Buckner Performing Arts Magnet Elementary School

Buckner Performing Arts Magnet believes an individual's multiple intelligence is activated and strengthened through involvement in and exposure to the arts. Our staff will provide a student-centered program that integrates traditional academics with arts education. Buckner strives to promote colleague support, communication and understanding. The Buckner staff also values showing dedication/commitment by giving of ourselves, our time and our talents to students and families.

Buckner Performing Arts Magnet Elementary School was named a 2007 No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon School from the U.S. Department of Education. The No Child Left Behind - Blue Ribbon School award, one of the most prestigious education awards in the country, distinguishes and honors schools for helping students achieve at very high levels and for making significant progress in closing the achievement gap.

Buckner is a Performing Arts School; the emphasis is on the different performing arts components (dance, drama, reader's theater, visual arts and music). Buckner and the College of Fine Arts, Wichita State University, have collaborated since 1994 to explore the role of arts in culture education as an integrated and basic educational concept, including such issues as integrating the formal academic curriculum into the arts. The goal of the visual arts is to provide information on the history, styles and communicative significance of the visual arts. Theater goals are to increase students' abilities to use drama as a means of developing self-expression, individual creativity and cultural awareness. Dance goals are to increase students' abilities to express thoughts and feelings through physical movement. Music goals are to understand the significance music plays in one's culture through singing and playing musical instruments. As a result of this collaboration, Buckner students have grown academically and have developed an understanding of cultural and historical contexts.

Exit I-135 at 21^st St. Go east on 21^st to Hillside. Go north on Hillside to 27^th St. Go east on 27^th five blocks to Buckner. See Maps for all USD 259 locations.

The mission of Buckner Performing Arts Magnet Elementary School is: To ensure each child reaches his/her optimum level of academic achievement through the use of grade level standards and interventions that include integration and exploration of dance, drama, visual arts and music.

1. Reading: All students will demonstrate competency in reading comprehension.
2. Math: All students will demonstrate competency in problem solving and computation skills.
3. Behavior: All students will develop the strategies needed to promote positive student behavior.

Each school has a site council, which is a group of parents, community members, business representatives, teachers and other school staff. Site councils identify, consider and discuss educational problems and issues at the school. Councils provide advice and counsel for evaluating state, school district and school site performance goals and objectives. Councils may also recommend methods that may be employed at the school site to meet these goals and objectives. Buckner has an 18-member site council which meets monthly.

Meeting Day: Tuesday (once a month)
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Buckner Library
Chairperson: Sonya Smith

• All-day Kindergarten
• Pre-K for 3- and 4-year-olds
• Performing arts, dance, drama, visual arts
• Resource development site for Wichita State University Fine Arts Department
• Arts Partners research site
• Special Education: Gifted resource room, interrelated room
• Latchkey (Before- and after-school program)

• Annual Hat Day Parade
• Monthly Pride Assemblies
• Performances
• Student Technology Team
• Talent Show
• Morning Broadcast

Buckner Elementary School was opened in the fall of 1956 with seven regular teachers and the principal. Special personnel, in addition to the secretary and custodian, included a nurse, counselor, a lip-reading teacher, vocal music and instrumental music teacher. The new building was designed to house 225 pupils, and 208 were enrolled in kindergarten through grade six that first year. There were seven classrooms in the original building.

Seven additional classrooms, a multipurpose room and library were added to the structure in 1958. Increased enrollments and remodeling to provide space for the Buckner Demonstration Library required the addition of two portable classrooms in 1961, one in 1962 and one in 1969. The architects for the original structure and the 1958 addition were Hibbs, Robinson and Pettit. The successful 1974 bond election provided funds for construction in 1976 of three additional classrooms, a multipurpose room, restrooms and kitchen. The old multipurpose room was converted into two classrooms, and three larger classrooms were remodeled. Pettit and Bullinger were architects for this addition.

Buckner was named to honor Mary Wadsworth Buckner who came to Wichita in 1884 as the bride of Judge William T. Buckner. She fought against child abuse and for the rights of women. She helped found the Hypatia Club and later was chosen president of the Wichita Federation of Women's Clubs. She found time to collect funds to help build St. John's Episcopal Church and became the first woman candidate for the Board of Education. She served on the Board until 1916 when her daughter, Sue Buckner, who graduated from Fairmount in 1913, applied to teach in the Wichita Public Schools.

At the beginning of the 1988-89 year, sixth grade students were incorporated into the middle school program, leaving a K-5 enrollment of approximately 275 students.

During the 1992-93 school year, Buckner became a magnet school emphasizing the performing arts. The emphasis of the different performing arts components (dance, drama and music) is used to increase students' interest in school.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

Additions to Buckner include eight classrooms and a library. Renovations were also made to existing classrooms and to the student support area. Charles F. McAfee, FAIA NOMA, P.A. provided architectural and engineering services for the school. Diggs Construction Co., Inc. was contracted to complete the renovations for the amount of $2,840,500. The Bond project dedication ceremony was held November 15, 2004.