Latest news with #KansasCityPublicSchools
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
KCPS breaks ground on new campus for school district
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — On Wednesday afternoon, Kansas City Public Schools broke ground on a new campus. It's the first project funded by earlier this month. Kansas City to turn on 200+ fountains Wednesday afternoon The Martin Luther King, Jr. Empowerment Campus will be at 42nd and Indiana. This is replacing where the old Mary Harmon Weeks Elementary School used to stand. It closed back in 2012. The new campus will also have a 100% Head Start-related early childhood center and a family empowerment center with a food pantry, a clothing closet, a mini laundromat, dental clinic and a limited medical clinic where students can get physicals. View the latest Weather Alerts in the Kansas City region on FOX4 Officials want the $68 million project to be ready for students in the fall of 2027, a little more than two years from now. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Voters approve school upgrades across KC metro. See where, who won board seats
Nearly 85% of Kansas City voters approved a historic influx of tax dollars to improve the city's public schools in Tuesday's election. But Kansas City Public Schools wasn't the only district that won big. Across the metro, voters made decisions about which schools will be able to upgrade their aging facilities — approving a slew of bond issues — and who should be leading and guiding KC-area school districts. Here are the election results and what they'll mean for future property taxes, school buildings and district leadership. Bond — Voters passed a $474 million bond aimed to address deferred maintenance and renovation projects that have been mounting for decades in Kansas City Public Schools. Every school in the district will receive at least $5 million from the bond, with a focus on building safety, play areas, STEM and music spaces and athletic facilities. KCPS also plans to construct several entirely new buildings, opening new schools to serve students and families as enrollment rises after decades of decline. School board — Two new candidates and two returning members were elected to the Kansas City Board of Education Tuesday night. Incumbent Tanesha Ford won an at-large seat with about 86% of the vote, beating out newcomer Joseph Nelson, while new elector Tricia McGee won the sub-district 3 seat uncontested. In sub-district 1, incumbent Rita Cortes beat Kelly Thompson with about 72% of the vote, and in sub-district 5, Brittany Foley won the seat over Bruce Beatty with about 54.6% of the vote. The four winners will each serve four-year terms on the seven-member KCPS board, which spans five sub-district roles and two at-large positions. Bond — Voters approved a $225 million bond proposed by the Lee's Summit R-7 School District, focused on rebuilding two schools and updating extracurricular and athletic spaces. The bond, which passed with about 75% of the vote, is part of a five-year plan to inject $309 million into district facilities. It will fund entirely new school buildings for two elementary schools. It will also bring Pleasant Lea Middle School and Miller Park Center up to the same infrastructure standards as other district buildings and refurbish sports facilities at two high schools. The bond will not increase property tax rates, according to the district. School board — Michelle Dawson and Nicky Nickens beat out incumbent Jennifer Foley and Leon Weatherby for two available seats on the Lee's Summit R-7 School Board. Dawson and Nickens won with about 32.6% of the vote and about 31% of the vote, respectively. Their term will last for three years. Dawson and Nickens were endorsed by the Lee's Summit Teacher's Union and the Lee's Summit Democrats, as reported by The Kansas City Beacon. Foley and Weatherby were endorsed by Salt and Light of Jackson County, a conservative political action group based around 'biblical principles.' Bond — Voters appeared likely to soundly approve a $175 million bond issue for North Kansas City Schools, according to unofficial results around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, which would support performing art spaces in two high schools and add competition gyms in two middle schools. Other projects include a new elementary school gym and district-wide improvements such as roofing, air-conditioning, asphalt maintenance and purchasing the Northland Innovation Center. The property tax rate will not change, but the bond will add to the district's debt services paid by taxpayers. School board — Unofficial results were still too close to call as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, as it was unclear if Clay County's election board had posted all precincts' voting data or not, and the election board did not return multiple requests to confirm the vote totals. We will update this story when unofficial results are confirmed. Proposition G — Voters overwhelmingly approved an increase in the district's tax levy to raise teacher salaries with nearly 67% of voters supporting the ballot measure. 'This is just one way to reaffirm the commitment that our community has to our teachers and that our teachers have for our kids and for our families,' said Kelly Wachel, the Chief of Communications Officer for Park Hill. Proposition O — Park Hill voters also approved a $128 million bond, which will be paid back by increasing the district's property tax levy by 30 cents. The measure was approved by 62% of voters on Tuesday. The bond will support renovations at Park Hill High School, build stadium and field improvements at Park Hill South High School, renovate some of the oldest elementary schools in the district as well as fund future land purchases for the district. This is the first time since 2002 Park Hill will raise taxes. Wachel described the vote as 'a community win for Park Hill.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kansas City Public Schools secure nearly 85% of votes for first bond in decades
