Watch: Superintendent John Allison's presentation to the BOE about why the current finance situation means changes to the bond plan and possible school closures. (1-9-12)

The Wichita Public Schools has initiated a “pause and study” with the bond issue for improvement projects that aren’t already under construction. With the current budget situation, state funding to staff additional classrooms and open new schools has disappeared. As the district moves forward with the “pause and study,” Guiding Principles will be followed to direct the decisions and how we proceed with future bond projects and their scope:

·         To make sound financial decisions for near term construction costs and long term operating costs

·         FEMA Safe Rooms are a critical component of plan

·         Re-evaluate our class-size reduction criteria

·         Sound feeder patterns to ‘feed’ secondary grade levels

·         Minimize boundary changes required to implement plan

·         Utilization of old spaces/offset by construction of new spaces

·         Solicit and evaluate public opinion and reaction to changes

Learn more about the status of bond issue construction projects planned, and those currently underway.