KANSAS CITY, Kan. — In August of this year, the Kansas City, Kansas Board of Education approved a $180 million bond issue for voters to take up in November.
It would allow for three new schools to be built, along with facility upgrades and improvements.
One of the Kansas City Kansas Public Schools in need of major renovations is Central Middle School.
Principal Bryan Dolezal showed FOX4 why it’s in need of major upgrades. It’s 110 years old and it’s age is showing.
“I know it’s classified as one of the oldest buildings, junior high buildings west of the Mississippi,” Dolezal said.
Some classrooms have original wood floors and some doors with original keys.
Dolezal showed FOX4 cracked walls and told us about the leaks. He praised the custodial staff for their hard work, but says the age of the building presents many challenges.
“I know there has been some arguments around academic outcomes and how we need to focus on student achievement, however I do believe we can do both. Our kids can be educated in a nice building, where comfort is not an issue,” Dolezal shared.
There are decades of deterioration for the near 700 students who call Central their middle school.
“Our air conditioning unit is extremely unpredictable. It’s not uncommon, during hot days, for some of our classrooms to be in the upper 90s to 100 degrees when you put 30 kids in there,” Dolezal said.
There are also no elevators, in either Central Middle School or Argentine Middle School.
“If you have mobility issues, this building does present a challenge,” Dolezal shared. ”We can’t serve students with wheelchairs. We have to find them an alternate location that has their program.”
There are also four mobile units, described as trailers, that also house classrooms. They, too, present safety issues, according to a school administrator.
“Our kids deserve to have a building that they can be proud of.”
The last time Central Middle School had an any improvements, was in 2016, from another school bond.
“They repaired the vestibule at the front. They also renovated our Professional Development Area,” Dolezal said.
According to KCKPS, the Zero Tax Increase Bond includes three new schools, two middle, one elementary and an addition to Sumner Academy.
The school district says this would provide students with improved learning spaces, updated facilities and attract and retain new residents and businesses to the community.
“This is a zero-tax increase bond meaning there will be no impact to homeowners,” the district said.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
