Tears shed at USD 259 proposed school closures meeting

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — A lot of tears were shed Wednesday night from Wichita teachers, parents, and students, all upset about what the school closures will bring. One parent said moving her son from Park Elementary School would be detrimental.

Heartbreak filled the discussion room as the reality of the looming closures set in. Lisha Watts said her son has autism, and Park Elementary has become a home. 

“The people at Park, it’s apart from his family, and I’m afraid that if I take him to another school, that he’s not going to have that relationship, he’s not going to have that guidance and that mentorship,” said Watts. 

She said distance from his new school would create several complications. 

“We walk there; if he gets sick or conferences, how am I going to get there? I think the school is like a 30-35 minute walk from where I’m at, you know that’s one way, with a sick kid, you know that’s frustrating,” said Watts. 

Wichita USD 259’s Operations Division Director, Fabián Armendáriz, said $11 million in deferred maintenance, no secure entry, and no dedicated cafeteria are the reasons Park Elementary was picked. He said these meetings are about giving parents time to prepare. 

“Providing families with enough information so they can make the right decision for their student,” said Armendáriz.

Closing these schools would still leave USD 259 short of clearing the budget shortfall. 

“There’s still another $17 or 16.5 million that’s out there for us to close that deficit that we have. We’re still considering what those options are,” said Wichita Public Schools BOE At-Large Member Melody McCray-Miller. 

She said they don’t want to cut any staff or teaching positions, assuring that other steps would be taken. 

Phase three of the district plan eliminates the remaining $16.5 million deficit. The district has not released what their plan is to take care of that. The operations division director said the chief financial officer is working on that plan but would not give any other details. 

There will be two more meetings to address the remaining four schools recommended for closure:

On Feb. 22, at West High School, it will be for Cleaveland Traditional Magnet Elementary School and Payne Elementary School. 

On Feb. 26, the AMAC Administrative Center will focus on Clark Elementary and Jardine Middle School. 

Both meetings will be at 5:30 p.m.