Wichita Public Schools

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.

Amy Warren, a Wichita parent and volunteer, has raised more money than any other candidate in the race for Wichita Board of Education. She faces incumbent Hazel Stabler in the District 6 race in November.

Wichita district officials say another bond issue is the only reasonable way to finance needed repairs and upgrades. Board members gave initial approval to put a new bond issue on next year's general election ballot.

The Wichita Board of Education unanimously approved a three-year contract with Kelly Bielefeld. It includes a new agreement that the concept for a microschool launched last fall is Bielefeld’s intellectual property.

High schools in Kansas are graduating a higher percentage of students than ever before. But some people worry that the growth of credit recovery could be lowering standards and allowing students to get a diploma without the skills they need.