Wichita USD 259 - Knowledge (XXG)

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that post from within the district; most have come from out-of-state. However, polling of the public, during the latest superintendent-hiring process, informed the Wichita BoE that the community strongly preferred a local person, from within the Wichita Public Schools system, for the post. Thompson, who attended Wichita Public Schools at all levels, from kindergarten though high school graduation, served in the district as an elementary school teacher, principal and administration executive, prior to appointment as assistant superintendent, then superintendent.

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production line setup and production scheduling. Concurrently, traditional home economics courses were still being taught at secondary schools throughout the system, but had been expanded to provide professional food service skills. Wichita's superintendent of schools, at the time, reportedly declared that they were "offering... an educational mix" divided "equally between" normal "academic training" courses and "advanced vocational schooling"—vocational training that was "geared" towards "real concepts and needs", to prepare students for "job hunting."

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High curriculum initially emphasized vocational preparation, rather than academics. A large homemaking department taught students family budgeting, food preparation, child care and family relations. The school's business education department taught secretarial training, stenography, retail selling and business. An industrial education department taught woodworking, metalworking, auto mechanics, electrical work, printing, mechanical drawing and other trades. However, the school eventually became a regular academic high school, which it is today.

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each district. Those nominated then run for election district-wide. The seventh board member is nominated, and then elected, from the school district at large. Elections are for four-year terms, and are held in odd-numbered years (winners taking office the following January). Members are elected with staggered terms. Three members are up for election in 2020; then, two years later, the remaining four members are elected.

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In 1931 and 1952, vocational buildings were added onto the south side of Wichita High School East, and along adjacent Grove Street, to provide training in vocational and industrial arts. Between 1952 and 1968, about 600 students enrolled each year in various vocational courses there. In the summer of

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Alicia Thompson became Superintendent in July, 2017—the District's first woman, and first African-American, to hold that post. She was previously the district's assistant superintendent for elementary schools. Thompson is one of the district's few superintendents, in recent decades, to be promoted to

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By 1973, the Wichita Area Vocational Technical School had become the largest public school in Wichita, with over 5,000 people enrolling in its classes each year. WAVTS had expanded its vocational training from rudimentary crafts, to include advanced industrial skills such as estimating, procurement,

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In 1953, bowing to decades of pressure from West Wichitans, the district built the first high school in West Wichita - Wichita High School West, which, at its inception was primarily a vocational-technical school (initially, only 22% of West High graduates went on to college). Consequently, the West

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The Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) are governed by a non-partisan elected school board, the USD 259 Board of Education (BoE), which has seven members. Six members are nominated by voters in six geographically defined board districts throughout the overall school district. There is one nominee from

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to develop an Associate of Applied Science degree in electronic engineering technology. A technical school could not offer an associate degree, so the partnering with Butler was necessary. At the request of Wichita community business leaders in late 1990, Wichita State University and the technical

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In 2004, however, following strained relations between local industry and WATC, the Wichita Public Schools (USD 259) Board of Education transitioned WATC out of USD 259, and WATC became an independent public college, governed by its own board, the Sedgwick County Technical Education and Training

273:, in 2006, reported that, in the fall of 2004, the Wichita Public Schools ranked 91st largest, by total enrollment, among all school districts in the nation. It also indicated that the Wichita Public Schools, in 2003–2004, had a total revenue of $ 452,437,000. 733:

Beginning in 1931, and continuing until 2004, the Wichita Public Schools had vocational education programs, both in regular schools and in special vocational/technical and continuing-education schools. These programs primarily served

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to teach aircraft maintenance and provide training for occupations in Wichita's principal industry, aviation. However, difficulties between the aviation industry and WAVTS led to local industry leaders inviting

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1968, the district chose this site to open its Wichita Area Vocational-Technical School (WAVTS) "Vocational Technical Center" (by 1996, officially, the "Grove Campus" of the

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Following the district's 2004 divestiture of WAVTS (as WATC), Cowley's aviation training facility was acquired by WATC, then replaced by WATC, in 2010, with the

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In 2001, an addition was made to the Levy Special Education Center, which included a vocational training center for the developmentally disabled.

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History of Wichita and Sedgwick County Kansas : Past and present, including an account of the cities, towns, and villages of the county

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school partnered to offer this degree through WSU, and the agreement and degree were approved by the Kansas Board of Regents in 1991

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From 1965 to 2004, the Wichita Public Schools operated a system of vocational and continuing education which chiefly included:

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Former Linwood Elementary - 1340 Pattie, 2 story building built in 1910, demolished but multipurpose room still exists.

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Several figures of national prominence in their field are alumni of the Wichita Public Schools, including former U.S.

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Various Olympic medalists began their athletic careers in the Wichita Public Schools, including basketball star

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Thompson succeeded Superintendent John Allison (who announced his resignation, to become superintendent of the

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Among those who publicly credit their Wichita public school education for some of their success are former

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In March 2023, the school board named Kelly Bielefeld to be the new superintendent starting on July 1.

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Official website: "L'Ouverture Career Exploration and Technology Magnet Elementary School,"

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Winchester, James H., pg.114, in "College Isn't for Everyone" pg.46, September, 1973,

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Official website: "Cleaveland Traditional College and Career Readiness Magnet School,"

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Official Statement: "Associate of Applied Science, Electrical Engineering Technology"

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Official website: "Hyde International Studies and Communication Elementary Magnet,"

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Official website: "Buckner Performing Arts and Science Magnet Elementary School,"

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Official website: "Spaght Science and Communications Magnet Elementary School,"

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students, but also served adults returning for further education and training.

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The Wichita Public Schools chief executive is the Superintendent of Schools.

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Wichita school district a pioneer in FEMA-approved storm shelter safe rooms

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Our Common School Heritage : A History of the Wichita Public Schools

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