News

LSR7 News
News Media Resources

Susanne Mitko receives proclamation from Missouri governor
Susanne Mitko, Lee's Summit R-7 School District and Missouri Teacher of the Year, received a proclamation from Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon during a special presentation March 17 at the State Capitol in Jefferson City. (Click here for more details...)

LS CARES, R-7 middle schools to present 'Parenting
Teens with Love and Logic' during April and May
Lee's Summit Cares and the Lee's Summit R-7 middle schools are joining forces to present a course for parents of teenagers. Parenting Teens with Love and Logic will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, April 15 through May 13, at Lee's Summit Community Church, 1140 W. Jefferson St. (Click here for more details...)

Reductions in state funding for public education results in losses of
$1.9 million for Lee's Summit R-7 for remainder of 2009-10 school year
Missouri school districts also preparing for state funding losses of 4 percent for 2010-11
The State of Missouri recently announced significant withholdings of state funding for public school districts. For the Lee's Summit R-7 School District, the losses in state funds total approximately $1.9 million, including reductions in basic state aid as well as funds for Parents As Teachers, reimbursement for school-bus transportation expenses and Prop C (state-wide sales tax) monies. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District to hold kindergarten
enrollment April 22 at all elementary schools
The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District is preparing to enroll children entering kindergarten in August 2010. To qualify, students must be 5 years old before Aug. 1. (Click here for more details...)

Informational video about Lee's Summit R-7 School
District no-tax-increase bond issue available on website
10-minute video features students, parents, staff and citizens
Several Lee’s Summit R-7 School District students, staff members and citizens are featured in a 10-minute informational video focusing on the district's April 6 no-tax-increase bond issue. The video is being used through the bond-issue speakers’ bureau, is posted on the district website. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 Nutrition Services Department to initiate recorded
phone messages to remind families when charges are pending
In an effort to provide accurate information to families, the Lee's Summit R-7 School District Nutrition Services Department is initiating a new automated reminder telephone call system to notify parents when their child has accumulated breakfast or lunch charges. (Click here for more details...)

Cedar Creek Elementary School fifth-grader recognized
for receiving Prudential Spirit of Community Award
Alex Wood, a fifth-grader at Cedar Creek Elementary School, was recently recognized as one of two Missouri winners of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. This nationwide program honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District continues to enact 'green'
practices and sustainable improvements to save money
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District is continuing to increase its emphasis on energy-saving or "green" facility and other capital improvements by using federal funding and savings generated by reducing fuel and utility costs. (Click here for more details...)

Longview Farm Elementary students capture third place in Missouri Archery Tournament
A team of sixth-graders from Longview Farm Elementary School captured third place in the Missouri National Archery in the Schools (MoNASP) State Tournament, held Feb. 13 at Linn State Technical College in Linn, Mo. The local team won in the elementary division and included a total of 48 Longview Farm students who participate in the school's popular after-school Archery Club. (Click here for more details...)

Kelly Seitz named principal for Richardson Elementary School
Kelly Seitz, currently assistant principal at Underwood Elementary School, was named principal for Richardson Elementary at the Feb. 18 Board of Education meeting. Mrs. Seitz will begin her new job next summer and will replace Mary Naudet, who is retiring at the end of this school year. (Click here for more details...)

R-7 School District students named National Merit Scholarship Corporation finalists
Four Lee’s Summit R-7 School District seniors were recently named National Merit Scholarship Corporation finalists through the national program. Students recognized are Emily Griffith, Lee's Summit High School, and Mavis Brefo, Lindsey Jackson and Mark Spatz, Lee's Summit West High School. (Click here for more details...)

Susanne Mitko featured on cover of 'HerLife' magazine
Susanne Mitko, Lee's Summit R-7 School District and Missouri Teacher of the Year, was recently featured in a cover story for the February issue of "HerLife" magazine. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 schools respond with
generosity to Haiti earthquake victims
Lee's Summit R-7 School District students, staff members and families were quick to respond to the devastating earthquake in Haiti this winter. Schools are collecting money and supplies for a variety of charities, including Heart to Heart International, the American Red Cross and other relief funds. (Click here for more details...)

R-7 parent educator creates mural for area Hope House
Jackie Dorweiler, a Lee's Summit R-7 School District parent educator, recently completed a mural decorating the play room at an area Hope House. Working with several other volunteers, she completed the large mural and also gathered books and toys to donate for the toy room. (Click here for more details...)

Jeffrey Meisenheimer of Lee's Summit High School
named finalist for National Assistant Principal of the Year
Jeffrey Meisenheimer, assistant principal at Lee's Summit High School, was recently named one of three finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year through a program offered by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Virco. (Click here for more details...)