Kansas City voters overwhelmingly approved a $474 million bond for Kansas City Public Schools on Tuesday, according to unofficial results from the Kansas City Board of Elections. Nearly 85% of voters, 18,870 out of 22,226 total, opted for a tax increase to help pay for an array of long-waiting improvements to city schools. The district needed to win 57.1% of votes for the bond to pass. The bond measure, which was the first proposed for the district since 1967, will allocate funding to more than 40 schools throughout KCPS. It will also allocate a total of $50 million to nine charter schools in the Kansas City area. 'This is a monumental day for our children and our community!' said Superintendent Jennifer Collier in a statement Tuesday night. 'This bond will allow us to move beyond temporary fixes and invest in sustainable improvements for our facilities.' Before Tuesday, KCPS was the only school district in the Kansas City region to operate without bond funding, according to the district. Every school in the district will receive at least $5 million from the bond, with a focus on building security and safety, play areas, STEM and music spaces and athletic facilities. KCPS also plans to construct several entirely new buildings, opening new schools to serve students and families as enrollment rises after decades of decline. The bond aims to address a $1 billion deficit of deferred maintenance and renovation projects, according to the district. The approved funding will go in part to heating and cooling needs, electrical and plumbing repairs, as well as toward fixing broken bathrooms, windows, roofs and emergency safety equipment. A portion of the bond funds will go to creating two $68 million 'empowerment centers,' which will each include a pre-K center, an elementary school and a resource center for families. One at the site of King Elementary and another at the site of the Woodland Early Learning Center. The King campus project was set to occur regardless of the results of Tuesday's bond election, relying instead on a $100 million certificate of participation bond passed by the school board last month without the need for voter approval. Special education students from Wheatley Elementary with unique medical needs would also be moved to the campus, which would include a maker space, a media center and a playground. At the Woodland site, a new elementary school will also be built, with similar early childhood and family empowerment wings as well as a Global Academy section catered toward international students. Another primary goal of the bond is to open a third middle school at the former site of Southwest High School, 6512 Wornall Road. The project, which will enable KCPS to transition entirely to a middle school model for sixth through eighth graders, earmarks $45.1 million in bond money but will need additional funding sources. In a note to KCPS families and voters shared on the district's website ahead of Election Day, Collier described the proposed bond as a strong step toward 'meeting modern educational needs.' 'This proposal reflects KCPS's commitment to creating equitable, safe, and high-quality learning spaces for all students while aligning with the district's long–term strategic Blueprint 2030 plan,' Collier wrote. KCPS regained full accreditation in 2022 after losing accredited status in 2011 and regaining provisional accreditation in 2014. The bond proposal reflected several of the key goals the district laid out after it reached that milestone. 'We extend our deepest gratitude to the voters of Kansas City for sending a clear message: Our children and their schools are important, and we will not leave them behind,' Collier said in her statement Tuesday night.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
KCPS staff, city leaders join in rally for ‘yes' on school bond vote
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Teachers, students and parents were joined by city council members and Mayor Quinton Lucas on Saturday to rally in support of a 'yes' vote on Tuesday's upcoming Kansas City Public Schools bond vote. If approved, the bond would send $474 million to KCPS to update buildings districtwide. 'When you get a chance to visit our schools right now,' said Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas. 'You see, our infrastructure is not where it needs to be.' What to know about Kansas City's early voting sites ahead of election Teachers and administrators at James Elementary said that their 110-year-old building needs a makeover. 'It's not ADA accessible in any way; we have wonderful high ceilings in classrooms, but we are rocking the original wood floors from the original construction of the school,' said Marjorie Mayes, principal of the elementary school in Kansas City's historic northeast neighborhood. 'It's just not fit for the 21st century.' Instructional Coach Elizabeth Warwick says that a pipe burst in the building earlier in the year. 'The point of schools is to be there to learn. So, it's incredibly disruptive,' she said. Lucas and Warwick both pointed out that other districts are better equipped than KCPS. 'I have been a public school educator for 13 years, I came from the Chicago Public Schools,' Warwick said. 'And the schools in Chicago don't look like this.' Lucas agreed. 