Voters approve bonds to pay for KCK Public Schools improvement

Voters approved a request by Kansas City, Kan., Public Schools to issue $235 million in bonds to pay for major capital improvements to the urban district’s facilities.

Unofficial results from the Wyandotte County Election Office the measure won 79-21.

Tuesday’s victory for KCK Public Schools provides a funding stream to demolish old school buildings, construct new ones and upgrade and add amenities to existing school buildings.

The bond referendum does not increase taxes for residents in the KCK Public Schools district. It does extend a previously issued bond referendum, meaning that the existing property tax rate for the school district does not increase or decrease with Tuesday’s result.

The district in 2015 commissioned the DLR Group to examine its facilities. The subsequent evaluation, nearly 800 pages in length, found many of the district’s buildings were at or near the end of their life cycle. Many were built before current Americans with Disabilities Act and the energy crisis of 1979.

KCK Public Schools plans to tear down and rebuild both Coronado and Northwest middle schools. A newly built Coronado Middle Schools will enroll students within the current Coronado and West Middle School boundaries.

White Church Elementary School will also get torn down and replaced with a building that can enroll students from White Church and Bethel elementary schools. The Bethel Elementary School will become an early childhood learning center.

The district also plans to knock down both buildings serving Welborn Elementary School and construct in its place one structure.

Funds from the bond issue will also pay for maintenance and repairs at several buildings, including air conditioning, roofing and plumbing.

Playgrounds at nine district elementary schools will receive renovations. Several schools will also renovate their kitchen facilities.

This story was originally published November 8, 2016 at 10:48 PM with the headline "Voters approve bonds to pay for KCK Public Schools improvement."