Flooded classrooms, combined gym-lunchroom: Why Black Elementary is on Wichita ballot
Editor’s note: Before voters decide on a $450 million school bond issue on Feb. 25, The Eagle is profiling many of the schools affected. Read more profiles and find continuing coverage of the bond issue election here.
Four times a year, every class at Black Traditional Magnet Elementary works on grade level-based projects ranging from habitat boxes to an American Revolution “tea party” as part of the school’s magnet theme.
“They put like anything and everything into it,” Principal Tracy Minette said.
But in a 70-year-old building with tight spaces, it’s hard for the school to fully lean into its theme.
“It would be awesome to have just different types of learning environment areas that we’ve seen from new innovative school examples and stuff that other places around have,” Minette said.
That’s one thing that Minette said she wants to change if voters approve USD 259’s $450 million school bond issue in late February and Black Traditional Magnet Elementary School is rebuilt.
Black Elementary, 1045 N. High, was built in 1954 with an enrollment of 300. After multiple additions, the school now houses 335 students in 22 classrooms.
What’s it like inside current Black Elementary building?
Asked about the building, Minette listed plumbing problems, electrical issues, a leaky roof, generator issues and more.
“There have been several classrooms that have been flooded because of plumbing,” Minette said.
The HVAC has also caused problems, especially with heating the classrooms. Students know to come to school wearing layers, Minette said.
The school’s gym also doubles as a cafeteria, which means lunchtime needs to be scheduled around gym classes.
“[It would be] awesome for us if we had a new school to have a separate gym and cafeteria, because that dictates our whole schedule,” Minette said.
While it hasn’t been clear how plans would be developed for the new building, Minette said she is hoping to talk to the district about the school’s needs.
“We are really hoping that we get to give some input on some of [the plans],” she said.
According to the district, Black’s new building would be completed in fall 2027 and cost $32.9 million. Black got just over $1.5 million in the 2008 bond issue, which added three classrooms, student support spaces, a front entry and a renovated art classroom.
Black would also take in some students from closed schools if the bond passes.
What one parent says
Hannah Belsan is a member of Black Elementary’s Parent Teacher Organization. She said there’s a list of issues she would like to see fixed at the school.
“There’s just a lot of maintenance that older buildings require, and so as a result, obviously maintaining those over time would essentially cost the district more than just tearing down and rebuilding,” Belsan said.
In addition to normal maintenance, she also said that she’s seen issues with spaces.
“My kids have even complained [about] how tight they get in their classrooms,” she said. “There’s also not really a space to collaborate in bigger groups.”
Parents have complained about the pickup and drop-off, Belsan said, saying that the location makes it crowded during that time of day. Additionally, when it rains, the streets get flooded, making pickup messy.
“So seeing maybe ... a more efficient way of being able to get our kids to and from school,” Belsan said.
“I am definitely a fan of voting yes on the proposed bond.”
“It just makes sense to me to put money into the schools and to better the facilities,” she said.
Other schools that would be torn down and rebuilt: Adams, Caldwell, Irving and McLean elementaries, Coleman and Truesdell middle schools.
In addition to rebuilding schools, the district would convert two elementary schools to K-8 schools, consolidate alternative schools and close four elementary schools and two administration centers. It would build new outdoor athletic fields at Northeast Magnet High School, a new Future Ready Center for Trades at East High school and a new early childhood education center.
This story was originally published February 7, 2025 at 12:44 PM.
CORRECTION: Black received $1.5 million from the 2008 bond. An earlier version of this story had an incorrect dollar amount.
