Parents in Lee’s Summit mobilize to stop elementary school merger, district leaders argue it’s needed
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. (KCTV) - Big changes could be in store for a couple of elementary schools in Lee’s Summit. If one plan moves forward some students might attend class in a totally different building, but the district says it’s the best option.
There’s talk in Lee’s Summit about closing Lee’s Summit Elementary and moving those students into what would become a renovated Westview Elementary.
For parents, having Lee’s Summit Elementary right in the middle of a neighborhood goes a lot further than being convenient to get to.
For moms like Valerie Salazar, the environment of Lee’s Summit Elementary is like no other to keep her kids focused on learning.
“This is about the education of our students that need and want and desire to have that and need that to occur within our neighborhood,” Salazar said.
Where Lee’s Summit Elementary sits is why Phillip Carroll and his fiancé chose to move to the neighborhood and start a family.
“It is partially the reason we came back,” Carroll explained. “It’s just cool to have a school close by for all the kids to walk to. It really brings a sense of community to the area.”
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Over the years, the school district has seen enrollment drop a lot at both Lee’s Summit and Westview Elementary. They say a merger is the best option. The plan needs to through the Citizens Advisory Committee of the School Board before the full body can vote on the project, among other plans in the 2025 bond. Then Lee’s Summit voters will have the final say in April during local elections.
“If we don’t make this move now, we may face a situation of closing a building and having to redistribute families to multiple areas,” Associate Superintendent Dr. Steve Shelton told KCTV.
Before the merger, the district plans to invest $28.7 million into Westview Elementary to ensure every student is taken care of. They promise no staff at Lee’s Summit Elementary will lose their jobs either.
“A new cafeteria, new kitchen, new library, there would be new maker spaces, collab spaces,” Dr. Shelton suggested. “The current library could be renovated into a state-of-the-art art room and brand new classrooms.”
If the merger goes through, Lee’s Summit School District leaders promise to repurpose the campus of Lee’s Summit Elementary School and renovate it to serve students and the community in another way. Dr. Shelton wants to form a committee to brainstorm ideas on what to do at the site. Some include expanding pre-k classes there, or a hospitality program for students to be trained by downtown businesses.
Even though major construction is happening right across the street to redevelop downtown, City of Lee’s Summit told us this project is not impacting any decisions on what the school district plans to do with Lee’s Summit Elementary.
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