The Star’s endorsement over Lee’s Summit schools’ no-tax-rate-increase bond issue | Opinion
Greenwood Elementary School, built in 1910, is the oldest school building in Lee’s Summit. Across town, Hazel Grove Elementary School was constructed in 1940. To say these two buildings — and others in the Lee’s Summit school district — are old and outdated would state the obvious. Both schools desperately need to be replaced with new buildings equipped with state-of-the-art classrooms, enhanced security features and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility, district officials have said.
But there is a potential solution to alleviate some of these concerns and address other capital improvements in one of the metropolitan area’s highest performing school districts. On April 8, voters will be asked to approve a $225 million no tax rate increase bond issue.
The proposal requires a four-sevenths majority for approval. If passed, money would also be used to finance renovations at Pleasant Lea Middle School and Miller Park Center and upgrade athletic facilities at Lee’s Summit North and West high schools, among other capital improvements, according to the district.
We strongly recommend a yes vote.
If approved, the district’s debt service property tax levy is estimated to remain unchanged at $0.87 per $100 of assessed valuation of real and personal property, the district website states. Whether voters approve the measure or not, the current tax rate would remain the same for the next 10 years, district officials have said.
In December, the seven-member Lee’s Summit school board voted unanimously to place the no-tax-rate-increase bond issue on the ballot. And there seems to be a consensus among the Lee’s Summit business community in favor of the issue.
This week, the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce announced it passed a resolution supporting the initiative.
“This ballot initiative is extremely vital to the growth, development and future of Lee’s Summit,” Chamber president Matt Baird said in a statement. “The LSR7 school district is a key partner and contributor to the success of the Lee’s Summit community and by approving this bond we will ensure our community is still a top-rated destination for businesses to grow and flourish.”
According to the district’s website, facility needs were identified through an 18-month stakeholder process, which to us is a major plus in recommending a yes vote. Without vital community input, we’d be hesitant to support this ballot measure.
More than 3,400 parents, staff and community members were surveyed during the process, according to the district. The feedback, reviewed by more than 150 stakeholders on district and building-level comprehensive facilities master planning teams, identified more than $560 million in capital needs throughout.
A smaller group known as the Citizens Advisory Committee identified $311 million worth of projects that the district must prioritize if the bond issue is approved.
Although the new levy would not cover all of the district’s capitol needs, it would represent an encouraging start.
Nearly five years have passed since 82.2% of district voters approved a $224 million bond to build a new middle school — the district’s fourth — and renovate Lee’s Summit High School. Those funds were also used to build a second early education center, among other facility upgrades.
Asking voters to give the green light so soon to a similar measure would normally give us pause, but we see this measure as a win for the entire community.
Lee’s Summit voters should say yes to the $225 million bond issue on the April 8 ballot.
This story was originally published March 30, 2025 at 5:06 AM.