KWCH - Kansas News and Weather - Board Approves Bel Aire Land Purchase

Board Approves Bel Aire Land Purchase

By Michael Schwanke (WICHITA, Kan.)

Wichita school board members voted Monday night to purchase land from the Bel Aire.

Board members agreed to spend $1.7 million for land at 53^rd & Rock for a new high school and 53^rd & Woodlawn for a new kindergarten through eighth grade school.

The district hopes to alleviate overcrowding issues at Chisholm Trail Elementary, Stucky Middle School, and Heights High School.

"We're now to the point we don't have one single classroom that's not occupied," says Chisholm Trail Principal Tammy Alexander.

Alexander says overcrowind has pushed some classes into the hallways and the student to teacher ratio to its limit.

"Part of excitement is getting more room because we need that," says Alexander.

The new schools will create a new problem. The district will have to figure out where to draw boundaries.

A school spokesperson it will be a challenge making the schools both racially and economically diverse due to Bel Aire's demographics.

The district has hired a consultant to help draw the lines.