Wichita Public Schools' bond issue a great investment
With some recent news stories about the national economy, some may wonder if now is the right time for a bond issue. The answer is YES! The Wichita Public Schools' bond issue is a great investment in our students and the future of our community by addressing critical facility needs and growth in our community.
According to the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce's website, Wichita is the number-one real estate market in the United States. Wichita also ranks second in the nation for Best Cities for Jobs in 2008. An article in The Wichita Business Journal's October 3 edition recently stated that major employers continue to add jobs.
"In Wichita, the news is not like it is in other places. Now is a great time to invest in our kids. If not now, when?" said Lynn Rogers, Board of Education President.
Wichita benefited from 2000 bond issue - The 2000 bond issue had an impact on Wichita of $41.5 million a year and supported more than 1,000 jobs in Wichita, according to a study by Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research. The report figured that for every job created by the district, another 1.2 jobs are reported throughout the economy. Taking that into account, the 2000 $284.5 million bond issue had an annual average impact between 2000 and 2007 of 1,357 jobs with an average annual economic impact of $41.5 million. At its peak in the 2005-06 year, the bond issue supported 2,259 construction positions. To read an earlier Express story about this study, click here.
Cost to homeowners - The bond issue would mean $42.55 additional taxes per year on a $100,000 home, or $3.55 per month. An investment of less than $1 per week will result in a $370 million pay out to support Wichita children.
State will pay 25% - Under Kansas law, Wichita taxpayers contribute tax dollars each year to help support school districts throughout the state who have passed bond issues. This bond issue plan will allow Wichitans to benefit, as the state will pay 25 percent of the total cost — $92.5 million plus corresponding interest.
"The key point to remember is that our schools have tremendous needs right now and these needs, especially the growth in certain areas of Wichita, will not go away," Rogers said.
Deborah Franklin, Wichita State University’s Center for Economic Development and Business Research, presented a report to the Board of Education concerning population growth in certain areas of the district. The northeast and southeast areas are both expected to have a 20% growth of school-age children in the next 5 years. To view her presentation to the Board of Education on September 22, click here.
The critical needs of the bond issue are additional schools and classrooms to support class size reduction, overcrowding and growth, build 60 safe rooms, support the end to forced busing, upgrade technical education programs and renovate or rebuild aging and unsafe physical education, athletic and fine arts facilities.
More information about the bond issue can be found on the Wichita Public Schools' website.
It's about Our Kids, Our Schools and Our Future!
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After bond issue – still low bond payments
Historically, bond and interest payments in the Wichita Public Schools have been among the lowest in the area. In 2007, the latest year for which school mill levies are available, Wichita had the second-lowest bond and interest payment in Sedgwick County. As you can see from the chart, even after passage of the 2008 bond election, Wichita would still remain the second lowest in the area for bond and interest mill levies. Click here for a larger image.
The total bond issue payment of 9.58 mills will be only slightly more than what voters approved in 2000 for the $284.5 million bond issue. Because of favorable interest rates, responsible financial management and refinancing of bonds from the 2000 bond issue, the district has saved Wichita taxpayers more than $50 million in interest payments.
Important facts to know - Goddard’s bond issue, which passed in November 2007, would be valued at more than $800 million if we spent that much per student in Wichita on our bond. The per student cost of Valley Center’s $58.8 million bond issue that was approved by voters in June 2008, would be valued at more than $1 BILLION if Wichita spent as much per student.
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BOE gathers input on superintendent search
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| People provide feedback on the Superintendent search during Board's Night Out. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Board of Education members asked the community for their input on the superintendent search during Board’s Night Out on Sept. 29. Board members held three separate meetings at different locations across the city, based on BOE Districts.
Attendees divided into groups to discuss the direction of the Wichita Public Schools and what they felt were qualities they wanted to see in the next superintendent. Common themes include a person who values diversity, a person who will be visible in the schools and the community, and a person who will continue moving the district forward in the positive direction it's currently moving.
