New school year, new facilities for Wichita students

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August 15, 2012|by Susan Gager | KWCH 12 Eyewitness News

(WICHITA, Kan.) — Kids in Wichita head back to school. It was the first day ever for five new schools in town. It's taken months of preparation to transition staff and students into the new buildings.

Click here for first day of school photos

“It's just exciting that they're finally here. All this work that everybody's done to get this facility ready for kids, and the staff getting ready and today's the day-- I'm thrilled,” said Isely Elementary principal Kathy Stybr.

The hustle and bustle in the hallways, the smiling faces, a new school year, It's something this Isely Elementary principal never tires of.

“It's for these faces that come through the door every morning. They expect great things from us and we expect great things from them. That partnership that we're going to build with them this year is really thrilling and exciting, and emotional. It is, I cant help it,” said Stybr.

As part of the 2008 bond issue, the school district opened 5 new buildings. Many of these schools come with state of the art tools. Iseley Elementary has provided a lot of new technology like the Red Mik. It’s essentially a lanyard attached to a microphone so a teacher’s voice is projected evenly throughout the room. Teachers also received new I-pads. And students get to use new laptops and headphones. On top of that teachers received a 4% raise for the first time in 4 years.

“The spring wasn't so gloomy because of budget cuts and that we were able to provide some additional compensation to employees for the first time in four years. That's absolutely gotta help with folks coming back to work,” said Wichita Public Schools superintendent John Allison.

At the new Northeast Magnet High School students started, but half the building is still closed as they await construction to finish.

“They're putting the finishing touches. Hopefully in a couple weeks it'll be done to where we can open up the east side and have occupancy of the east side of our building,” said NE Magnet HS principal Gil Alverez.

Ortiz, Enders Open Magnet, and Christa McAuliffe Academy are new too.

Kids in Wichita head back to school. It was the first day ever for five new schools in town. It's taken months of preparation to transition staff and students into the new buildings.

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