KANSAS CITTY, Mo. — Voters who live in the boundaries of the Kansas City, Kansas, Unified District 500 on Tuesday rejected a $420 million bond proposed by the district.
According to unofficial results posted by the Wyandotte County Election Office, 2,935 people voted "no" while 2,136 voted "yes."
KCKPS hoped to use the funds to build new schools, a new public library, an aquatic center and renovations to some school campuses.
Leading up to the vote, KSHB 41's Charlie Keegan toured two schools in KCKPS — Lindbergh Elementary School and Central Middle School.
Lindbergh had roof leaks, exposed wires, plumbing issues and portable and modular classrooms, which are learning spaces meant to be temporary but have instead been there for years.
Central uses sandbags to keep rainwater from entering the building.
Bathrooms at the school also have water damage and air conditioning leaks among other things.
School leaders pointed to the faultiness at those schools as some of the reasons the bond was important to pass.
KCKPS would've paid off the bond over 30 years using funds from property tax revenues.
If the bond had passed, it would've equaled $97.50 extra every year in property taxes for every $100,000 a resident's property is valued.
Wyandotte County Commonwealth Advocacy Coalition, a community organization, spoke out against the bond leading up to the vote.
Among other concerns, members of the group said they wanted to see a focus on improving academics in KCKPS before asking residents to pay for another tax.
KCKPS Superintendent Dr. Anna Stubblefield released a statement to the community after the bond failed.
Dear Members of Our KCK Community,
I want to express my sincere gratitude for your active participation in the recent
bond election.
While the outcome was not what we had hoped for, your engagement in the democratic process is truly commendable and reflects your commitment to the future of our schools and our community.
We understand that the decision to support a bond initiative is significant, and we respect the diverse perspectives and considerations that each member of our community brings to the table.
Although the bond was not passed, our dedication to providing our students with safe, modern, and high-quality learning environments remains unwavering.
We remain grateful for the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and debate about our school district’s needs and priorities.
The KCK community’s engagement is a testament to the strength of our community, and I am confident that, together, we will continue to make a positive difference in the lives of our students and the future of our schools.
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