No Tax Increase Makes Wichita School Bond Vote Attractive, But Look Deeper  

On Tue., Feb. 25, voters in USD 259 School District will have the opportunity to vote on the future of the district. They’ll vote on a $450 million bond issue that goes a long way toward modernizing the district’s aging infrastructure.

However, one of the biggest challenges to passing the bond is limited engagement around the bond issue and what’s in it, says Bradley Dyer, chair of Yes for Wichita Kids

Dyer and members of the Vote Yes group have attended meetings all across the City, with the goal of helping people understand what the bond issue does.  However, he’s noticing a lack of engagement around the bond issue and a lack of understanding of the importance of this vote.  .  

“What happens with the Wichita Public Schools bond issue on February 25 can have adverse effects in our community for generations to come,” said Dyer, who encourages everyone to get involved, informed and to show up and vote.  

 He feels if people understand what’s in the bond issue and how the district and the city will benefit, they’ll vote yes.  

So, here’s what’s in the issue and what’s at stake.  

What’s in the Bond Issue

The $450 million bond issue rebuilds seven schools, adds two new buildings for targeted learning, but it will leave 10 school buildings empty and a large number of them are in Wichita’s Black community.  

If Wichita residents vote in support of the bond issue, four of the Black community’s historic schools will be a thing of the past. The bond issue shutters L’Ouverture Elementary, Dunbar Elementary, Little Early Learning Center, and Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center, or, as the older set remembers it, Matthewson Junior High.  

But, maybe it’s time for these old buildings to go. Dunbar was built in 1907 and L’Ouverture was built in 1912. They’re among the oldest buildings in a district where many  – including Mathewson and Little –  are more than 60 years old. The bond issue retires 17 of the district’s most dated buildings – 10 that are being retired and not replaced and eight that are being rebuilt.  

Besides age, another reason some schools are being closed is shrinking enrollment. Overall enrollment in USD 259 is down from a high of around 53,000 students to around 47,000 today. While the enrollment at some individual schools is growing, some schools have as few as 200 students.  

Susan Arensman, USD 259 news and media relations manager, says it’s inefficient for the district to keep some of these smaller schools open,

One of the district’s biggest selling points for the bond is that these new schools, along with schools brought on board with the 2008 bond issue, will go a long way toward providing the updated classrooms, labs and career training facilities the district needs to better align with today’s best practices in teaching and learning. 

In addition, the new schools, along with money in the bond issue to complete some much needed building maintenance, will go a long way towards addressing the district’s critical infrastructure needs such as aging roofs, windows, heating and cooling systems, electrical and plumbing.  

The proposed improvements also address accessibility issues for students with disabilities and enhance school safety and security issues that were built before the current concerns with limiting school access for security reasons. 

Zero Tax Bond Issue  

Bond issues most often come with an increase in property taxes, but this $450 million bond issue will not require the district to increase their tax rate. In fact, the district reduced their tax rate by 1/10th of a cent for their 2025 budget and the district’s tax rate remains one of the lowest in the region.  

In marketing material for the bond issue, the district says they are able to pay for the bonds without a rate increase, thanks to “careful financial planning.”  

True, getting rid of a number of old buildings will save the district a considerable amount in annual operating costs, but what they’re not telling you is that  in part, they’re able to offer a zero tax bond because they’re taking in more revenue. Even with the decreased 1/10 cent tax rate, the district is taking in more money because  the value of property appraisals have gone up.  

The good news, the Vote Yes group says that a bond issue and improved schools is great for property owners. Better schools attract families and businesses to the district, enhance neighborhoods, increase property values and boost the local economy by generating millions of dollars in economic activity.  

Vote Yes Group Active 

The Vote Yes for Wichita Kids appears to have momentum, backed by district employees and board members who are not supposed to tell you how to vote, but are actively in the community sharing the “facts” of the bond issue.

It’s hard to find any differences in the Vote Yes and the district’s messaging, the group focusing heavily on the high cost of maintaining the district’s older building.  

“If we don’t do this now, it’s possible that millions more dollars will go into maintaining buildings and trying to fix things rather than improve things,” Dyer told KMUW.  

Vote No Making Their Case

A group formed in opposition to the bond issue says the district should focus first on improving student performance rather than building new facilities. They point out that district student performance on state standardized tests are below state average and have been going down instead of up.  

In addition, they say the district failed to deliver as promised on their last bond issue, including failing to build two new comprehensive high schools and a new K-8 school in Bel Aire. 

Biggest Challenge

The biggest challenge is getting the community interested in the bond issue. Possibly worn out by the politics of a bitter 2024 election season, people may just be burned out.  

“I know that we sometimes wonder if our voices are heard in elections, and I understand that concern, but we cannot allow those concerns to outgrow our will to persevere for ourselves and our children,” said Dyer.  “You must show up to vote. Grab your family and neighbors and get to the polls to vote YES on February 25. Your children and their futures are depending on you.”

What’s in the Bond Issue?

Wichita’s Core – 67214

4 buildings will be closed: L’Ouverture, Dunbar, Little Early Learning Center, and Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center (Old Matthewson). Plans have not been announced about what will be done with the buildings. 

A new Little Early Learning Center will be built on the grounds of the Lewis Academic Learning Center.   

North Wichita 

4 buildings will be closed in North Wichita: OK, Woodland, and Pleasant Valley Elementary schools, and Gateway Alternative Program.  

Schools to be Rebuilt 

Adams Elementary, 10th St. and Oliver, is the only rebuild in our core readership area.  

Other schools to be rebuilt are: 

4  elementary schools – Black {near 9th and Zoo Blvd.), Caldwell (on Edgemoor near Harry), Irving (16th and Market), and McLean (just northwest of 21st and Amidon).

2 middle schools: Truesdell (near Pawnee and Seneca) and Coleman (off 13th St. between Woodlawn and Rock Road).  

New Facilities

We mentioned the new Dunbar Early Learning Center in 67214.

A new Future Ready Technical School focused on construction will be built on land around East High.  

Outdoor athletic fields will be added to Northeast Magnet High School 

Renovate and Repurpose   

Cessna Elementary will be expanded and converted to a K-8 school

Isely Elementary will be converted to a K-8 school

Coleman Middle School – the current building will be renovated and repurposed into an alternative learning center. So far, the only programs that will definitely be in the building are Gateway Alternative School and the Chester Lewis Academic Learning Center.  

 Wells Alternative Middle School – current building will be expanded and repurposed into a 6-12 center and will include Sowers Alternative High School.

Also Closing

Focht Instructional Support Center (downtown at 412 S. Main) will be closed and the programming in that building will be assigned to other facilities.