Wichita debate on USD 259's $615M bond set for Oct. 22

Wichita residents will get a structured forum to argue both sides of USD 259's $615 million bond proposal before the Nov. 3 vote.

The Wichita Journalism Collaborative, Kansas Leadership Center and League of Women Voters of Wichita Metro are hosting a Braver Angels debate on the bond issue, the Wichita Journalism Collaborative reported. The event starts at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Ford Rockwell Branch Library, north of Central and Edgemoor. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. for the 90-minute event.

The format, borrowed from the national organization Braver Angels, replaces the typical podium-style campaign forum with a structured conversation where audience members speak, not just panelists. A moderator frames ground rules for 10 to 15 minutes before the discussion begins.

Dani Gains, the Journal manager and debate organizer, said participants get to share a room with people they disagree with "and they can leave the room thinking they can now talk to them."

A similar Braver Angels debate in January on Wichita's proposed 1% sales tax drew 120 participants to the Advanced Learning Library on a night of bitter cold and icy roads, according to an opinion column published by the collaborative.

Faith Martin, who participated in that January event, described the experience as being "less about argument and more about discussing the topic to better understand its impact," according to the Wichita Journalism Collaborative.

What's on the ballot

The bond proposal appears on the Nov. 3 ballot as two questions. Question 1 carries a $407.1 million price tag and would not change the current property tax rate, according to the district's bond website. Question 2 adds $207.9 million in investments but cannot pass unless Question 1 is approved.

If both measures pass, the district estimates property taxes on a $200,000 home would rise by $50 a year. If only Question 1 passes, homeowners would see no increase unless their property valuation changes.

Question 1 projects include rebuilding Truesdell Middle School at $103.9 million and rebuilding Chisholm Trail Elementary with a new middle school to create a K-8 campus at $81.3 million. The question also funds a new FutureReady Center for trades at $28.2 million and $20 million each for preservation at North High School and East High School.

The bond has drawn organized opposition. The Improve Learning First Coalition has argued that USD 259 should improve student performance before spending on new facilities, KSN reported. Superintendent Kelly Bielefeld pushed back at a press conference, saying student learning has improved under his tenure and that better buildings would continue that trend.