McPHERSON, Kan. — The McPherson USD 418 Board of Education, after more than two hours of discussion Monday night, is closer to a consensus on what it will be taking action on next week regarding a bond issue to be submitted to voters.
At this point, it is still projected to be a two-question proposal with one modification from what was presented last week, but a major issue yet to be fully decided is the future of Eisenhower Elementary School, which is proposed to be converted into a 6th-8th grade middle school. Combined, the district is looking at submission of an $89.5 million dollar bond question.
The change made in the proposals is to move safe and secure school projects proposed for Lincoln and Roosevelt Elementary School to question one, which is the plan to construct a new academic wing at McPherson High School and demolish the existing “hex” portion of the building, moving a proposal to pay off lease-purchase notes on the high school athletic fields to phase two which also includes the conversion of Eisenhower into a middle school.
Although the board is in general agreement on reducing the number of elementary schools in USD from four to three, Board member Chelsea Busch stated she opposed the use of Eisenhower as a new middle school site. On the other side, Board member Bill Grove said the current middle school is in a state it needs to be closed due to the high cost involved with maintaining it.
Final decisions will have to be made at their next meeting Monday, as a question has to be submitted to the County Clerk later that week to meet deadlines for a March election. If the Board is unable to make a final decision next week, the next opportunity to submit a bond question would be in the August 2026 primary election
Also during the meeting, the board voted 6-1, with Sherrie Sparks opposed, to direct administration to identify $1.75 million in budget reductions for the 2026-27 school year. The need for budget reductions has been discussed at past Board meetings in the wake of enrollment declines, which directly impacts funding for the district.
