Wichita School Board

The woodshop at Wichita Heights High School will get a major upgrade thanks to a $280,000 renovation approved by the Wichita school board.

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.

Amy Warren and Amy Jensen defeated incumbents to win seats on the Wichita school board in Tuesday's election, according to unofficial results. Board president Diane Albert and District 2 member Julie Hedrick were reelected.

Union leaders say Diane Albert and Hazel Stabler have changed significantly since they joined the board as part of a conservative wave of candidates who focused on mask mandates, critical race theory and other culture war issues.

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.

Board president Diane Albert and Mackenzi Truelove were the top vote-getters for the District 1 seat on the Wichita school board. Incumbent Kathy Bond will face retired teacher Amy Jensen in District 5.

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.

Four people are running for the District 1 seat on the Wichita school board, and five people are running in District 5. An Aug. 5 primary will narrow each field to two.