Cooperative led by Lee's Summit R-7 School
District saves fuel costs for local school district
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District recently helped organized a cooperative created to save fuel costs for nine local public entities. Through BidBridge, an e-auction services provider, Lee's Summit R-7 and the other eight organizations are able to pool their purchasing power and save fuel costs for all organizations. (Click here for more details...)

Longview Farm Elementary School receives grant to establish community garden
Longview Farm Elementary School recently earned an approximately $7,140 grant to establish a community garden on donated land near the school. Through the school's Dirt Diggers' Club, the garden will be created with an emphasis on reinforcing educational concepts in this outdoor setting, encouraging physical activity among students and providing a variety of fresh homegrown options for students and community members. (Click here for more details...)

SLMS students captures top award in
Student Television Network fall competition
Summit Lakes Middle School students recently captured the top award in the Student Television Network's fall competition. The students tied for first place in the middle-school public-service announcement category as part of this national competition.

Students working together on the public-service announcement were Grace Mize, Anthony Schuler, Sydney Buford and Megan Bowman. Topic of their production was "Texting and Driving." Their broadcasting teacher is Brian Campbell.

LSNHS student captures second place in Music Teachers National Association
Lizz Hougland, a Lee's Summit North High School senior, recently captured second place in the Music Teachers National Association Composition Competition (senior division), a regional competition. (Click here for more details...)

GBEEC students help celebrate Missouri School Board Recognition Week
Students from Great Beginnings Early Education Center helped celebrate Missouri School Board Recognition Week during a special presentation at the Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education's Jan. 21 meeting. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District releases 2010-11 calendar
The Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education approved the school district's 2010-11 school calendar at its Jan. 21 meeting. The complete calendar may be viewed at the district's website at www.leesummit.k12.mo.us by selecting "District Info" and then "Calendars." (Click here for more details...)

Dr. Michael Pragman to present keynote,
workshops at Honduras teacher conference
Dr. J. Michael Pragman, principal at Woodland Elementary School, was selected to present the keynote speech at the Teachers Teaching Teachers T3 conference, scheduled during February in Honduras. He will be presenting to approximately 600 bilingual educators. (Click here for more details...)

Subscribers to free Lee's Summit R-7
podcast asked to re-subscribe by Feb. 2
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District initiated a weekly informational podcast last summer, available at http://www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/podcasts.htm. Known as "90-Second News," the weekly segments include brief updates about the district for anyone who prefers to receive their news via podcasts. (Click here for more details...)

Greg Foreman is guest artist with Youth Symphony of
Kansas City, performing with Kansas Silent Film Festival
Greg Foreman, music teacher at Highland Park Elementary School, was selected to perform as a guest artist when the Youth Symphony of Kansas City celebrates its 50th season. As part of this celebration, the Youth Symphony will perform the Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78, by Camille Saint-Saëns (the “Organ Symphony”) at 4 p.m. March 7 at the Music Hall, 301 W 13th, Kansas City. Mr. Foreman will perform at the four manual, Robert-Morton Theater Organ. For more information, visit http://www.youthsymphonykc.org/concert_season.htm. (Click here for more details...)

Bernard Campbell Middle School initiates
backpack club to help provide food for needy children
Bernard Campbell Middle School staff members recently initiated a new program designed to help provide food for needy children over the weekend. Modeled after Kansas City Harvester's Backsnacks program, the effort provides a backpack filled with food to identified students. (Click here for more details...)

Three file for two seats on Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education
Three candidates have filed for two positions on the Lee's Summit R-7 School District Board of Education. Filing closed for R-7 Board of Education candidates on Jan. 19. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 high schools spring theatre schedule
All three Lee's Summit R-7 School District high schools are continuing to prepare quality theatre productions for second semester. For more information about all high school theatre productions, visit http://www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/schools/theatredepartments.html. (Click here for more details...)

Chamber and R-7 School District sponsor spring recognition program
When you hear the phrase "outstanding teacher," who comes to mind? You may want to nominate this teacher for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence In Teaching/R-7 Teacher of the Year Award. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District to enhance security by adding surveillance cameras at schools
System to include "buzzer entry" at elementary schools, additional
surveillance at middle and high schools to deter theft and vandalism
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District is continuing its emphasis on safety and security by enhancing school camera surveillance systems at elementary, middle and high schools. Plans call for the additional surveillance cameras to be installed this spring and summer with all systems operational by fall 2010. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education approves no-tax-increase bond issue for April 6 ballot
Ballot issue designed to benefit students, improve existing facilities
The Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education unanimously approved a citizens' recommendation for an April no-tax-increase bond issue at the Board's Dec. 17 meeting. The recommendation came from the R-7 Citizens' Advisory Committee, a broad-based community group, after a comprehensive study that included a community survey. (Click here for more details...)

