities for the next several years. The Board approved seeking a $450 million zero-tax-rate-change bond issue on the Feb. 25, 2025 ballot to fund the plan. Voter approval of the proposal will not increase the bond issue tax rate homeowners pay to support their schools.
What improvements will be made if the plan is approved by voters on Feb. 25, 2025?
If approved by voters, the proposal will allow the district to:
- Provide better learning environments with modern safety features for our students by rebuilding outdated buildings averaging 60 years of age.
- Consolidate some schools and programs to create better opportunities for all students while improving efficiency and saving dollars.
- Provide classrooms that meet modern learning needs and better prepare students for the future.
- Address critical maintenance issues throughout the district.
- The proposal will address critical building and safety needs while ensuring Wichita students have access to modern classrooms in which to learn and grow.
For more details, you can review the Facility Master Plan here.
Why do our buildings need to be updated?
The zero-tax-rate-change bond issue would help address several challenges facing WPS, including:
Aging buildings
- WPS serves more than 46,000 students in 88 buildings with an average age of 60 years. They need major repairs and updates to meet the learning needs of today’s students.
- Older schools require constant maintenance and repair on roofs, walls, windows, HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems.
- We have too many buildings for our enrollment now and in the coming years, and many of them need updates to meet our students' needs.
- Our schools represent a $5 billion investment from our district and its taxpayers and it’s essential we protect this investment through proper maintenance.
Safety and security
- For all schools, student safety comes first. Building security has evolved, and we need to stay up to date with best practices to keep our students and staff safe. Projects in the facilities master plan ensure our schools are equipped with modern safety and security measures.
The changing needs of students
- We are preparing our students for a very different world than we were in the 1960s and earlier, when many of our schools were built. The labs, accessibility, safety and security systems, and overall conditions of many of our school buildings are in need of updates.
- This plan includes necessary updates to STEM labs, career and technical training spaces, and classrooms to give students the skills they need for the future. These updates help prepare students for college, careers, and life.
- Our classrooms are too small for students to learn in the ways that help them the most. They are often confined to traditional rows of desks and chairs, limiting hands-on learning opportunities. Today’s classrooms should offer space for students to explore, collaborate, and engage in group activities that help them develop crucial critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We need to create classrooms that encourage learning without increasing our class sizes.
Declining enrollment
- The number of students in WPS is declining, and this trend is expected to continue.
- The most significant impact on enrollment is declining birth rates. Over the last decade, WPS’ enrollment decreased by nearly 5,000 students.
- This has led to most buildings operating at 70% capacity. Operating schools closer to capacity saves the district money in the long run, allowing for more opportunities for our students.
- We have too many buildings for our enrollment now and in the coming years, and many of them need updates to meet the needs of our students.
What’s included in the plan?
If approved, the zero-tax-rate-change bond issue would enable the district to:
Rebuild new, modern schools on or near existing sites
- Seven rebuilt schools would be sized appropriately for current and future enrollment and provide modern, flexible learning spaces, as well as updated furniture and equipment, without impacting class sizes. Schools that would be impacted include:
- Adams, Black, Caldwell, Irving and McLean elementary schools; and
- Truesdell and Coleman middle schools.
Consolidate facilities and programs to right-size schools and save maintenance, staffing and operating costs
- The plan includes building new facilities, renovating and repurposing other buildings and closing some facilities and moving their programs to existing or new sites.
- These changes will support new and expanded learning opportunities, maintain and preserve historic facilities, and assure high-quality learning spaces across the community. They will also save the district money on facility maintenance, freeing up funds to improve student learning experiences.
New construction projects include:
- Building a new Early Childhood Center at the current site of Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center, and closing the Little Early Childhood Center.
- Constructing the Future Ready Center for Construction Trades at East High School.
- Adding outdoor athletic facilities to Northeast Magnet High School.
Projects to renovate, repurpose or relocate existing learning spaces and programs include:
- Expanding and converting Cessna Elementary into a K-8 school.
- Converting Isely Elementary into a K-8 school.
- Repurpose the existing Coleman Middle School to house a variety of specialized programs for K through 12th-grade students, which could include EI Academy, Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center and Gateway.
- Closing the building that houses Sowers Alternative High School and moving its program to Wells Alternative Middle School, which will be expanded to accommodate both schools.
- Closing the buildings that house Chester Lewis Academic Center, Dunbar Support Center-Multilingual Education Services, Focht Instructional Support Center, Education Imagine Academy, and Gateway Alternative Program Center. All programs will remain in the district and be relocated to other locations.
