Kansas City stands at a pivotal moment with the proposed KCPS School Bond — an

opportunity to invest in modernizing our schools, ensuring safe, inclusive learning environments,

and showing our students that they are valued.

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For anyone unfamiliar, a school bond is like a loan that voters approve for the school

district to fix or build schools. The district gets money upfront to repair old buildings, build

new ones, improve safety, or update technology. Then, over time, the district pays that money

back, usually through property taxes. It’s a way for the community to invest in better schools

now, without having to raise all the money at once.

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What makes this bond historic is that Kansas City Public Schools is the only district in

the region — and one of the only large districts in the state — that has operated without a

bond for decades. While neighboring districts have passed bond measures to improve and

maintain their schools, KCPS has had to dig directly into classroom funding to keep up

with basic repairs, forcing impossible choices between building upkeep and educational

resources.

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Despite this, KCPS is thriving, achieving full accreditation and showing strong academic

growth — all while carrying one of the largest deferred maintenance bills in the region.

Our schools are long overdue for critical updates. Now is the time for the community to step up

and invest in our students the way they deserve.

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And let’s be clear: if this investment had been made years ago, we wouldn’t be facing the

public safety crisis we see today. Safe, well-funded schools are the first line of

prevention against violence and instability. What’s more, this bond would cost less than

what is currently proposed for public safety in the city’s next budget — a fraction of the

price to build a stronger, safer Kansas City from the ground up.

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The proposed Kansas City Public Schools (KCPS) bond is $474 million, aimed at addressing

decades of deferred maintenance and improving educational facilities. In comparison, Kansas

City's proposed budget for public safety for the 2025-2026 fiscal year is $688.3 million, an

increase of approximately $23 million to KCPD from the previous fiscal year. The proposed

KCPS bond is $214.3 million less than the total public safety budget.

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As a candidate for the Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education, and more importantly, as

a lifelong advocate for students and teachers, I strongly support the bond’s passage. But

support must come with a clear-eyed commitment to transparency, accountability, and

community collaboration.

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Reasons for the Changes

First, this bond is more than bricks and mortar. It is a promise to students, families, and

educators that they will learn and teach in schools designed for today's needs — including

updated technology, energy-efficient buildings, and safe, welcoming spaces that serve all

students, including those with disabilities and diverse learning needs. Universal design,

accessibility, and neurodiverse-friendly spaces must be a baseline, not an afterthought.

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Second, community input cannot stop now that the plan is drafted. KCPS must continue to

engage families, educators, and students throughout every phase — from finalizing

construction plans to selecting contractors to evaluating completed projects. Our schools belong

to the community, and the community deserves a voice in shaping them.

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Third, and critically, this bond must create good-paying, local union jobs that lift up Kansas

City families. We need a firm and public commitment to hiring local, unionized workers —

not outside contractors who take profits elsewhere. These projects should build not only

schools but also careers for our neighbors. Partnerships with local unions, apprenticeship

programs, and workforce training pipelines must be built into every project. This bond is

our chance to invest in KC workers, KC families, and KC students — all at the same time.

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Finally, the public deserves clear and regular updates on how the money is spent. This

includes transparent reporting, publicly available data dashboards, and community forums to

ensure accountability. Every dollar should be traceable, and every milestone publicly

celebrated.

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And for anyone asking why they should care — our schools are not just the responsibility of

parents with children enrolled right now. They belong to all of us, because the success of

every child shapes the future of Kansas City.

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Whether or not you have kids in KCPS, you have a stake in what kind of city we are building — and it starts with our schools.

This bond is the first step — but not the last — in securing a better future for our public schools. If elected, I will fight to make sure it is implemented with integrity, equity, and the highest level of community involvement. Our kids are watching, and we owe them nothing

less.

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Joseph Nelson is a U.S. Navy veteran, corporate leader, and education advocate running for

Kansas City Public Schools Board of Education.

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