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District earns state’s
Distinction in Performance Award for ninth year in a row
Local district is among handful statewide scoring “perfect 100”
on criteria all nine years award has been offered
The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District was one of 18 metropolitan-area school districts to earn Missouri’s coveted Distinction in Performance Award this year, according to a Dec. 17 announcement from state education officials. The award honors districts for academic achievement and progress during the 2008-09 school year. (Click here for more details...)

LSHS earns national honor from 'U.S. News
and World Report' for second year in a row
For the second year in a row, Lee's Summit High School was among 41 high schools in Missouri to be included in U.S. News and World Report's annual "America's Best High Schools" ranking this month. Lee's Summit High School is also one of just three Kansas City metropolitan-area high schools to be recognized through the national magazine. (Click here for more details...)

Lee’s Summit Elementary Named top recycling school in
R-7 School District for 2008-2009 year
Lee's Summit Elementary School was recognized Nov. 13 by Deffenbaugh Industries as the Lee's Summit R-7 School District's top recycling school for 2008-09. The local school recycled 10,955 pounds of material during the second quarter of the year, the highest total in the district on a per-student basis. (Click here for more details...)

John Faulkenberry selected as president of Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals
Dr. John Faulkenberry, principal at Lee's Summit High School, was recently selected as president of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. The state-wide association includes more than 1,200 members from high schools across Missouri. (Click here for more details...)

Lynn Lang named KC suburban area's Distinguished Principal
Lynn Lang, principal at Cedar Creek Elementary School, was recently named Distinguished Principal by the Kansas City Suburban Elementary Principal's Association for 2009-10. Mrs. Lang is among approximately 12 principals across the state competing for Missouri Distinguished Principal through the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 schools take a leading role in career and technical education
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District will make education news during November by launching an initiative to broaden career development. The program, Missouri Connections, will provide all students with access to Internet-based career exploration and planning. Students formerly completed a four-year plan through a hard-copy document. For the first time this year, all eighth-graders will complete a Personal Plan of Study through Missouri Connections. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District featured in national magazine
article about districts excelling in internationally oriented programs
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District was featured in the September issue of District Administration, a national magazine for school district administrators. The article featured several districts across the United States that are offering expanded international programs. (Click here for more details...)

Jeffrey Meisenheimer of Lee's Summit High School
named Missouri Assistant Principal of the Year
Jeffrey Meisenheimer, assistant principal at Lee's Summit High School, was selected as the Missouri Assistant Principal of the Year as part of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)/Virco Assistant Principal of the Year Program. He was selected based upon the impact he makes in providing collaborative leadership; his involvement in curriculum, instruction and assessment; and in personalizing education for students at Lee's Summit High School. (Click here for more details...)

R-7 School District students named National Merit
Scholarship Corporation commended students
Fifteen Lee’s Summit R-7 School District seniors were recently named National Merit Scholarship Corporation commended students through the national program. (Click here for more details...)

Six R-7 School District students named
National Merit Scholarship Corporation semifinalists
Six Lee’s Summit R-7 School District seniors were recently named National Merit Scholarship Corporation semifinalists through the national program. Students recognized are Emily Griffith, Lee's Summit High School; Kaedi Love, Lee's Summit North High School; and Mavis Brefo, Lindsey Jackson, Joe Kayser and Mark Spatz, Lee's Summit West High School. (Click here for more details...)

Susanne Mitko of Lee's Summit R-7 School District
is named Missouri Teacher of the Year for 2009-10
Campbell Middle School educator honored
Sept. 1 during surprise assembly at her school
Susanne Mitko, a Lee's Summit R-7 School District teacher who "brings the world to her students" and helps them connect world history to their own lives, has been selected as Missouri Teacher of the Year, according to a Sept. 1 announcement by state education officials. (Click here for more details...)

R-7 School District ACT college-entrance exams are above
state and national averages, among highest in metro area
Lee’s Summit R-7 School District students taking the ACT college-entrance test scored above state and national averages, according to results recently released from the 2008-09 school year. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit OfficeMax partners with R-7 School District
to provide discounted school supplies to local families
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District is partnering with local OfficeMax stores to provide discounted school and office supplies to district employees and families. As part of a three-tiered savings program, the R-7 School District has negotiated discounted prices for school and office supplies. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 families invited to use Atomic Learning web-based software training
Free technology-training resource includes information on computer and Internet safety
Lee's Summit R-7 School District students, parents and staff members have the opportunity to receive free web-based technology training through a program known as Atomic Learning. (Click here for more details...)