- Closing L'Ouverture Elementary, OK Elementary, Pleasant Valley Elementary and Woodland Elementary schools and relocating students to other nearby schools where they will have improved educational opportunities in newer facilities.
What is the construction timeline?
Timelines for renovating or building new schools must be flexible and can take several years. These require careful planning to ensure student learning is not disrupted and staff has time and resources to transition. If the zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal is approved, the district will work closely with architects and construction managers to implement the most efficient timeline. School closures and construction will be announced in advance. Our initial plans call for a five-year schedule to complete all projects.
How will the zero-tax-rate-change bond issue increase safety and security?
What happens if voters do not approve this zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal on Feb. 25, 2025?
If the zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal isn’t approved, the school consolidations will still happen, but without the new buildings. Students would be moved into existing facilities, and updates to those buildings would have to be adjusted in terms of timing and scale. Most planned new constructions and renovations will likely not occur if the zero rate-change bond proposal is not approved.
In addition, the cost for needed repairs and updates will continue to increase as our buildings age, and students will continue to attend schools that do not offer the same opportunities across the district and lack the best environments for student learning. Any future bond proposals could require a tax rate increase from the community instead of the zero-tax-rate-change opportunity in February 2025.
Why should we do this work now and not wait until later?
This proposal is a one-time opportunity for us to make these needed improvements without changing our tax rate. If the proposal is approved and the facility plan is completed, our schools will be more efficient to operate and maintain, thus saving our district money and providing better student opportunities.
Just as homeowners must sometimes spend money to maintain their homes, the district must spend money to protect the investment that the community has made in its schools and neighborhoods. If approved, the zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal will allow us to help protect the $5 billion investment our community has made in our schools and our district's financial future. Investing in new, updated and improved buildings now will benefit many future generations of students and homeowners.
If we wait to make these improvements, we will miss the financial opportunity we have now, plus our schools will continue to decline. A future bond proposal could require a tax rate increase, and the costs to update our schools will continue to increase.
Beyond improving our schools, how will the bond issue help the community?
It is well known that the quality of schools is the single most important thing impacting property values. Quality schools stabilize and protect property values and lead to strong communities. The improvements we make now will benefit many generations of students and families who live, and who will live, in Wichita Public Schools.
New and Updated Buildings
Why do you need to rebuild seven schools?
Schools were recommended to be rebuilt when the current and long-term costs to renovate, repair or maintain the facility outweighed the benefits of constructing a new, modernized school that better meets the needs of today’s students.
In addition, analyses of current classrooms revealed that approximately 1/3 of all classrooms were under 700 square feet, which is far smaller than standard classrooms today, which are designed to be 900 square feet or more to facilitate a variety of interactive, hands-on learning experiences other than lecture style. While classroom size will increase, class size will not.
Building Maintenance
Why is there so much deferred maintenance? Isn’t maintenance and upkeep part of the district’s normal operations?
WPS is the largest school district in Kansas, with 88 buildings serving more than 46,000 students. Our facilities represent an investment of $5 billion by the community’s taxpayers. While the district budgets every year for maintenance and repairs, our everyday budget can’t keep up with the needs of too many aging buildings. We are falling behind neighboring school districts when it comes to the condition of our schools. It’s been 16 years since we passed a bond issue and implemented a comprehensive facility improvement plan. It’s time to meet the needs of our students, teachers and community.
School Consolidation
- Why close four elementary schools?
- How were building consolidation plans determined?
- Where will students at the consolidated schools go? Will new boundary lines need to be developed?
- Why do you still need to close schools after closing six last year?
- Why is having fewer schools better for my child’s education?
- What will happen to the old buildings after they’re closed? Will the Chester Lewis building be torn down after closing?
- When are the proposed schools going to close if the bond is approved?
- Will schools still close if the zero-tax-rate-change bond does not pass?
Why close four elementary schools?
WPS has too many schools for its population to fund each school at the level of quality needed for our students. Maintaining and operating too many old buildings costs our community millions of dollars every year. We’ll save those dollars by reducing the number of schools we operate. That means we can focus our funding on programs and resources directly impacting students. Instead of wasting money on maintaining old buildings, we’ll be able to provide better learning environments, more staff, and the tools students need to succeed.
L'Ouverture Elementary, OK Elementary, Pleasant Valley Elementary and Woodland Elementary schools were built between 1948 and 1951, more than 75 years ago, and require extensive repairs and upgrades to modernize their learning spaces to meet students’ needs. The northwest region of WPS - where the four schools are located - has the highest concentration of elementary schools in the district. The 20 elementary schools in this area are, on average, 65 years old and are only used to 65% of their capacity. Many sit on small sites limiting greenspace and parking.
