When the polls open April 8, Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS )will ask voters to approve a $474 million bond measure — the district’s first since 1967. The proposal aims to modernize aging buildings, improve learning environments, and address critical maintenance needs across the district.
What’s at Stake
With KCPS buildings averaging 60+ years old and an estimated $1.25 billion in deferred maintenance, district leaders say the investment is long overdue.
“You would be appalled to know how poorly the Kansas City Public Schools are funded,” said district administrator Keith Smith. “Out of the 17 surrounding area school districts, we’re ranked second to last and that is a travesty.”
If approved, the bond would fund major renovations, new construction, and essential repairs to HVAC systems, roofs, and plumbing infrastructure across all district schools.
“We are doing so much for our students with so little,” said school board member Monica Curls. “It’s up to us adults to help make this a better situation for them.”
The bond measure requires approval from four out of every seven voters (57%) to pass. If the bond passes, KCPS will establish an independent Community Bond Oversight Committee and hire an auditor to ensure funds are spent only on approved projects.
“We have world-class educators, but not world-class facilities right now,” said Smith. “This is an opportunity to be able to take that next step.”
Cost to Taxpayers
The proposed $474 million bond would be repaid through property taxes collected from property owners within the Kansas City Public Schools district boundaries.
According to district estimates, the average homeowner would pay approximately 64 cents per day in additional property taxes. For a homeowner with property valued at $200,000, the tax increase would be $231.80 per year.
Commercial property owners would face a proportionally higher tax increase. For a commercial property valued at $200,000, the additional annual tax burden would be approximately $390.40 – about 68% more than residential property of the same value. This difference is due to how commercial and residential properties are assessed differently for tax purposes in Missouri.
The tax increase would remain in effect for the duration of the bond repayment period, which typically ranges from 20-30 years for school district bonds of this magnitude. The district has emphasized that this investment — while requiring additional taxes — would address critical infrastructure needs.
For context, KCPS notes that surrounding school districts routinely pass bonds to maintain their facilities, while KCPS has been unable to access this funding mechanism for nearly six decades, contributing to its significant maintenance backlog.
Major Projects Planned
The bond would fund several significant projects:
New Middle School at Southwest
- Transforms the historic Southwest High School building in Brookside
- Creates a neighborhood middle school south of Brush Creek
- Moves sixth graders from elementary to middle school
- Estimated cost: $70 million ($45.1 million from the bond)
Two New Elementary Campuses
King Empowerment Campus ($68 million)
- New K-5 King Elementary School
- Family empowerment center with food pantry, laundromat, dental clinic
- Richardson Early Learning Center
- Wheatley special education program
Woodland Empowerment Campus ($68 million)
- New K-5 Elementary for Whittier students
- Woodland Early Learning Center
- Family empowerment center
- Global Academy for students new to the U.S.
Major Renovations
- Central High School: Renovations to house career and technical programs with programs moving from Manuel Career & Tech that will be closed due to the need for major renovations.
- Hale Cook Elementary: Addition to address overcrowding
- Success Academy: Merging two alternative schools at Knotts location
- Northeast and Central Middle Schools: Renovations for sixth grade inclusion
- East High School: New competition gym and relocated cafeteria
- Lincoln Prep: $28.3 million in renovations
Charter School Inclusion
The bond proposal allocates $50 million to nine partner charter schools for their building projects:
- Académie Lafayette: $13.6 million
- Crossroads Charter Schools: $10.4 million
- Hogan Prep Academy: $9.3 million
- KC International Academy: $6.8 million
- Citizens of the World: $4 million
- Scuola Vita Nuova: $1.9 million
- Kansas City Girls Prep Academy: $2 million
- Gordon Parks Elementary: $1.5 million
- DeLaSalle Education Center: $500,000
Current Building Conditions
Kansas City Public Schools faces significant challenges with aging infrastructure across its district facilities, with many buildings showing serious signs of deterioration after decades without bond funding for capital improvements.
“The funds that we’re supposed to be using in the classroom, we’re using to try and fix buildings,” says school board member Jamekia Kendrix. “We’re spending $20 million on air conditioning units, and that’s not even putting a really big dent in what it is that we need.”
Woodland Early Learning Center, one of the district’s two Pre-K centers, exemplifies these challenges. The building has received a concerning rating of just 5.6 out of 10 for overall building condition. Even more troubling is its learning environment score of only 1.64 out of 10 for young students during their most formative educational years.
The facility contains an Olympic-sized pool that sits unused because the district lacks funds to repair and maintain it. The building houses not only the Early Learning Center but also the International Welcome Center and Global Academy, putting further strain on the aging structure.
At Manual Career and Technical Center, despite its role in providing valuable career training programs in culinary arts, construction technology, engineering, and multimedia, the building requires an estimated $99 million in deferred maintenance. The center serves KCPS students and those from charter schools across the area.
These infrastructure challenges extend beyond these highlighted buildings. According to district officials, many KCPS buildings lack adequate air conditioning, functioning HVAC systems, and reliable plumbing.
The total deferred maintenance across all district buildings is estimated at approximately $1.25 billion – $650 million for critical repairs and another $600 million for necessary improvements. Board member Kendrix emphasized that these conditions affect teacher recruitment and retention as well.
“Who wants to go to work in a building where your furniture is broken, or where you don’t have air conditioning, or where you have walls with holes in them or restrooms where you wouldn’t even want to sit?” asked Kendrix.
The proposed bond seeks to address these critical infrastructure needs while also creating learning environments that better support modern educational practices and technology.
