Lee’s Summit school board declines to extend superintendent’s contract, sources say | Opinion
The Lee’s Summit school district’s Board of Education has decided not to extend Superintendent David Buck’s contract beyond the 2026-2027 school year, according to sources with ties to the district. Because of the sensitive nature of these contract talks, understandably none of them wanted to go on the record.
For about four years, I covered the education beat for The Lee’s Summit Journal, The Star’s sister publication in eastern Jackson County. Since leaving that post in 2016, I’ve kept tabs on the comings and goings of the Lee’s Summit school district and its board of education.
Neither Buck nor school board President Jennifer Foley would comment this week directly on Buck’s contract status. But according to a contract extension he signed last March, the district has until Saturday to extend the deal by a year, as is customary in these sort of arrangements.
Of course, things could change between now and Saturday.
From Buck’s perspective, I get it: Nothing good would come from publicly popping off about failed contract negotiations.
“I must say I have been and continue to be proud to serve the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District and the LSR7 Board of Education,” he wrote in an email. Foley said she was prohibited by board policy from commenting on the matter.
But what she could and should do as board president is inform district patrons why the school board declined to extend Buck’s current contract.
“In line with our board’s policy on confidentiality in regards to closed sessions and out of respect for those involved in those discussions, I am not able to discuss specifics at this time,” Foley said. “What I can share is that the Board of Education is thrilled with the ongoing successes and achievements within our district.”
Stabilized job, avoided controversy
When Buck was hired in 2020, he became the third Lee’s Summit superintendent in almost as many years. Not only did he stabilize the position, he has largely avoided the controversy and scandal that jettisoned two previous superintendents.
In 2019, former Superintendent Dennis Carpenter agreed to part ways with the district to the tune of $750,000. Pushback against Carpenter’s insistence on doing much-needed equity work in the district led to his resignation.
Carpenter had replaced David McGehee, who was forced to step down in 2016 after board members became uncomfortable with McGehee’s personal relationship with one of the attorneys representing the district. McGehee, the state’s top-paid superintendent at the time, left with a $450,000 buyout.
Do you see where I’m going with this?
Buck is officially in lame duck status after 2027. Now that one of the terms of his contract has not been met, he has many options. He could seek a buyout and leave before then. His current salary (excluding the same percentage of a raise given to teachers this year) is $264,229, according to a copy of the contract I read. If he chose that route, the district would most likely have to shell out more than half a million dollars in taxpayer money to satisfy terms of the agreement.
And whoever replaces Buck on an interim basis would need to be paid accordingly. Hiring a search firm as the district has before would be expensive as well.
Or Buck could stay in place until his contract expires, but I don’t see how that would be good for students’ academic growth or recruiting new teachers, staff and administrators.
One of the reasons Lee’s Summit schools are highly regarded is steady leadership at the top and student achievement. In 2024, the district’s annual performance report score from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education was 87.2, the highest among public school districts in Jackson and Cass counties.
If Buck remains in place, it would behoove the school board to have a solid succession plan in place with input from parents and community stakeholders.
“We are looking forward to continuing our collaboration with Dr. Buck and the district team to further enhance our educational offerings and ensure that we provide the best possible environment for students,” Foley said.
But talk is cheap. Action is tangible. School district patrons have the right to know why Buck’s contract extension was denied.
How was Buck evaluated?
Rodrick King Sparks is a former member and past president of the Lee’s Summit school board. Because he is no longer on the board, he was not privy to the latest contact negotiations involving Buck. But he did provide a framework on how Buck is evaluated.
When Sparks was on the board, he said midyear and end-of-the-year reviews were held to evaluate the superintendent.
“There is an evaluation process that takes place,” King Sparks said. “I led the board through a new process — a midyear review and summative review. Then each board member gives their own evaluation of the superintendent. Collectively, we try to build consensus on the performance. After we determine the level of proficiency we start contract talks.”
During Sparks’ three years on the school board, he said Buck’s contract was extended each year. Last year’s extension was approved by a 7-0 vote, he said.
“What I can tell you is that the extension was unanimous,” Sparks said
I asked Sparks what signal does these stalled contract talks send to the public.
“That signals the majority of the board has chosen to go in a different direction,” he said. “If a superintendent is not renewed or a year is not extended, that means there are deficiencies in that relationship with the board and superintendent,” he said.
As school board president, Foley should tell us what those issues are.
And the public has the right to know who voted against Buck’s extension and why.
This story was originally published February 14, 2025 at 5:08 AM.