"I meet people from other districts around the country and Wichita is a very progressive district. I want a superintendent who has that progressiveness so we can continue this great momentum that we have," Gordon Parks Academy principal Stephanie Stovall told her group.
After the group discussions, BOE members talked about the upcoming bond issue and answered questions.
The feedback about the superintendent search discussions from all three meetings, along with information from the superintendent search survey, will be compiled and discussed as a BOE agenda item during the October 13 meeting.
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Survey asks for feedback for the next superintendent
Employees and community members are encouraged to participate in an online survey to help guide the Board of Education's selection of the next superintendent. The survey can be found on the Wichita Public Schools’ website. A Spanish version of the survey can be found here. Survey participants are asked to fill out the survey before noon on October 10.
The BOE plans to have a list of candidates by the beginning of December and have a superintendent hired by the end of February.
To sign up for email updates on the superintendent search, click here.
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High school students help design aircraft wing
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| A North High School student demonstrates the computer software that will be used during the Real World Design Challenge. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Students in nine high schools are getting the opportunity to practice real-world aviation design by participating in the Real World Design Challenge. The program, in partnership with Cessna Aircraft, Hewlett Packard and Business Professional Education Group, has student teams use 3-D software to design an aircraft wing that will fly further, carry more weight and use less fuel. The software also allows the students to test their wing design by flying the planes in different atmospheric conditions.
A kick-off event for the Real World Design Challenge was held on September 30 at North High School. Superintendent Martin Libhart, Ray Girardo, Vice President of Product Development at Cessna Aircraft Company; Roger Tadajewski, Business Educational Partnerships Group, Inc.; John Schwendeman, Hewlett-Packard and Jim Means, Executive Director of Secondary Careers and Technical Education talked to students about how the challenge will benefit them by having this type of design experience before they graduate high school. They encouraged the students to consider engineering as a career.
"We know industries are facing a serious shortage of engineers," said Superintendent Libhart. "The first step to getting kids excited about engineering as a career starts in our classrooms. The Real World Design Challenge is one way for students to see what they're learning being applied in the business world."
"We are excited to be involved and to encourage these students who will be designing our products of the future," said Girardo.
"This program is one more way our technical education programs can meet the needs of the community," said Means.
Student teams from East, Heights, Metro-Boulevard, North, Northeast, Northwest, South, Southeast and West are participating in the Real World Design Challenge. Students involved in Project Lead the Way pre-engineering courses; computer aided drafting; advanced placement physics, science and math and graphic arts will work together in seven-member teams to design and test the wing.
Cessna will provide engineers to be mentors to the students during the competition. They will help the students learn design skills, develop collaboration techniques and make a true connection with the aviation industry.
The winning team of the state competition will advance to the national competition.
Cessna is underwriting the cost to train Kansas high school teachers to use the design software for the Real World Design Challenge. The Pro/ENGINEER 3-D computer aided design software was donated by Parametric Technology Corporation. Hewlett Packard is providing servers to store the students’ work. Business Professional Education Group is managing the contest across 11 states. Other sponsors include Business Educational Partnerships Group, Inc., The Federal Aviation Administration, the U.S. Department of Energy and Build-A-Plane.
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Leadership cadets encouraged to Stay on Track
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| Middle school cadets examine the interior of a Blackhawk helicopter. Photo by Susan Arensman |
Seventh- and eighth-grade Leadership students are participating in a new program to keep them away from dangers of drugs and alcohol. The Stay on Track program, sponsored by the National Guard, uses different curriculum, discussion groups, and activities to teach students about staying clear from drugs and alcohol.
A kick-off event for the program was held at Pleasant Valley Middle School on Sept. 30. A Blackhawk helicopter landed on the school's soccer field carrying acting principal Ron Van Sickle, Assistant Superintendent Kathy Busch, Mayor Carl Brewer and other district staff. Leadership cadets from Pleasant Valley, Curtis, Truesdell, Mead, Robinson and Wells watched the helicopter land.
