Here’s the $615M bond plan Wichita school board will consider for November ballot
Wichita school district administrators recommended a $615 million bond proposal that they called the tax neutral option after gathering community input over the last month.
If Proposal 2 is approved by the school board on June 1, it would go before voters in November.
Under the plan, voter approval of a first question, to issue $407 million in bonds, would not change the current property tax rate. Passage of a second question, nearly $208 million in bonds, would result in an increase, district leadership said.
“What we have here in this proposal is a case of community engagement built up over a decade,” school board president Stan Reeser said. “This is the most pressing needs we have at this particular time for what we feel we can afford (and) what our taxpayers can afford.”
Bond funds would be used to rebuild several schools, including Truesdell Middle School, Black Traditional Magnet Elementary, McLean Science & Technology Magnet Elementary and Chisholm Trail Elementary. The proposal also includes restoring and preserving North and East high schools, along with long-delayed upgrades to career readiness facilities, building air quality and traffic flow.
“This bond proposal is ultimately about shaping our future through investment for our students, for our schools and for our community,” Deputy Superintendent Gil Alvarez said. “This includes safe and modernized learning environments, strong future ready career pathways and improved student experiences across the district.”
In April, Alvarez and Chief Financial Officer Addi Lowell introduced three potential bond proposals totaling $615 million, each structured differently across two ballot questions. The proposals were followed by a month-long series of community information sessions, where residents could complete surveys and use a “build-a-bond” tool to explore funding priorities.
On Monday, Alvarez presented survey results to the board and formally recommended Proposal 2.
Out of 537 survey respondents, Alvarez said the most prevalent theme was concern about the cost and tax burden of a new bond issue. That motivated the selection of the tax-neutral recommendation.
Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld clarified how the tax-neutral designation applies to the first question.
“It’s the tax rate that we’re talking about in question one that would be flat,” Bielefeld said. “People’s home values might go up or down, so the actual taxes they pay could change slightly, but the mill levy set by the board would remain the same for question one, with a slight increase tied to question two.”
For a homeowner with a $200,000 property, approval of Question 1 alone would not increase annual property taxes because the new bond payments would replace those from a 2008 bond. If voters also approve Question 2, taxes would rise by about $50 per year, or roughly $4.16 per month. If voters do not approve Question 1, the mill levy would go down when the 2008 bond is paid off in 2027 or 2028.
As with the other proposals, the second question is contingent on the first. If Question 1 fails, Question 2 would not take effect. The first question, if passed, would dedicate funding for what the district considers to be some of the most essential in-need facilities, including the school rebuilds, as well as HVAC improvements in 11 middle schools, five high schools and one FutureReady Center.
“One of the most consistently supported priorities was HVAC improvements in middle school and high school PE and other learning spaces,” Alvarez said. “From the feedback data, this was a runaway number one ranked project. This reflects a shared understanding that students and staff need safe, comfortable and modernized learning environments.”
Several community members, including Park City Council President Terry Osborne, spoke in support of the proposal Monday.
“We recognize the critical importance of investing in our students, not only to provide safe, modern learning environments, but to support the long-term growth and vitality of our communities,” Osborne said. “This bond represents an opportunity to do just that.”
Osborne said city leaders are particularly encouraged by plans to replace Chisholm Trail Elementary with a new K–8 school.
“We see this as a transformative investment in our residents, families and future generations,” he said. “Our city stands ready to partner with USD 259 in making this vision a reality. Together, we can support education, strengthen neighborhoods and enhance quality of life.”
The district will finalize ballot language and present a formal resolution draft by May 18. The school board is expected to make a formal recommendation June 1 on whether to place the bond proposal on the November ballot.
