2026 School Bond Information

• Remodel classrooms and Ag Shop in the Old Ag Building

• New Rooftop Units at Eisenhower and Kennedy
• New chillers at Wellington High School

• New roofs with 25 year warranties for Eisenhower, Kennedy, Lincoln, Wellington Middle School, and Wellington High School

• Mill off 2 inches and resurface lots at Eisenhower and Kennedy
• Repair cracks and reseal lots at Wellington High School

• Construct a small building for restrooms, concessions, and press box
• Replace ticket booths and entrance gates
• Expand bleacher seating and provide ADA access

• Window replacement at Eisenhower, Kennedy, Sumner County Academy, and the District Office
• Replace cafeteria window curtain wall at Wellington Middle School

Q: Why did we not budget for this? It's all basic maintenance.

A: Although the district receives Capital Outlay dollars to help maintain its facilities, those dollars do not add up to the total repair/maintenance needed over time. That is the reason school districts run bond issues periodically to ensure that large, expensive projects can be completed and facilities can be maintained.   

Q: Why didn’t the school go with the most cost-effective quotes for repairs?

A: All bond work will be awarded by sealed bid, which will determine the actual price paid.  However, the estimates used to determine the bond amount are based on similar projects completed recently in Kansas with allowances for inflation based on when the actual work is expected to be completed.  Contingency reserves of 5% have also been included in the budget to account for unforeseen circumstances. 

Q: Is it true that the bond money can be used for anything the district wants? 

A: Bond funds can only be used towards projects outlined in the ballot question. This includes new roofs, HVAC replacements, parking lot upgrades, window replacements, and facility renovations across multiple schools. They cannot legally be used for salaries, sports equipment, or unrelated programs.

Q: Couldn’t we pay for all of this out of Capital Outlay by replacing one roof a year? 

Capital Outlay dollars are limited and already stretched across many needs beyond just roofing—such as technology, transportation, and other building maintenance. If the district were to replace only one roof per year, it would take decades to complete all the necessary replacements, leaving many schools with failing roofs and escalating repair costs in the meantime. By addressing multiple roofs through a bond, the district can ensure students and staff have safe, dry, and efficient learning environments now, while also avoiding the higher costs that come with delaying needed repairs. 

Q: Why are the chillers at the high school being replaced when the kids are complaining of freezing classrooms? 

While the chillers are still running, they are old and no longer operate efficiently or consistently. Some areas may feel overly cold while others are still too warm, which is a sign the system is failing to regulate temperatures properly. The bond would allow the district to replace these outdated systems with modern, efficient equipment that provides reliable comfort for all classrooms and reduces ongoing repair and energy costs. 

Q: Why are we updating the track when that was done just a few years ago? 

Track updates are confined to expanded bleacher seating, a new entrance, and a new concessions/restroom/press box building.  The track itself is not undergoing any work. 

Q: Why did the district hire DCS Services?
A: Kansas law requires school districts to use “construction management at-risk services” for major building projects. This means we hire a third-party professional construction manager to oversee the work, rather than trying to manage it ourselves.

Q: Who is DCS Services?
A: DCS Services is a qualified construction management firm with experience in school projects across Kansas. They act as our partner to make sure all construction is done to professional standards, on time, and within budget.

Q: Why is this important for Wellington schools?
A: When Wellington High School was built nearly 25 years ago, the district faced significant construction problems that created long-term issues for the building. By having DCS Services in place, we are adding an extra layer of oversight and accountability so that the same mistakes are not repeated.

Q: How will the district avoid the construction problems that happened when the high school was built?
A: State law now requires school districts to use a third-party “construction management at-risk” firm for major building projects. This means the district no longer manages the project alone. Instead, professionals like DCS Services oversee the planning, bidding, and construction process from start to finish. Their role is to ensure quality, accountability, and compliance at every step—so the kinds of issues that occurred 25 years ago are not repeated.

Q: What will DCS Services do?
A: DCS will:

• Coordinate bids from contractors
• Oversee daily construction activity
• Ensure the work meets specifications and safety standards
• Protect the district’s interests throughout the project

Q: What is an overlay, and how is it different from a full replacement?

A: An overlay adds a new layer of roofing material — in this case, TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) — over the existing roof after necessary repairs. It’s a durable, energy-efficient option that costs up to 50% less than a full replacement. A full replacement removes all existing materials and installs an entirely new roofing system.

Q: How will the district decide which roofs get replaced and which get overlaid?

A: Once the bond is approved, core samples will be taken from each roof to determine its condition. These samples help identify whether a roof can safely support an overlay or needs full replacement. Because taking core samples costs thousands of dollars, this step will take place after the bond passes.

Q: Are the costs listed in the bond proposal actual bids?

A: No. The costs in the bond proposal are estimates, not bids. These estimates were developed by our Construction Risk Management team and architects to project the total cost of each project before construction begins.

Q: When will the formal bidding process take place?

A: The formal bidding process will begin after the bond passes and projects are approved to move forward. At that point, contractors will submit competitive bids, and the district will select the lowest responsible bidder for each project in accordance with state law.

Q: Why are the estimates higher than what some people expect?

A: The estimates are intentionally conservative to ensure that the bond funds issued will be sufficient to complete all the projects listed. This approach helps prevent the need for additional funding later if construction or material costs increase.

Q: A recent social media post stated that the district had “just found 13 million dollars in cash reserves” and the district could have used that money to fix the roofs and replace HVAC systems. Is this true?

The district has seen that post as well, and that is misleading information. Schools in Kansas don’t get one big pile of money they can spend however they want. Instead, the money comes in separate buckets, and each bucket has rules set by the state. Schools are not allowed to move money between buckets, even if there’s a big need somewhere else. Maintenance and repairs, along with some other expenses, mostly come out of the Capital Outlay bucket.

So, even if a district looks like it “has money,” that money may be:

• Locked into a specific fund
• Legally restricted
• Unable to be transferred

Schools may have money in one bucket but not in the bucket they actually need.

So when people ask, “Why don’t schools just use that money for ___?”
The answer is usually: because state law doesn’t allow it.

Kansas schools must follow state rules on how every dollar is spent and are audited to make sure they are complying with the law.

It’s not about unwillingness — it’s about legal restrictions.

For a brief explanation of each of the funds or "buckets" and their spending restrictions in the district's ending cash balance after Fiscal Year 2024-2025, view the 2025 Cash Balance Overview.

Q: Why are comments disabled on the district Facebook page when posting bond information? 

A school district is allowed to disable Facebook comments on posts as long as they are not selectively blocking an individual or a specific group. All comments are disabled on the bond posts, not just certain people or groups. We are simply providing information on what the current bond issue will provide, associated cost estimates, and other facts. We are not allowed to advocate on our social media platforms for people to vote one way or the other on this issue. During the last bond issue election cycle, comments were left on and numerous people’s comments advocated for a yes or no vote. This was construed by some as the district was advocating for people to vote a certain way. Disabling all comments on these posts eliminates that possibility.