Lee's Summit R-VII School District work session, Sep 29, 2026
1 h 07 min · 2 videos · 0 public speakers
Click any moment below to jump the video to that second. Video length 44 min.
Playing part 2 · 44 min of 2. Back to part 1
What happened
What happened at this meeting
Part 1 · 23 min
Lee's Summit staff recommends 5.4208 total tax levy at board work session 0:40
- The staff member said total assessed value of a little over $3.568 billion had dropped by a little over $1.4 million from last year, even with $76.9 million in new construction. 1:38
- A district staff member presented a tax rate recommendation with a general fund rate of 4.5008, 5 cents to capital projects and 87 cents to debt service, for a grand total levy of 5.4208. 4:53
- Board members Rodrick Sparks and Michelle Dawson asked how the recommendation was reached and what collection rate the district used when budgeting. 12:21
- The staff member said the recommendation would end fiscal year '27 with approximately a 27.46% fund balance. 12:25
Item by item (5)
- Opening and agenda adoption 0:16
- Tax rate and assessed value presentation 0:33
- The staff member said the recommended rates would generate $193,439,808 assuming a 100% collection rate, which the staff member said is never reached. 0:40
- A district staff member said 2026 adjusted assessed value, which excludes new construction, was a little under $3.5 billion, a drop of a little over $78 million, and that the levy had to increase slightly to offset the loss. 1:48
- A speaker said the area tax rate comparison needed assessed value context, and the staff member said the rates are per $100 of assessed value and represent what someone would pay on the same value property. 8:15
- Questions on recommendation and fund balance 11:59
- Rodrick Sparks asked how the district landed on the recommendation, and a staff member said it would raise the fund balance by about $4.7 million and help the district handle possible state shortfalls and plan for salary improvements, noting step movement alone is $4 million. 12:21
- Asked by Rodrick Sparks whether cuts would still be needed, the staff member said the recommendation puts the district in a position to meet all financial obligations this year while continuing to look for efficiencies. 14:00
- Another staff member said state funding of $6,750 per student is expected to drop into the 6,600s and that previous years brought state shortfalls of almost $3 million and about $1.1 million. 14:50
- Collection rate and assessed value drop 16:56
- Michelle Dawson asked what collection rate the district uses when budgeting, and a staff member said the budget used about 89% and the current recommendation would bring it closer to 90%. 16:56
- The staff member said Senate Bill 3 and Senate Bill 190 credits are hard to estimate and that a collection rate of 89.5 to 90% is a good estimate. 19:13
- In response to a question, a staff member said the drop in assessed value was mostly due to commercial properties. 19:59
- Collection rate in public notice 21:08
- Rodrick Sparks asked why the presentation used a 100% collection rate, and a staff member said public notices show the maximum amount that could be collected. 21:31
- The staff member said the tax rate hearing notice used the ceiling of 4.7532 and 87 cents. 22:12
- Stacie Myers said that concluded the work session. 22:31
Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.
Part 2 · 44 min
Lee's Summit board passes levy motion reducing voluntary rollback by 40 cents 21:48
- Board members discussed Board Member Sparks' amended levy proposal, and Stacie Myers announced that the amendment did not pass. 14:57
- The board then passed a motion by Dr. Nicky Nickens to approve a voluntary rollback of 0.2524, with a total levy for 2026-2027 of up to $5.3708, which reduces the voluntary rollback by 40 cents. 21:48
- Stacie Myers announced passage of a Children's Center for the Visually Impaired contract and a contract with Hausman Construction to construct Hazel Grove Elementary. 37:49
- Erica Miller moved to approve a contract with Umzuzu Google Workspace at a cost to the district of $101,489.80, and Stacie Myers announced that the motion passed. 43:16
Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →
Item by item (11)
- Tax levy amendment 0:00
- Dr. Nicky Nickens said the district's revenue loss from county tax credits was estimated at $27 million over 3 years and that the district faced a $7 to $10 million deficit. 0:13
- One board member said the fund balance was critical and said they were not comfortable with taking back the rollback that was on the table. 7:26
- One board member asked that the board create a comprehensive expenditure review task force involving external stakeholders regardless of the tax rate set. 12:28
- Stacie Myers announced that the amendment did not pass. 19:01
- Original levy motion 19:01
- Levy motion reducing voluntary rollback 21:26
- Dr. Nicky Nickens moved to approve a voluntary rollback of 0.2524, an operating levy of up to 4.5008 and a total levy for 2026-2027 of up to $5.3708, reducing the voluntary rollback by 40 cents. 21:48
- A staff member estimated that at 40 cents the district would end fiscal year '29 with a 26.82% fund balance. 30:18
- One board member said the vote would be no, citing opportunities for cost savings in the district. 35:52
- The motion passed. ~36:26
- Consent agenda 36:27
- Erica Miller moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. 37:35
- Visually impaired services contract 37:49
- Elementary school construction contract 38:23
- Employee medical plans 38:40
- Erica Miller moved to approve 2027 medical plan coverage with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, with district premium funding of $1,044 per month per full-time employee, and Symmetry for stop-loss coverage. 38:44
- A staff member said the motion would raise the stop-loss limit from $250,000 to $350,000, which the staff member said was cheaper for the district. 39:42
- The staff member said increases to other plans would be 75% district-funded and 25% employee-funded. 41:38
- Microsoft services renewal 42:14
- Erica Miller moved to approve the contract for Microsoft Enrollment of Education Services, including licenses, in the amount of $129,565.69. 42:20
- Physical therapy contract 42:42
- Google Workspace contract 43:02
- Reports and adjournment 43:35
- Stacie Myers said there were no presentations, noted written reports including MAP reports, and adjourned the meeting. 43:35
Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.
What was said
What board members said, in order
Who is the majority, what is the majority party that's responsible to fund public education right now in LSR7?Rodrick Sparks · Board Member11:50
Who spoke
Who spoke
Stacie MyersPresidentFirst speaks at 0:16
Rodrick SparksBoard MemberFirst speaks at 12:21
Michelle DawsonBoard MemberFirst speaks at 16:57
Bill HaleyBoard Member
Erica MillerVice President
Kamile JohnsonBoard Member
Nicky NickensBoard Member
Video: posted by the district as “LSR7 Board of Education Work Session - 9/29/26”