By consolidating these four schools into new buildings, students will have more opportunities and support. For example, the updated schools will have a full time nurse, at least one full-time counselor on-site, a social worker and a principal and assistant principal. The facilities will also better meet their needs with dedicated spaces such as cafeterias and classes such as art and music.
How were building consolidation plans determined?
WPS engaged the public with community meetings and surveys to gather community feedback on this plan. The plan also considered enrollment data and projections, the condition of current buildings and where students lived. The plan is focused on creating a financially sustainable collection of schools with high-quality learning environments accessible to all.
In working with the district on recommendations, Woolpert, the district’s facility consultant, plotted all students on a “density map,” overlaid with current school locations, to ensure future school consolidations would be paired geographically with rebuilding in the same neighborhoods. Doing this ensures students impacted by consolidations in the future would have a modernized school nearby to attend.
Where will students at the consolidated schools go? Will new boundary lines need to be developed?
Students from the consolidated schools will be relocated to nearby newer school buildings. With new schools being built and others closing, it will be important to develop new boundary lines. If the zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal is approved and the improvement plans take effect, the district will work with the community to develop new boundary lines.
Why do you still need to close schools after closing six last year?
On March 4, 2024, the Wichita Board of Education voted to close six schools as part of budget reductions. Schools closed at the end of the 2023-2024 school year were: Hadley Middle School, Jardine STEM and Career Explorations Academy, Clark Elementary School, Cleaveland Traditional College and Career Readiness Magnet Elementary School, Park Elementary School and Payne Elementary School.
Closing these schools enabled the district to focus its resources in fewer buildings, reduce the repair and maintenance backlog, better utilize remaining buildings, solve immediate needs for filling staffing vacancies and reduce expenditures to help balance the budget. The closings supported the district’s goals of providing schools that best meet student needs, aligning with long-term facilities planning, and maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Factors considered for building closures included capacity at neighboring schools to ease the transition for families, building conditions, how much of the building’s capacity was being used, enrollment, and more.
Why is having fewer schools better for my child’s education?
Operating more schools than needed for the district’s student enrollment is costly. By closing and consolidating schools, we'll save those dollars and focus them on programs and resources that directly impact students. Instead of wasting money on maintaining old buildings, we’ll be able to provide better schools and classrooms, more staff, and the tools students need to succeed.
What will happen to the old buildings after they’re closed? Will the Chester Lewis building be torn down after closing?
Once the buildings are closed, they’ll be put up for sale, with proposal and selection criteria currently being developed. If no buyers come forward, the buildings will be demolished to prevent blight and protect the integrity of our neighborhoods.
As for the Chester Lewis building, while no final decision has been made, it will likely need to be torn down to make room for the new Early Childhood Center.
When are the proposed schools going to close if the bond is approved?
Will schools still close if the zero-tax-rate-change bond does not pass?
Yes. If the zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal isn’t approved, the school consolidations will still happen, but without the new buildings. Students would be moved into existing facilities, and updates to those buildings would have to be adjusted in terms of timing and scale. The majority of planned new constructions and renovations likely will not take place if the zero rate-change bond proposal is not approved.
Program and Curriculum Updates
- Will my child’s class sizes stay the same?
- How will a new Early Childhood Center enhance the district’s pre-kindergarten services?
- Where will the Future Ready Center for Construction Trades be located at East High School?
- Why are outdoor athletic fields being added to Northeast Magnet High School when they don’t offer sports?
- What is the plan for K-8 schools? Why is the district adding more?
- Where will Education Imagine Academy go?
Will my child’s class sizes stay the same?
Class sizes in WPS follow Board of Education guidelines which are based on best practices in education and Kansas State Standards. Working with the community, the district will develop a redistricting plan that takes into consideration maintaining favorable class sizes that meet the needs of our students. In addition, while we will have newer, bigger classrooms, that does not mean we will have bigger districtwide class sizes.
How will a new Early Childhood Center enhance the district’s pre-kindergarten services?
A new Early Childhood Center will bring all of the district’s pre-kindergarten services together in one place, making it easier for families to access the support their children need from birth through five years old. By consolidating these services into one location, we can also work more closely with community partners who may offer additional resources. This is especially important for families in one of the most economically challenged areas of the state, where access to early learning has been limited. The center will help us close the achievement gap by offering specialized training for early childhood learning and ensuring every child gets the support they need to succeed. Plus, being located near a college will provide opportunities for collaboration and extra assistance from future educators.
