In the 1970s, Kansas City Public Schools had roughly 70,000 students. By the early 2000s, there were nearly 30,000 students. Today there are fewer than 15,000 students.
Fewer students also means fewer buildings in use. Over the years the empty ones sat there.
“It can become an eyesore within the community,” Superintendent Mark Bedell told 41 Action News. “That then leaves a lot of your buildings dormant or moth-balled.”
In 2011, district leaders came up with a new lesson plan. Instead of just sitting there, 30 buildings went up for sale, lease, or rent. A few were demolished.
The process forced Shannon Jaax and other district employees to learn more about real estate.
“This is outside the area of expertise for most school districts.” Jaax said what makes this different is its inclusion. “When you involve communities in determining how assets are used, you get buy in. You build capacity.”
The efforts of KCPS leaders have caught the attention of other large districts across the country. Twenty-four of the 30 buildings have been repurposed.
District leaders have worked with districts in Detroit, St. Louis, and Chicago that are all facing similar struggles. Their success was recently highlighted in a national publication.
It’s a new effort Bedell said helps preserve history and build a future at the same time.
“So moving away from that chalkboard-era of what a school looks like, because we’re in a new era. And our buildings are quite up to standard in the new era," Bedell said.
So far KCPS has made $6.57 million in sales; $5.27 million goes directly to KCPS, and the rest goes to pay off bonds.
For more information on the district’s repurposing efforts, visit its website here.
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Kevin Holmes can be reached at Kevin.Holmes@KSHB.com
