Mallory Herrmann
citydesk@lstribune.net

The Lee’s Summit R-7 Citizens’ Advisory Committee has shared their tentative plan for the $224 million no tax increase bond issue they will present to the board of education next week.

At a Dec. 11 joint work session with the board, CAC representatives outlined the bond package, which includes $97 million in updates and a new middle school to facilitate the district’s planned move of sixth grade from the elementary level to middle school.

Lee’s Summit’s fourth middle school is planned for land already owned by the district on the south side of Bailey Road. The 180,000-square-foot building, with an estimated project cost of $72 million, is hoped to be open by the 2022-2023 school year, when sixth grade will join the middle schools.

The remaining $25 million related to middle school changes would go to renovations of the existing three schools to prepare for the sixth grade switch.

Also included are $80 million in renovations and expansion to Lee’s Summit High School, $19 million in stadium improvements, $16 million in renovations and expansion to Mason Elementary, $9 million for an early education center at Prairie View Elementary and $3 million in district-wide safety and security updates.

The CAC stressed that the estimated costs presented are total costs, including all required construction, soft costs and site development – and that these projects are all still in the design stage and subject to change.

The board of education will hear the CAC’s presentation of the bond package at their Dec. 19 meeting, but is not expected to vote on the package until their Jan. 23 session.