Public gets close look at Southeast’s current facilities

Members of the public toured Southeast High School on Monday as part of district leaders’ effort to gather input about whether they should renovate and expand the school, build one or both.

The Wichita school board has been debating the future of Southeast High and a new southeast quadrant high school, estimated to cost up to $54 million. Members intend to approve a plan June 24.

The new high school, one of six new schools proposed as part of the 2008 bond issue, was put on hold more than two years ago as the district dealt with budget cuts and a new boundary plan.

Also on hold is a $14 million expansion and renovation of Southeast High, 903 S. Edgemoor, which would include a new gym, fine arts facilities, athletic fields and expanded parking.

The district has not sold bonds for the proposed new high school but has bought property for it – 125 acres at 127th Street East and Pawnee. Officials say they also would need to acquire land to the west of Southeast High to complete the proposed projects there.

Superintendent John Allison has said operating a new high school in addition to Southeast would cost an additional $9 million to $10 million a year, money the district can’t afford unless funding increases or leaders make dramatic budget cuts.

For the same reasons, a new school at 53rd Street North and Rock Road, designed to address growth and relieve crowding at Heights High School, opened last fall as the new location for Northeast Magnet High School instead.

Wichita school leaders will continue to collect input during several meetings scheduled this month and during board meetings in June.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/southeastreview

This story was originally published May 13, 2013 at 7:41 PM with the headline "Public gets close look at Southeast’s current facilities."