Voters in Maize school district approve $108-million bond issue, results show

Unofficial results from the Sedgwick County Election Office show that voters in the Maize school district Tuesday night said 'yes' in the special election for an approximate $108 million bond issue.

With the money, the district plans to address needs related to increasing space and updating/adding amenities.

Specifically, the district plans to add two new intermediate schools for fifth-and-sixth-grade students. The first question on the two-question ballot concerned the new school construction, a storm shelter at the district's alternative high school, upgrades to Maize High School and renovations to Maize South High School.

A second question included the addition of an indoor pool and auditorium "to meet the needs of a growing district," outdoor playgrounds for elementary school students, and new indoor STEAM (science, technology engineering, arts and math) labs for elementary students.

Maize school district Superintendent Chad Higgins says the bond issue will have zero impact on local taxes.

The Maize school district says plans call for construction on its new intermediate schools to start in the fall with both schools opening by 2021.

Currently, Maize Middle School is over-capacity and school staff had to add extra lockers last-minute and remove storage areas to make room for additional classrooms, the district says.

The two new intermediate schools would ease this problem, district leaders say.

Unofficial results from the

show strong support for both propositions in the bond vote. With an approximate 11.6-percent voter turnout, results show the first question passing with a count of 2,549 votes in favor (85.4 percent) to 437 votes opposed (14.6 percent). Results show the second question passing with 2,292 votes in favor (77 percent) to 684 votes opposed (23 percent).

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As students across Kansas head back to school this week, voters in the fast-growing Maize school determine the vote of a school bond.

The district says the $108.2-million bond issue would address three key needs: growth, safety and opportunity.

The bond election is set for Aug. 27. Advanced voting started this week.

Specifically, the district wants to add two new intermediate schools for fifth-and-sixth-grade students. The first question on the two-question ballot concerns the new school construction, a storm shelter at the district's alternative high school, upgrades to Maize High School and renovations to Maize South High School.

A second question includes the addition of an indoor pool and auditorium "to meet the needs of a growing district," outdoor playgrounds for elementary school students, and new indoor STEAM (science, technology engineering, arts and math) labs for elementary students.

Maize school district Superintendent Chad Higgins says the bond issue will have zero impact on local taxes.

Currently, Maize Middle School is over-capacity and school staff had to add extra lockers last-minute and remove storage areas to make room for additional classrooms.

The two new intermediate schools would ease this problem, district leaders say.

If its bond issue passes, the Maize school district will start construction on its new intermediate schools in the fall and both would open by 2021.