Chisholm Trail Elementary - USD 259

09/03/2026

This week Mrs. Wolke's kids worked on modeling multiplication and division using manipulatives and sketches!

09/03/2026

The proposed bond projects are located at schools across the city. The two-question bond issue focuses on long-term investments and improvements including rebuilding, renovating and preserving facilities, as well as modernizing spaces to provide future-ready opportunities for students and staff across WPS.

To learn more about the proposal, visit wpsbond.org.

09/03/2026

Mrs. Freeman’s 5th graders have been learning all about hurricanes, and today they put their knowledge to the test! Students used creativity, teamwork, and a little engineering to see if their structures could survive the ultimate test, a fan for wind and water for rain! Congratulations to the winning team!

09/02/2026

CTE Longhorn Spirit Store:
It’s time to show your Longhorn pride! 🎉 Check out the Spirit Store and grab some CTE gear for the whole family!

A few things to know:
📅 Store closes September 28, 2026
📦 Orders are processed as they come in—no need to wait until the store closes!
⏰ Regular items take approximately 10–12 days to make, plus shipping time.
🧵 Embroidered items may take up to 3 weeks. If you order regular and embroidered items together, everything will ship together.
📧 You’ll receive tracking information by email once your order ships.

The Chisholm Trail Longhorns Spirit Store is Open! Closes September 28, 2026 Orders will be shipped directly to you. Please allow 10-12 days for the order to be made and then shipped. Turnaround time does not include shipping time but you will receive an email with tracking information once your ord...

09/01/2026

When we talk about how the bond could affect property taxes, we use the median Wichita home value — just over $200,000 — as our common example.

Question 1 asks voters to approve $407.1 million in bonds. If this passes, the tax rate stays exactly where it is today. Homeowners would not see any increase in what they currently pay, unless their property valuation increases.

Question 2 asks voters to approve $207.9 million in bonds. If this passes, the property tax rate would increase, adding about $50 a year — just $4.16 a month — for the owner of a $200,000 home compared to what they're paying now.

We've heard from the community throughout this process, and $50 a year is a threshold that a majority of Wichitans have told us they'd support.

Here's what that looks like across a range of home values.

08/31/2026

Here is this week's Parent Newsletter:

Longhorn Stampede

08/28/2026

The WPS bond issue is divided into two questions. Question 2 can only pass if Question 1 passes.

📌 If Question 1 passes, the tax rate would remain the same. A homeowner would not see an increase to what they currently pay, unless their property valuation increases.

📌 If Question 2 passes, the tax rate would increase with an anticipated impact of an additional $50 a year ($4.16 a month) for the owner of a $200,000 home compared to what is being paid today.

The district recommended a bond referendum based on school and community feedback. More information can be found at wpsbond.org.

08/27/2026

Why do schools need to issue bonds for school improvements? Bond issues are how school districts pay for new facilities and major building improvements.

Capital funds are limited and are meant for minor repairs or smaller building improvements. There is not enough money in capital to pay for new facilities.

Bond funding would free up existing capital funds that are currently being used on major repairs, allowing WPS to address facility needs across all buildings. This means bond funds indirectly help all of our buildings.

More information about the bond can be found at wpsbond.org.

08/26/2026

What is a bond?

• A bond is similar to how a family might take out a mortgage to buy or renovate a home. A bond is how school districts in Kansas pay for major building and facility projects, as the district’s capital budget is intended to cover smaller repairs and predictive and preventative maintenance.

• In Kansas, a school bond must be approved by voters. If approved, the district repays the bond over time using local property taxes.

• A bond is used for long-term investments in buildings and infrastructure. It can’t be used for day-to-day school expenses such as paying teacher salaries or other operational expenses.

Learn more at wpsbond.org

08/26/2026

On the November 3, 2026, general election ballot, Wichita Public Schools will ask the community to consider $615 million worth of projects. These improvements focus on four main themes: modernizing learning spaces, improving experiences and efficiencies, additional career tech ed spaces and preserving the district’s oldest high schools. Watch this video and visit wpsbond.org to learn more!

The 2026 Bond is an opportunity for our community to come together ...