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Process action team recommends keeping Lee's Summit Elementary and Westview open, urges prioritized study if budgets limit projects
Summary
A PRAT presentation to the Lee's Summit R-VII board recommended against consolidating Lee's Summit Elementary and Westview Elementary and urged updated boundary studies, prioritized project lists, and community input if budgets force scope reductions.
Monty Helm, a parent and member of the Lee's Summit Elementary–Westview Elementary Process Action Team (PRAT), told the Board of Education the PRAT’s final recommendation was "do not consolidate Lee's Summit Elementary and Westview Elementary." The PRAT presented its process, membership and the three meetings used to gather feedback and reach consensus.
The PRAT described an inclusive selection process (parents, community members and district staff), use of an online engagement tool (Social Pinpoint) and three site visits including Mason Elementary to show examples of prior bond projects. The team said it used surveys, 'parking-lot' boards and exit tickets to collect priorities and concerns from stakeholders.
Presenter (PRAT) said the committee’s recommendation included four subpoints: consider new boundaries, conduct a new enrollment-and-demographics study reflecting recent development, allow a change in scope if the budget cannot meet the original recommendations, and ensure schools and the community can provide feedback on any changes. "If the budget can't meet the original recommendations, allow for a change in scope, and allow the schools to add, put in feedback towards that," Presenter said.
Board member Dawson pressed for clarity on participation, noting the PRAT roster showed 44 invited members and the PRAT reported 31 attendees at the final meeting. "It looked like there was a lot there... the final vote was only 31 people. So how many people were selected for the committee who did not vote?" Dawson asked. PRAT responded that attendance records are available in the roster and that absences were due to scheduling conflicts.
Superintendent Dr. Buck emphasized the CFMP (Comprehensive Facility Master Plan) guidance the PRAT relied on and summarized the district’s recommendation from the CFMP: "If you do a project, don't do a part of it, do all of it," Dr. Buck said, noting the PRAT suggested prioritized scope changes only if funding required a scaled-back approach.
The PRAT asked the board to "honor" the original CFMP discussions while allowing the district and schools to identify high-priority items if full scope work is unaffordable. Board members asked clarifying questions about whether "back to schools" meant school administrations or broader school communities; PRAT described the intent as seeking input from the school community members who participated in earlier CFMP conversations.
The presentation was informational; the board did not take immediate formal action on the recommendation at this meeting. The PRAT materials, meeting agendas and Social Pinpoint links were made available to the board for review.
What happens next: PRAT documents and feedback will remain available to the board and administration as the district evaluates CFMP priorities and potential scope adjustments for any bond-funded projects.