Where will the Future Ready Center for Construction Trades be located at East High School?
Why are outdoor athletic fields being added to Northeast Magnet High School when they don’t offer sports?
This decision honors a commitment to our community through previous bond issues, ensuring that all students have access to the same physical education and wellness opportunities. By adding these outdoor fields, we’re providing Northeast Magnet students with the same facilities and opportunities as those at other schools.
What is the plan for K-8 schools? Why is the district adding more?
Many families in our community have expressed a strong preference for the K-8 school model. Research supports the benefits of K-8 schools, with studies showing that they provide stability during critical years of development, providing a stronger sense of belonging, which leads to improved confidence and fewer behavioral issues. Students also stay with the same peer groups and teachers longer, fostering closer relationships.
The district has seen similar success with its current K-8 schools, and expanding this option ensures parents across WPS have the same educational choices to meet their needs. By adding strategically placed K-8 schools in each region, the district can offer families more opportunities to select the best fit for their children’s education while reinforcing our mission to serve all parts of the community.
Where will Education Imagine Academy go?
Finance
- What is a bond issue and how does it affect us?
- Why is this a zero-tax-rate-change proposal? How can this work be completed without changing the tax rate we pay?
- How much will this plan cost?
- How is the special election and the consultants for the plan being funded?
- Can money from the bond issue be used for salaries?
- How does the zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal impact the district’s tax rate?
- Will my tax bill change?
- The proposal states that the district's tax rate won’t go up. How long will it be held at the current rate?
- If the proposal does not pass, will my tax rate go down?
- If this bond proposal funds only Step 1 of the facilities master plan, how much will the overall plan cost and what else is included in the plan for later?
- How does our bond mill rate compare to other districts? How about our overall mill rate?
- What happens if economic conditions change and prices for projects increase?
- How will bond issue funds be handled? District-Wide or by school?
What is a bond issue and how does it affect us?
Simply put, a bond is much like a personal home loan and is a way for government entities, such as school districts, to borrow money for large projects and repay them with future tax proceeds. Just as an individual generally approaches a bank or financial institution for a mortgage because they don't have the means to pay for their home with one large initial payment, school districts sell voter-approved bonds to fund construction projects. In a large district such as WPS with 88 buildings, this is an important tool for ensuring students have optimal learning environments.
With a zero-tax-rate-increase bond issue, the district can complete major repairs, renovation, and construction without increasing the tax rate or putting a financial burden on taxpayers.
Why is this a zero-tax-rate-change proposal? How can this work be completed without changing the tax rate we pay?
Wichita has a unique opportunity to complete the needed building updates without changing the portion of the tax rate used for paying down its debt. As previous debt from former referendums is paid off, the district can take on new debt without changing the tax rate homeowners pay.
This is similar to taking out a home equity loan to make major home repairs or updates while keeping your mortgage payment the same. It is important to understand that, for any given year, the amount of property taxes you pay to support our schools might change based on changes in the assessed value of your property. However, the tax rate for debt retirement will not change if voters approve our zero-tax-rate-change proposal.
WPS’ last bond issue was approved by voters in 2008, 16 years ago.
How much will this plan cost?
The improvements and construction outlined in Facilities Master Plan - Step 1 are estimated to cost $450 million. Because of proper financial planning, the district has the opportunity to complete these improvements and protect the community’s investment in its schools without changing the tax rate residents currently pay.
How is the special election and the consultants for the plan being funded?
Can money from the bond issue be used for salaries?
No. The debt service portion of the district’s tax rate can only be used to pay for voter-approved bond issues that fund major capital improvements such as maintenance, repair, renovation, construction and certain technology costs. By law, bond funds cannot be used for day-to-day operating expenses such as salaries and benefits, transportation costs, utilities, textbooks or other supplies.
How does the zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal impact the district’s tax rate?
Each year in September, the Board approves an overall tax levy for the district. The tax levy includes several components, one of which is the levy to make debt payments based on the district’s debt schedule. Because of proper financial planning, the district can take on new debt without changing the debt portion of the tax rate.
Will my tax bill change?
The proposal states that the district's tax rate won’t go up. How long will it be held at the current rate?
The district’s bond mill levy is set to stay at its current level of 7.500 for the next 20 years, meaning no change in the tax rate the community pays for the bond payment under the current plan. While the mill levy could change if there are major shifts in the proposal or market conditions, the expectation is that it will remain steady, allowing for school improvements without raising taxes.
