KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Public Schools gave KSHB 41 reporter Megan Abundis an inside look at deplorable conditions at a school on the repair list if voters approve a school bond proposal in 2025.

KCPS Superintendent Jennifer Collier said the deferred maintenance need has increased by more than $656 million in the six decades since voters approved the last bond issue.

That’s why he’s asking voters to approve a $474 million bond issue next spring to improve many public and charter schools.

KSHB 41

KCPS staff took him to Northeast Middle School, one of two middle schools in the neighborhood, to show him conditions in the building that required $4 million worth of improvements.

For the full list of repairs that will be made to schools in the district if the bail bond is accepted, Click here.

The school district recently said they could not accommodate all incoming sixth graders with the district’s current facilities.

Northeast Secondary School Principal Dr. Allenda Wilson says her students and staff are strong warriors, but the building does not reflect the students’ victories.

KSHB 41

Dr. “Unfortunately, it has become a mindset among students that once you get used to being in a space that doesn’t have the things you need, you get used to it and that’s okay,” Dr. Wilson said. Wilson.

Known as the home of the Titans, the history of the school dates back more than a century.

It’s a huge building, measuring over 100,000 square metres, but staff claim that much of the space is unusable due to inadequate infrastructure.

Dr. Students begin the day in the underachieving auditorium, which is not the front seat of learning, Wilson said.

KSHB 41

“You can see our seating areas here,” he said. “We have missing seats. When they come, sit down, I don’t even want to sit down.”

He says the building comes with warnings, some written on the walls, some clearly visible.

The signs read, “Water is leaking, move around.”

Staff says it takes a year to install new HVAC systems.

The work was completed last month, but Dr. Thieves broke in two weeks ago and stole the copper, exacerbating ongoing HVAC system woes and internet issues, according to Wilson.

“Systems don’t always work together,” he said.

KSHB 41

Wilson said securing the building and making it usable and safe are priorities for students and staff.

“This is an urgent thing for us,” he said. “We want our kids to be here, we want to revitalize our district and make sure kids are not only happy to be here, but want to come.”

Dr. Wilson and his team agree: “You can’t serve poverty with poverty.”

There are also faulty floors, as well as boys’ changing rooms, technology and learning areas that urgently need updating.

Dr. “I don’t want my kids to get used to seeing this because it’s not normal,” Wilson said.

He said it would be important to update their space so the community can use it.

The school hosts 640 students.

If voters approve the bond, the school is slated to receive $4.4 million.

The Kansas City Federation of Teachers and School-Related Personnel, Local 691, said, “The union’s Board of Directors and KCPS recently had a productive discussion regarding the upcoming school bond, and we are pleased that many of our initial concerns were addressed.” The Teachers Union said: “We are optimistic that progress will continue and look forward to our next meeting. Our focus remains on providing assurance that there will be no layoffs and on the provision of additional operating funds to support raises for our members.”

The school board is scheduled to receive final approval on Nov. 20 to the final ten-year capital financing plan.

MORE:

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/an-investment-in-the-children-in-this-city-kansas-city-public-schools-will-pursue-424m-bond-in- April-2025

https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/why-wouldnt-we-give-them-every-tool-that-we-can-parents-react-to-kcps-go-bond-proposal- -424m

KSHB 41 reporter Megan Abundis covers Kansas City, Missouri, including neighborhoods in the southern part of the city. Share your story idea with Megan.