Pearl Kensler Elementary

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Pearl Kensler Elementary School

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Pearl Kensler was the third school built in District 69 and was located in Country Acres, bounded by Wilbur Lane, School and Tenth Streets. The school was named in honor of Miss Pearl Kensler, a Kansas educator who was a teacher from 1895 to 1950, and from 1950 to 1957 was Sedgwick County Superintendent.

Delayed by one bond election defeat, the school of nine classrooms for grades kindergarten through eight was still under construction in September 1958. By then it had become obvious that the building would be inadequate for the school enrollment. The 1958-59 school year began with Country Acres pupils being bused to temporary quarters in the district. Fourth through eighth grades at Peterson School went on double shifts to accommodate corresponding Kensler grades. When the Kensler building was completed in February, 1959, approximately 280 children in kindergarten through sixth grade moved in. Fifty seventh and eighth graders completed the year at Peterson.

A bond issue had been voted in January 1959 for an addition of six classrooms and an auditorium. This was completed early the following October, and all eight grades, 372 pupils, were in the building. However, the heavy enrollment in kindergarten and a preschool census indicated further space needs.

Annexation by Wichita in early 1960 relieved the building crisis temporarily. Since grades seven and eight attended Hadley, there was sufficient room for the remaining grades. Additional services which the county school did not have were also provided. These included library space and staff, a speech therapist, nurse and music instructors.

Three portables were moved to Kensler for the 1961-62 school term. Enrollment increases required additional portables each year until in 1966-67 a total of nine had been added. In 1967-68, four classrooms of pupils were bused to McCollom School. Busing was continued for the 1968-69 school term.

The space north of the school site between Tenth and Warren Streets was acquired in 1967. Tenth Street was closed and the playground area enlarged. A major addition to Kensler was approved by the Wichita Board of Education and construction began November 1968. The $750,000 addition, consisting of 20 classrooms and a large library complex, opened at the beginning of the 1969-70 school year with an enrollment of 753. The new building had sufficient space to accommodate four classrooms of Follow Through.

During the 1985-86 year, a computer lab was developed and enrollment reached 650. Due to the loss of sixth graders to middle school in 1989, and the moving of Special Ed programs around the city, Kensler’s enrollment averaged 525.

In April 2000, the voters of the Wichita School District approved a $284.5 million bond issue. The projects began in the fall of 2000 and were completed over the next five years. The plan built 19 multipurpose rooms, upgraded science labs, replaced portable classrooms with permanent construction, improved handicap accessibility to all buildings, rebuilt five existing elementary schools, added a new elementary and middle school, expanded seven other elementary schools and provided nine new libraries as well as the expansion of nine others. Building infrastructure in 82 buildings was also upgraded, including the replacement of antiquated plumbing, updates and expansion of electrical systems, replacement of inefficient or broken windows and doors, upgrades of heating and cooling systems, and asbestos abatement when required.

The district utilized PBA Architects, P.A. and Brecko Construction Co. to give Kensler a new addition including five classrooms and a kitchen, as well as renovations for student support.

The Bond project dedication ceremony was held September 19, 2002.