Voters recently passed seven bond referendums in school districts across Kansas, leaving Dodge City Public Schools officials wondering if the trend will continue when its $59.8 million bond issue proposal appears on the ballot in January.
The bond proposals that were approved across the state on Election Day ranged from $1.9 million to $370 million. They will fund deferred maintenance, upgrades to existing schools and construction of new schools in districts throughout the state.
"What that signals is that local communities are making an investment in their schools, and that bodes well for the district," said Dodge City Public Schools spokesman Seth Eckelman. "We're on the right track."
Three Kansas school districts narrowly passed their bond issue proposals.
Garden City approved a $97.5 million bond issue with 51 percent of the vote. Wichita Public Schools also managed to pass their $370 million bond with a slight majority, which will fund the construction of 275 new classrooms in six new schools and additional teachers and staff.
Nearby, voters approved Fowler's $1.94 million bond issue by a slim margin of less than 100 votes.
The Fowler bond issue will finance the construction of a 13,000-square-foot monolithic dome to be used as a multi-purpose building to house a gymnasium, locker rooms, a commons area, concessions space, restrooms, a technology center and a band/music section.
In northeast Kansas, Olathe Public Schools passed a $68 million bond issue with 59 percent of the vote. This money will go toward new construction to accommodate freshmen in Olathe's four high schools and reorganize elementary students to prevent overcrowding.
With 62 percent of the vote, Leavenworth Public Schools patrons approved a $57.8 million bond issue for a new campus and upgrades at two elementary schools and the high school.
After voting down two school bond proposals since 2006, DeSoto Public Schools voters authorized a $75 million bond with a 56 percent approval to expand the high school and build a new elementary school.
Receiving nearly 70 percent of the vote, Manhattan-Ogden Public Schools also passed its $97.5 million bond for school improvements.
Whether or not these votes indicate how Ford County voters will swing in January remains to be seen.
Reach Cherise Forno at (620) 408-9931 or e-mail her at cherise.forno@dodgeglobe.com.
