BOE puts $370 million bond issue on the Nov. 4 ballot

The Wichita Board of Education approved a resolution authorizing a $370 million bond election on November 4, 2008. The $370 million bond issue would address five critical needs:

• Additional classrooms and schools to accommodate overcrowding and growth and create smaller class sizes
• 60 FEMA safe room storm shelters
• Support the end of busing for desegregation with renovations to schools in the AAA area.
• Renovate or rebuild aging and unsafe fine arts, PE and athletic facilities
• Upgrade technical education programs

“It’s all about the kids and the kids can’t wait,” said Connie Dietz. “There isn’t a better time.”

“The question we have to ask is if not now, when?” asked Betty Arnold. “The needs are here now. We need to do this now for the children.”

On July 28, members of CARE (Citizens Alliance for Responsible Education), recommended to the BOE some changes to the overall bond plan after gathering feedback from community meetings and business leaders. CARE recommended changing the bond plan by adding technical education programs and removing $20 million in PE and athletic improvements.

The BOE approved the technical education improvements, but didn’t want to remove the PE and athletic improvements after hearing from the several members of the community who wanted to see those improvements stay in the bond.

“Parents who are coming to Wichita are looking at where to live, and if they have student athletes, they will make decisions about schools based on the quality of athletics facilities. We’re already decades behind our neighbors,” said Victor Everett, former parent.

After hearing from several concerned supporters of PE and athletics, the BOE voted to increase the bond issue to $370 million to keep the improvements to PE and athletic facilities.

“I was struggling with what to take out and what we put in,” said Lynn Rogers, BOE President. “Our concern is the kids and I will ask the community to support this.”

“My kids don’t want to come back to a city that doesn’t value education,” Rogers said. “This is about the future of our community. We are educating our future leaders and we want them to stay in Wichita, but why would they want to stay if the community shows it doesn’t support them.”

Information on the updated bond issue will soon be posted to the Wichita Public Schools’ website.