Lee's Summit R‑VII considers 3‑year assisted-transportation contract to cover preschool special‑education routes

The Lee's Summit R‑VII Finance Committee on March 17 discussed a proposed three‑year contract with an assisted transportation vendor to serve early‑childhood special education routes, targeting service for Paradise Park.

Board members were told the district has made routing adjustments but remains about 15–20% late on early‑childhood special education runs. The recommended contract would have an outside driver and vehicle run routes the district cannot staff because school‑bus drivers must hold commercial driver licenses (CDLs). The district would keep an in‑building staff member for supervision while the vendor supplies content‑specific instructional support in one International Baccalaureate situation and covers the route operations described in the proposal.

The proposal covers only Paradise Park in this contract; Legacy Park was part of an earlier, larger proposal that was paused. The district plans to incur the expense in fiscal 2026 and file for reimbursement under its early‑childhood special education funding; staff said the district historically receives that reimbursement the year after the expense is recorded, meaning reimbursement would likely arrive in FY27.

Discussion focused on the staffing drivers: district drivers must have CDLs because they operate school buses under Department of Transportation requirements, while the vendor will use vans and drivers who do not require CDLs. The district noted it could purchase vans and staff them directly, but the capital outlay would be substantial — the district referenced a single van purchase north of $100,000 and estimated roughly $1 million to buy a fleet of similar vans. Board members expressed concern about long‑term dependency on a third party and annual contract escalation clauses; staff said the arrangement would be reevaluated at the end of the three‑year term.

The committee heard that vehicles used by the vendor would be required to be branded as LSR‑7 so families could identify district service. Staff said the vendor is making a significant vehicle investment and the district will monitor the market and staffing levels to determine whether it can resume in‑house service in the future.

Staff characterized this as a staffing‑driven, interim solution rather than a permanent program change; no formal vote was recorded in committee.