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Lee's Summit R‑VII board approves $2.6 million fund transfer, multi-bus purchase and several contract renewals
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Summary
The Lee's Summit R‑VII Board of Education on April 7 approved a $2,615,846.60 transfer from the general fund to the special revenue fund, awarded a contract to buy 11 diesel buses and renewed several curriculum and services contracts including Discovery Education and Qualtrics.
The Lee's Summit R‑VII Board of Education voted April 7 to transfer $2,615,846 and $60.64 from the general fund to the special revenue fund and to approve a slate of contracts and purchases, including an 11-bus purchase from Midwest Bus Sales.
Vice President Miller moved the fund-transfer motion and the board approved it by voice vote. The board then approved the treasurer's report and the consent agenda before taking up individual contract items.
The board approved a Discovery Education renewal for $60,500 for the 2026–27 school year and authorized a contract with Empathia Inc. for employee-assistance services beginning July 1, 2026. Henderson Engineers received approval for exterior LED lighting replacement work and a $307,000 performing-arts systems contract. The board also approved IML Security Supply door hardware for $174,150.73 and renewed Qualtrics and Touch Math subscriptions ($55,185 for Touch Math).
On transportation, the board approved awarding and purchasing 11 Type C diesel, 77-passenger buses from Midwest Bus Sales for a total listed in the motion as $1,922,000.987. During discussion board members asked staff about the district's transition away from compressed natural gas (CNG) buses. Transportation staff confirmed the district currently has about 60 CNG buses and estimated the purchase would reduce that fleet to roughly 49; staff described a 10–15 year life expectancy per bus and a multi-year rotation plan to purchase 10–15 buses annually to maintain the fleet.
Board members also asked whether onboard video systems and other equipment were included in the bus price; staff confirmed those items were included in the total cost presented. Several motions were approved by voice vote; the chair announced each motion as passed.
What happens next: approved contracts will move to implementation according to their stated start dates (for example, the Empathia contract begins July 1, 2026) and the transportation purchases will follow the vendor's production and delivery schedule outlined by staff.
