The Kansas City School District Repurposing Office says a decision on the future of Westport High School is being delayed. That’s because a recent announcement regarding a partnership between the school district and Academie Lafayette.
The district administration had recommended the sale of Westport High School to Foutch Brothers for a mixed-use development. Many stakeholders who supported that proposal believed that Academie Lafayette, a charter school with a popular elementary school in Hyde Park, might open a high school at Westport High.
However, on June 20, the school district revealed that is talking to Academie Lafayette about opening an international high school at Southwest High School. The partnership in not a done deal, and the district says it wants to provide adequate time for public input about the Southwest idea.
The repurposing office says in its latest newsletter that further action on Westport High is being delayed, and that people interested in the issue should watch for email updates and notifications on the repurposing site.
Meantime, the Repurposing newsletter reports activity at other closed school sites, including:
- The school board approved the sale of West Switzer and Switzer Annex at its June 25 meeting to the Foutch Brothers, the same developer that has plans for Westport High. Foutch Brothers will repurpose the schools as a mixed use development including apartments and amenities open to the Westside community. Construction is set to begin in early 2015.
- Seven Oaks, which had been vacant since 1997, will reopen as affordable senior housing at the end of this month.
- The Blue Valley Neighborhood Association is creating a neighborhood park on the former McCoy School site.
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