The Kansas City (Missouri) school district will ask voters in April to approve a bond request of nearly $474 million to address building needs throughout the district.
The Beacon reports that the proposal calls for opening a middle school in the former Southwest High School building, constructing two new campuses centered on elementary schools, and renovating several buildings.
If voters approve the ballot question, it would be the first bond proposal appoved in the Kansas City district in 58 years. The district needs 57% voter approval for the bond to pass. Election Day is set for April 8, 2025.
The proposal calls for the district to spend at least $5 million on every school. Funds would be used in three main areas:
- Deferred maintenance, such as roof repair, electrical, HVAC and plumbing.
- Making buildings more suitable for teaching and learning.
- Moving sixth graders out of elementary schools and into middle schools.
The lack of voter-approved bond funds has left the district behind on repairs and upgrades. The Kansas City district says it needs $1.25 billion in facility upgrades — about $650 million to address deferred maintenance and another $600 million for improvements.
The bond package also calls for buildng two campuses centered on elementary schools.
A $68 million project called the King Empowerment Campus would house a K-5 elementary, a family empowerment center, an early learning center and a special education program.
The district would spend the same dollar amount on a Woodland Empowerment Campus; it would house a K-5 elementary, an early learning center, a family empowerment center, and a Global Academy for students new to the United States.
