Wichita Schools Seek Community Input on Bond Proposals

Parents test 'Build a Bond' tool as district pitches three options to address aging facilities

Apr. 8, 2026 at 1:58pm

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The Wichita school district is seeking community input on three different bond proposals after voters rejected a $450 million bond issue last year. The district held an informational meeting where parents could use a new 'Build a Bond' tool to create their own proposal, as the district looks to address aging facilities with many school buildings more than 60 years old.

Why it matters

After the failure of a $450 million bond measure last year, the Wichita school district is hoping to get more buy-in from the community on its plans to address aging infrastructure and facilities. The 'Build a Bond' tool allows parents to customize proposals, which could lead to a bond measure that better reflects the community's priorities.

The details

The district presented three different bond options - one focused on fixing as many buildings as possible, a second designed to be tax neutral for homeowners, and a third scaled-down version aimed at addressing the most urgent needs while limiting costs. Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld says the plans are about more than just facilities, but ultimately investing in students.

  • The informational meeting where parents tested the 'Build a Bond' tool was held on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • The feedback sessions will continue throughout the month of April as the district finalizes the bond proposals.

The players

Kelly Bielefeld

The superintendent of Wichita public schools.

Wichita school district

The public school system serving the city of Wichita, Kansas.

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What they’re saying

“At its core, these plans are more than just facilities...it's ultimately about investing in students.”

— Kelly Bielefeld, Superintendent

What’s next

The district will continue gathering community feedback on the three bond proposals throughout April, with the goal of finalizing a plan to put before voters later this year.

The takeaway

Wichita schools are taking a more collaborative approach to developing a bond measure after the failure of a previous $450 million proposal, using a 'Build a Bond' tool to get direct input from parents on their priorities for addressing aging facilities and investing in students.