Wichita Public Schools

Wichita school board members approved changes to the calendar at a meeting earlier this month.

Wichita school board president Stan Reeser deferred a vote on the timeline to close four elementary schools after three board members were absent.

Wichita school board members will ultimately decide if and when to close the schools.

Peacekeepers, a program created by a Philadelphia counselor, trains students to lead peer conferences that address minor behavior issues like name-calling or horseplay.

Voters in November will decide four seats on the Wichita school board. KMUW invited candidates in each of those races to join us for a discussion of student achievement, aging schools, diversity and other topics.

Crews converted the old Southeast High School’s former library into a new boardroom, which doubles as a staff training room. The total cost for the project is estimated at $571,000.

Wichita’s headcount for the 2025-26 school year is 45,075, down from 46,556 last year. The state’s largest district has lost about 6,000 students — a nearly 12% drop — over the past decade.

Wichita district leaders say the redesign was spurred in part by copyright concerns. The previous Heights logo closely resembled the logo for the Atlanta Falcons NFL team.

The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the microschool movement across the country, as families sought alternatives during shutdowns and remote schooling. The trend has continued post-pandemic, as part of a broader desire for educational choice.

Four years ago, the Wichita district employed a hybrid voting model that let voters across the district weigh in on school board races. This year, a majority of board members are in district-only races for reelection.