"What choices you make now affect the rest of your life," Van Sickle told the students. "Those choices include your academics, your friends and how you choose to live your life. I encourage you to make good choices and set an example."
The students wrapped up the event by talking with the Blackhawk helicopter pilots and sitting inside the aircraft.
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Caldwell students celebrate Deaf Awareness Week
Caldwell Elementary students received a visit from Polly Rolofson, who competed in the Deaf Olympics, as part of Deaf Awareness Week. Rolofson shared her experiences at the Deaf Olympic Games with students in the school’s hearing impaired program.
After Rolofson’s presentation, three fifth-grade students performed a play for their friends about the Boston Tea Party.
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Gordon Parks Academy to celebrate grand opening
The Wichita Public Schools will commemorate the opening of Gordon Parks Academy, with a dedication ceremony on Monday, October 6 at 1:30 p.m. The event will celebrate the life and legacy of one of Kansas’ most notable sons, Gordon Parks, and how his life and perseverance helped shape the vision of the school. Gordon Parks’ daughter and son, Toni Parks-Parson and David Parks, and his grandson Alain Brouillaud will be in attendance.
Principal Stephanie Stovall, Superintendent Martin Libhart, Board of Education members Lynn Rogers and Kevass Harding and Wichita Mayor Carl Brewer will talk about the importance of the school in the community, its vision to become an International Baccalaureate school and how Gordon Parks’ life is a testament to the human spirit.
Other notable guests who will be in attendance are Kurt Baker, who was the assistant director of the 1971 movie “Shaft,” which was directed by Gordon Parks; Dan Glickman, former Wichita Board of Education member and Congressman and current President of the Motion Picture Association of America; Ted Ayers, Vice President and General Counsel for Wichita State and who helped bring Parks’ collection of works to WSU; and Russ Meyer, Chairman Emeritus of Cessna Aircraft.
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WSU program looks at Parks' contribution to film
On October 6, Wichita State University is hosting an open dialogue about Gordon Parks' influence on American film. Panelists David Parks, Gordon Parks' son; Dan Glickman, former congressman and President of the Motion Picture Association of America; Kurt Baker, movie collaborator with Parks; and Kevin Willmott, Associate Professor at KU's Department of Theater and Film will discuss Parks' cultural contributions to movies.
The program is at 7 p.m. at Wichita State University's Metroplex, 29th and Oliver. Admission is free.
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Seminar helps employees plan for retirement
Employees are invited to learn about different ways to save for their retirement during the district’s Retirement Seminar on October 14, 5 – 7 p.m., at North High School, 1437 N. Rochester. The presentation is for all district employees.
Representatives from KPERS and Social Security will be present and information will also be shared about the district's Bridge and the Senior Health Insurance Counseling for Kansas (SHICK).
For more information, contact Risk Management at 973-4581 or riskmanagement@usd259.net.
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Red Carpet Award honors customer service
Schools who provide warm, friendly environments and provide excellent customer service have the opportunity to receive $1,000. Schools have an opportunity to receive the "Red Carpet" award by making visitors feel welcome and part of the school family. Providing outstanding customer service to families, students, and community is extremely important to advance education and build partnerships with families and communities.
Schools interested in applying for the "Red Carpet" award need to have all staff trained in customer service and complete the application information located on the Parent and Community Support portal site. The portal site also has various customer service training sessions for staff.
The deadline for fall applications is November 26. The completed applications are due to the Parent and Community Support Office, room 503 in the Alvin Morris Administrative Center.
For more information, please contact Parent and Community Support Network at 973-4668 or click here to watch a video on the Red Carpet Award.
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Koch mini-grant accepting applications
The Education EDGE is pleased to announce the opening of a new round of classroom mini-grants for teachers. The Koch Foundation’s special gift to the Education EDGE provides Focus Grants to be utilized on economic education/YEK, environmental education, and/or social studies/history education.
The grant competition is open to individuals and school teams, and applications will be received through November 25 for spring funding. Application materials can be found on the Grants & Development Services portal site.
For additional information, please