Approve bonds for KCK schools
A group of about 50 community leaders met recently for a dinner meeting at the Area Technical School to review a proposal to make substantial improvements to Kansas City, Kansas, School District buildings. The group decided it is a project well worth supporting.
Although the district is debt-free, it is in need of air conditioning and other related improvements such as window and door replacements. Only about one-third of the buildings are air conditioned. This has caused the district to cancel classes during the beginning and at the end of the school year.
Dr. Ray Daniels, the district superintendent, said that one day last year in late August, it was 117 degrees in a third-story classroom at Wyandotte High School.
Along with the mechanical improvements, the wiring at schools would also be improved so students could have access to computers – something that is very important today.
The cost of this extensive project is estimated at about $120 million. For a typical home, valued at $75,000, the monthly increase in taxes is estimated at about $7.86 a month.
A recent voter survey of 625 households indicated that there is generally support for the bond proposal across the district. One-third of the cost would be paid by state funds. It is possible that the federal government might pick up the interest on the bonds, based on a bill that is in Congress.
Wyandotte West
January 25, 2001
The last bond issue in the district was in 1970 for $24.5 million. It was the largest bond issue in Kansas at the time. It was successful. There has not been a need for another bond issue in the district until now.
This is a quality of life issue. The district has some very serious problems – many of them directly related to the fact that 75 percent of the students are considered at-risk. However, the district is moving in a positive direction to help resolve these problems. In many ways, it is becoming a model in urban education. That is encouraging.
The Kansas City, Kansas, School Board earlier this week approved placing the boned issue on the General Election ballot April 3. Those supporting the campaign will launch their efforts in early March.
Two primary things will be important in promoting the issue. First, it will be important to identify what the pay out time will be for the investment – that is, how long will it take for the energy efficient buildings to pay for the improvements. Second, the promoters need to identify where the potential objections to the bonds are.
The issue has a good change of passing if those leaders supporting it will show how the investment will pay dividends to the community.