'The strongest school districts in our entire region are the ones that invest in great facilities and great opportunities for their kids. Do you want that for us or do you not?' The question on Tuesday's ballot says that the city will pay for the renovations by levying a new property tax. An additional $0.61 tax per every $100 on your valuation. Someone with a property worth $500,000 would pay an additional $3050 in property taxes, should the bond pass. KCK doctor got paid by health care companies to commit fraud Folks rallying and canvassing on Saturday said they think the vote is worth it. 'If we want to be a city that's going to be fully arrived in the year 2025 and beyond, we have to address the needs of our schools,' Mayes said. 'Kansas City, you know, we're growing and known for great sports teams or the streetcar,' said Laura Wallner, who was canvassing on Saturday morning. 'We're investing in so many things; we should invest as much in our kids and their futures.' The school bond vote will be on Tuesday, April 8. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Vote yes on Kansas City school bond to send our kids a message: You matter
You've heard that children are our future. On April 8, Kansas City has an opportunity to express this sentiment in a very real and tangible way. I am a mother and educator, and I proudly serve as superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools. But most important, I wholeheartedly believe in and love children — seeing their optimism, their brilliance and the potential of their future. It's in our hands as our community makes a critical decision regarding the general obligation bond issue on the April 8 ballot. I want to share a few pertinent points of fact that all in our community should know in order to make an informed decision. Kansas City Public Schools serves roughly 15,000 students, and employs a host of amazing teachers, administrators and other staff members who have worked diligently to bring our district to full accreditation status. Over the last few years, we have seen an increase in our Annual Performance Report score, increase in enrollment, increase of the graduation rate to nearly 90%, band and orchestra offered in all elementary schools, as well as other programming tailored to meet the academic and socio-emotional needs of our children. We've seen national recognition in science, technology, engineering and math, as we were named the 2024 Discovery Channel Education District of the Year. Our students engage in real-world learning as they develop apps that boost energy efficiency, make prosthetic limbs and run their own in-school restaurants. Additionally, we have almost two dozen state medalists in band, orchestra and vocals. A yes vote April 8 would mean a $474 million general obligation bond for KCPS and nine local charter schools. While we'd love to see extravagant additions, these funds would primarily address some of the critical deficiencies and decades' worth of deferred maintenance in our buildings, including upgrades to safety and security systems, secure entry points and fixes to elevators, heating and cooling, roofs, windows, electrical systems, plumbing and bathrooms. School districts in Missouri tackle these issues with bonds, passing them every three to seven years. KCPS is the only school district in the region without a bond. In fact, Kansas City hasn't passed a school bond since 1967. Let's consider this fact in context. In 1967, the Chiefs were in Super Bowl I. The Royals didn't exist yet, and putting a man on the moon was still a dream unrealized. Speaking of dreams, we weren't far removed from Dr. Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech. There's been a lot of history since 1967 — and no bond funding for Kansas City's children during that entire time. Every child deserves a quality education, from pre-kindergarten through high school. We believe that. We believe it so much that we are welcoming nine Kansas City charter schools to join us in this monumental, historical pursuit. These funds would go a long way toward ensuring Kansas City's children are able to learn in educational environments that are not only warm, safe and dry, but ones that also inspire creativity, critical thinking and a passion for learning. We've reached a defining moment in the life of Kansas City, and on April 8 our community will decide what history will say of our commitment and care for our children, and thus the hopes and future of our city. The health and well-being of any community is inextricably tied to how well it takes care of its children. One decision leads to educational spaces that match the achievements of our students. It communicates to our children that they matter and that we believe in them and their future. The other decision leads to classrooms and hallways that continue to degrade, that send a message to our children that they are not important. The spaces we expect you to learn in every day don't matter. One decision costs the average homeowner a cup of coffee a week — 64 cents a day, an equivalent of approximately $20 a month. The other decision might yield no immediate cost, but would inevitably cost a lot more in the long run. A strong city can't exist without strong schools. No local economy has ever thrived in the shadow of crumbling schools. We are at a proverbial fork in the road, with a grand opportunity to usher this city into a new era. Which path will you choose? As you cast your ballot, I want to make one request: Imagine one of Kansas City's children in that voting booth with you. What do they deserve? What message are you going to send to them? Dr. Jennifer Collier is superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools.
