New public school projects underway as south KC starts 2026-27

Center Schools prepare for renovations, welcome 5th grade band

Center School District is set to welcome students back to school on Aug. 24. It comes after the approval of a $29 million and a $5 million in two separate no-tax-increase bond issues. Several projects are planned as a result of the $29 million April bond.

For Center High School, improvements include new football turf, a new elevator and a track retaining wall. Center Middle School is also set to get track updates and locker room renovations. The entire district will see classroom renovations, playground updates, outdoor area updates, kitchen renovations, asphalt and sidewalk repairs, roof repairs and updates to intercom and bell systems.

This school year, Center elementary schools will expand musical education with the addition of  fifth grade band classes. Classes will be open to all fifth graders at Red Bridge, Boone, Center and Indian Creek Elementary Schools. 

Hickman Mills pays off debt, improves buildings

Hickman Mills School District students will return to the classroom on Aug. 24. The 2026-27 school year comes as the district makes $13 million in budget cuts to make up for a deficit. Those cuts included the reduction of more than 70 staff and several program eliminations, according to Superintendent Dr. Dennis Carpenter.

Hickman Mills voters approved a $20 million bond in the April election, which will help pay off existing facility debt as well as address maintenance and safety needs. Dr. Carpenter told attendees of the August South Kansas City Alliance meeting that bond projects include new stadium lights for Ruskin High School and Warford Elementary School renovations.

KCPS’ historic $474 million bond reaches south KC

The Kansas City Public School District begins classes on Aug. 24, more than a year after voter approval of a historic $474 million bond. The 2025 bond approval was the first passed by district voters since 1967.

Included in the bond is the ongoing $15 million renovation of Hale Cook Elementary School set to finish by fall 2027. Renovation includes four new classrooms, security upgrades, and a storm shelter. It will also bring new playgrounds, a new plaza, a cafeteria expansion and more. 

Also included are the recently completed $5 million in projects at Border Star Montessori School. The school is kicking off the year with a new playground, library and other improvements.

Grandview School District celebrates new library, autism programming

The Grandview School District starts classes on Aug. 25 with about $90 million in bond projects underway. The projects are funded by two bonds approved by voters in 2021 and 2024. Major facility upgrades are still under construction at the Butcher-Greene and Meadowmere Elementary Schools, the High Grave Early Childhood Center, Martin City K-8 and Grandview Middle School.

Also funded by the bonds is the district’s new Training and Operations Center and Grandview High School’s big renovations. This year, students will see a newly renovated library and media center, Bulldog TV broadcast journalism studio, and a new choir room. Hallways will replace student lockers with study nooks. 

A new K-8 autism wing will open at Butcher-Green Elementary. 

The bonds have also funded new recovery and sensory-friendly spaces at the Center for Alternative Instructional Resources, which serves as an alternate educational option for elementary, middle school, and high school students, including those with disabilities. 

Belton School District passes bond for learning spaces, program expansions

Belton begins 2026-27 on Aug. 24, after approving a $58 million bond in April. The money will support four key projects: flexible and modern elementary learning spaces, expansion of secondary career education, expansion of early childhood education and finally, facility and grounds maintenance.

Underutilized Yeokum Center of Innovation space will be taken over by the Academies at Belton, the district’s secondary career training program, as a part of the bond. The goal is to build flexible new learning spaces that facilitate program expansion.

Elementary learning space upgrades are also hoped to facilitate program expansion. This could include a black box theater, farm school infrastructure and computer science tools, according to the district. Money is also allocated to expand the pre-kindergarten programming at Grace Early Childhood Education and Care Center.

Raymore-Peculiar School District expands spaces

The Raymore-Peculiar School District, which starts class on Aug. 25, also approved a no-tax-increase bond issue in April. The $45 million will support five key areas: security and safety; early childhood learning space; expanded student learning opportunities; activity and athletic site improvements; and site maintenance. That includes projects to revamp the softball and baseball fields as well as the South Middle School stadium.

The first bond project on the docket is the expansion of early childhood education at the district’s Shull Early Childhood Center on 211th Street in Peculiar, according to Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle. Updates are planned to refresh the 50-year-old building and improve functionality. That includes renovating shared learning areas, updating the front office, playground enhancements, system upgrades and refreshed finishes, according to the district.

Security improvements for this year will include entryway and access control enhancements, updated intercom systems, new surveillance cameras and radio communication upgrades at all district schools, according to Slagle.