How Bond would impact Hale Cook
How would April 8's Bond vote impact Hale Cook Elementary?
The Bond vote is April 8. Hale Cook Elementary itself would receive $12.5 million.
How would the Bond impact Hale Cook?
Every KCPS school will receive funds to address its most critical facility needs addressing:
*Deferred Maintenance: life safety, HVAC, electrical, roofs, windows, bathroom, plumbing
*Improved Learning Environment: collaboration spaces, STEAM labs, instrumental music spaces, gym and athletic facilities, outdoor classrooms/outdoor play areas, secure entry points.
For Hale Cook, this would mean:
*the school receives $12.5 million.
*major renovations to classrooms, building exterior, restrooms, plumbing, and an addition to replace temporary trailers.
Click here for more information on the Bond and how it would impact our district: https://www.kcpsbond.org/proposed-projects
Every school benefits. Every student wins.
KCPS buildings are in dire need: Information on April 8 Bond vote
Bond Basics
After decades without a school bond, KCPS facilities are in dire need of repairs & improvements. Kansas City Public Schools has placed a $474 million bond proposal on the April 8 ballot. Now Kansas City voters will decide whether to approve money to help fix KCPS' facilities.
KCPS is the only school district in the region without bond funding, meaning the district has one of the lowest tax rates in the area. Every other district in the area has a bond, and approves a new one every 3-7 years. Without dedicated capital funding from bonds, KCPS has been left to use its regular operating money each year to address growing facilities needs. Diverting money from here to address buildings needs, though, can only go so far. In Missouri, school district's use bond money to tackle capital projects and deferred maintenance, but KCPS has not had a bond since 1967----That's 58 years!
That's 58 years without being able to fully address growing facilities needs. This has resulted in the district accumulating $1.25 billion in deferred maintenance. This bond would not only address important deferred maintenance & facilities needs. It would also help set Kansas City families on the path toward modern facilities to enhance their educational experiences!
Cost To Kansas City Homeowners
Kansas Citians would, of course, be wondering how much it would cost to give Kansas City children something they haven't had in 58 years, something every other district's children in the region have. The average home value in the KCPS voting boundary is about $180,000. This bond would cost those owning a $200,000 home $231 a year---That's less than 64 cents a day. That's less than $5 a week & less than $20 a month.
How would KCPS use the bond?
This bond is specifically for deferred maintenance and capital funding needs. Every school at KCPS would get at least $5 million to address these facilities repairs & improvements. Some schools would receive more based on needs, additions, and building conditions.
Some of the more major aspects of the bond include:
- upgrades to safety & security systems, including alarms, secure entry points, elevators & ADA accessibility
- investments to address critical deficiencies, including heating & cooling, roofs, windows, electrical systems, plumbing & bathrooms.
- improved spaces for learning environments, classroom renovations, advanced-tech STEM labs, outdoor learning/play area investments, improved music spaces, and gym/athletics upgrades.
- creation of a state-of-the-art Career & Technical Education Center at Central High School
- the $45 million major renovation to the former Southwest High School to create a south middle school
- 2 $68 million Empowerment Centers, each of which includes a pre-k center, elementary school & family resource center (one at the King Elementary site, the other at the Woodland Early Learning Center/Global Academy site)
Accountability/Properly Using The Bond
Following the approval of the bond, a third-party independent committee will ensure the funds are spent as designated, and that all steps in the process going forward are fully transparent and relayed to the community at-large in a regular time interval.
