All six schools in Kansas’ Shawnee Heights School District 450 will see improvements made to their facilities after voters overwhelmingly passed a $65 million bond issue during the Nov. 4 general election.
The measure passed on a more than two to one vote to make upgrades at Shawnee Heights High and Middle Schools, Shawnee Heights Elementary, Berryton Elementary, and Tecumseh North and South Elementary Schools. The USD 450 Board of Education is seeking construction management firms to oversee facility improvement projects scheduled from 2025 through 2028.
The Kansas Department of Education authorized the vote in September. The bond will fund wide-ranging facility improvements across district schools. Projects include classroom renovations and upgrades to technology and mechanical systems. Plans also call for safety and security enhancements, expanded parking and drop-off areas, and improvements to gyms and cafeterias. Additional space will be created for programs such as robotics, counseling and the arts.
The estimated tax impact is about $1.44 per month, or $17.25 per year, on a $100,000 home for the next 25 years. Shawnee Heights Schools are in a rural suburban area outside Topeka and about 50 miles east of Kansas City. District officials said the bond will modernize aging facilities and support long-term student success.
Photo by RDNE Stock project from Pexels
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