Sedgwick County election officials have certified the results of the February 25th school bond issue election in Wichita, after canvassers agreed to count an additional 535 ballots.
The final results have the bond issue defeated with 14,208 no votes and 13,889 yes votes, a margin of 319 votes. The voter turnout for the election was just over 14 percent.
The $450 million bond issue would have provided for improvements and needed renovations to school buildings, with some buildings being closed and others repurposed for new services and programs.
Wichita school district officials released a statement after the final count, saying they will be looking at next steps for a facilities master plan:
“With all votes now counted in the February 25 bond election, Wichita Public Schools will evaluate what we have learned to determine next steps. We appreciate the community feedback we received during this process. Two things remain, regardless of the outcome: the district has a tremendous amount of facility needs and we will continue making every student future ready, even in our current learning spaces.”
The next steps in the plan will call for OK and Pleasant Valley elementary schools to close in the spring of 2027 followed by L’ouverture and Woodland elementary schools closing in the spring of 2028. The Wichita school district is proposing a bonus pay structure to retain teachers and other staff through the closings of their buildings.
