North Kansas City school bond issue will be on the ballot Aug. 2
The North Kansas City school district is seeking a $114 million, no-tax-increase bond sale in the upcoming Aug. 2 election.
The bond sale would pay for the construction of two new elementary schools, the reconfiguring of space for new sixth-grade centers, maintenance and repairs, and renovations to North Kansas City High School, a 90-year-old building.
The last bond issue in the district was in 2014.
District officials said the new construction, expansions and upgrades would alleviate school crowding in the growing district.
About $40 million would go toward the new kindergarten-through-fifth grade elementary schools that would open in 2018.
Opening new sixth-grade centers in existing district facilities would free space at the middle schools and create a straight feeder pattern from elementary schools to what would be four district middle schools and four high schools.
When a student starts kindergarten, they will probably travel with the same group of students through elementary, middle and high school.
At the high school level, $60 million would go toward creating a tech-friendly educational space. New classrooms, a fine arts center, a library media center, an indoor athletic area and common areas would be created. The work is set for completion in the fall of 2018.
District officials say that if space problems are not addressed, it could mean the addition of modular units at some schools and possibly require “significant redistricting,” according to the district website.
“This $114 million, no-tax-increase bond issue is critical for the continued success for North Kansas City Schools and its 19,500 students,” said Superintendent Dan Clemens. “Our district is growing at the rate of 200 to 300 students each year, and we have done everything possible to create space in our existing buildings for these students, but it hasn’t been enough.”
Mará Rose Williams: 816-234-4419, @marawilliamskc
This story was originally published July 21, 2016 at 2:33 PM with the headline "North Kansas City school bond issue will be on the ballot Aug. 2."