LSR‑7 staff propose $3.25 million districtwide audio enhancement and safety system
Summary
District staff proposed expanding the 'Safe System' pilot to all buildings at a cost not to exceed roughly $3.25 million; the committee discussed pilot results, maintenance, badge costs (~$50 each) and lifecycle budgeting for badge replacement.
Lee's Summit R‑VII staff asked the finance committee on Jan. 12 to authorize districtwide installation of an audio enhancement and safety system piloted in two buildings.
"We have installed Safe System in 2 of our buildings, and we are requesting to install this system district wide. Comes at a cost of not to exceed just a little over $3,250,000," Dr. Shelton said. The pilot tests informed installation techniques, though staff said the contract terms themselves did not change after piloting.
Committee questions focused on ongoing costs and life expectancy. Staff said there are no annual service fees embedded in the contract; the system uses wearable badges that staff estimated have an expected battery life around five years and cost about $50 each. Dr. Shelton and other staff estimated recurring badge replacement over a 5–7 year period could amount to roughly $150,000 and that additional coverage hardware might be needed in some buildings over time.
Support staff and the facilities team said the district will budget for replacement cycles and that the backbone equipment carries multi‑year warranties. The proposal was presented for committee review; no formal committee vote on purchasing was recorded in the public transcript.