If the proposal does not pass, will my tax rate go down?
If this bond proposal funds only Step 1 of the facilities master plan, how much will the overall plan cost and what else is included in the plan for later?
Long-term facility planning involves constantly changing factors, such as enrollment trends, shifts in student, staff, and community needs and construction costs. Because of this, the exact details and costs of future steps of the plan haven’t been finalized. However, the district is fully committed to renewing the entire Wichita Public Schools system.
Step 1 of this plan is a crucial first phase, focused on addressing immediate needs, but it's only the beginning. If the bond issue for Step 1 is approved, the district will work closely with the community to reassess needs and finalize future plans. Each phase will be rolled out with care and sound judgment, ensuring transparency, affordability, and a future-ready school system.
How does our bond mill rate compare to other districts? How about our overall mill rate?
What happens if economic conditions change and prices for projects increase?
The proposed zero-tax-rate-change bond issue addresses identified needs for the district; however, the list could possibly be modified due to changing financial conditions. With today’s economy, if the proposal is approved by the voters, the district will be diligent in protecting the taxpayer’s investment while completing the identified projects in the bond issue proposal.
How will bond issue funds be handled? District-Wide or by school?
A Citizen's Bond Oversite Committee has been formed. This committee is comprised of WPS staff, WPS parents, United Teachers of Wichita staff, community members and other professionals. This committee is prepared, should the bond pass, to be the eyes and ears of the community and to hold the school district accountable for the spending of bond funds authorized by the voters.
Voting
- Why are you having the election in February 2025?
- How will the WPS zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal appear on the ballot?
- When is the election?
- Who Can Vote?
- When does early voting begin?
Why are you having the election in February 2025?
Wichita’s Facility Master Plan – Step 1, which serves as the roadmap for WPS facilities for the next several years, was officially approved by the Board of Education on Aug. 26, 2024. The Board voted on Sept. 9, 2024, to put a zero-tax-rate-change bond issue to fund the plan on the Feb. 25, 2025, election ballot.
While holding an election for the zero-tax-rate-increase bond issue during a busy election season would have been optimal for voter turnout, the timing would not have allowed the district to ensure we effectively communicated factual information about the proposal to our community. The district would have had less than two months to ensure everyone was well informed about the proposal and its impacts on our students and community.
How will the WPS zero-tax-rate-change bond proposal appear on the ballot?
The ballot language will appear as follows:
Shall Unified School District No. 259, Sedgwick County, Kansas (Wichita) (the “District”), issue general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $450,000,000, to pay the costs to make improvements in the District, including the following: (a) construct, furnish and equip new facilities, including a Trades Future Ready Center and an Early Childhood Center; (b) upgrade, remodel, rebuild, renovate, improve, equip, consolidate and/or construct additions to District facilities; (c) acquire and improve sites as needed; (d) make all other necessary improvements related thereto; and (e) pay fees, costs and expenses incidental thereto; all pursuant to the provisions of K.S.A. 10-101 et seq., K.S.A. 25-2018(f), K.S.A. 72-5457, and K.S.A. 72-5458 et seq.?
When is the election?
Election Day is Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2025. The WPS zero-tax-rate-increase bond proposal requires a simple majority (50% + 1 to pass). It is important for every voter to become informed and understand the proposal on the ballot and then exercise their right to vote. EVERY SINGLE VOTE IS IMPORTANT. That's why it is crucial that you remember to vote and remind all of your friends and family to do the same.
For additional information, visit: https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections/voting-options
Who Can Vote?
All residents of our district who are 18 or older by Election Day are eligible to vote in this election. If not currently registered, normal voter registration is open until the end of the day on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2025.
Sedgwick County voters can choose how and when they vote, with options for advanced, mail-in voting, early in-person voting, and Election-Day voting. For more information, visit the election authority website at www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections.
When does early voting begin?
- February 4, 2025: Voter registration deadline
- February 5, 2024: Mail ballots begin to be sent out.
- February 18, 2024: Deadline to apply for an Advance Mail ballot.
- February 18, 2024: In-person early voting begins at the election office.
- Feb. 20 - Advance voting begins at all satellite locations (Monday - Friday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Saturday: 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.)
- Feb. 24 Advance in-person voting ends (12 p.m.)
- Feb 25 - Election day! Polls open (7 a.m. - 7 p.m.)
For additional information, visit: https://www.sedgwickcounty.org/elections/voting-options