Article about R-7 School District employability transcripts published in national magazine
An article focusing on the Lee's Summit R-7 School District's employability transcripts program was published in the May issue of "Connections," a magazine for the National Career Pathways Network. The article is written by Tawni Boman, R-7 career exploration instructor, and Elaine Metcalf, R-7 career coordinator. (Click here for more details...)

Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education selected for MSBA 2009 Education Leadership Team
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District Board of Education was recently selected for the Missouri School Boards' Association (MSBA) 2009 Education Leadership Team. This prestigious award went to just 10 of Missouri's 523 public school districts this year. (Click here for more details...)

R-7 Program Proactively Addresses Future
Workforce Shortages, Impacts Economic Development
The following column is from Teresa Evans of the
Lee's Summit Economic Development Council
I recently participated in a webinar that brought to light some startling statistics about the future of our labor force. With high school drop-out rates on the rise — about 30% nationwide — coupled with an anticipated severe workforce shortage as baby boomers retire, now is the time to engage our future workers. We must encourage high school students to finish their education and explore various career paths, filling the economic development pipeline with educated, skilled workers to fill quality, high-paying jobs in industries like health care, manufacturing, technology and engineering with companies right here in Lee’s Summit. (Click here for more details...)

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District wins
first place honors in Magna Awards program
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District has been selected as a first-place winner in the American School Board Journal’s 15th annual Magna Awards program. (Click here for more details...)

Two R-7 students named Achievement Scholarship finalists
Lolita Arrey of Lee's Summit High School and Katherine McClain of Lee's Summit North High School are among approximately 1,300 students recently named finalists in the 45th annual Achievement Scholarship competition, according to officials at the National Achievement Scholarship Program. These scholastically talented high-school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 scholarships worth more than $2.6 million to be awarded this spring. (Click here for more details...)

Summit International Studies Academy provides students
with foundation in business, cultures and languages
Lee's Summit R-7 School District students have the opportunity to focus in international studies, global issues, business and languages thanks to the new Summit International Studies Academy (SISA). The academy is open to qualifying juniors and seniors from all Lee's Summit R-7 high schools. The school operates out of the district's Summit Technology Academy. (Click here for more details...)

R-7 School District initiates online courses to provide additional
opportunities for students, help them meet graduation requirements
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District initiated three new online courses for high school this school year. The classes, which are all graduation requirements, are designed to provide additional learning opportunities for students and also help them meet increasing requirements for graduation. (Click here for more details...)

R-7 School District offers enhanced Internet safety website for families
The Lee's Summit R-7 School District recently launched a new web page focusing on Internet safety tips for children and parents. You may access the page by visiting the district website at www.leesummit.k12.mo.us, selecting "Parents and Students," then "Parenting Information" and "Internet Safety and Children." To access the page directly, go to http://alldistrict.leesummit.k12.mo.us/internetsafety/. (Click here for more details...)

Susanne Mitko receives proclamation from Missouri governor

Susanne Mitko, Lee's Summit R-7 School District and Missouri Teacher of the Year, received a proclamation from Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon during a special presentation March 17 at the State Capitol in Jefferson City.

Ms. Mitko was named Lee's Summit Teacher of the Year in spring 2009 and was chosen for the state recognition last fall. She was selected as the state's top teacher following an extensive application process, including a personal interview with a nine-member selection committee appointed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Ms. Mitko is in her sixth year of teaching seventh-grade social studies at Bernard Campbell Middle School and has taught for a total of 18 years.

(Posted-March 18, 2010)

LS CARES, R-7 middle schools to present 'Parenting
Teens with Love and Logic' during April and May

Lee's Summit Cares and the Lee's Summit R-7 middle schools are joining forces to present a course for parents of teenagers. Parenting Teens with Love and Logic will be offered from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, April 15 through May 13, at Lee's Summit Community Church, 1140 W. Jefferson St.

Cost is $42 per participant, and previous Love and Logic participants who have their black-and-white manual will pay $32. Scholarships are also available.

The course will include friends and peer pressure, attitude and mood swings, house rules, homework and grades, arguing and back talk, technology use and other topics. Parents will learn how to stay connected to their teenagers as they guide their children toward responsible adulthood.

For more information or to register, visit the Lee's Summit CARES website at http://www.lscares.org/index.htm.

(Posted-March 12, 2010)

Reductions in state funding for public education results in losses of
$1.9 million for Lee's Summit R-7 for remainder of 2009-10 school year
Missouri school districts also preparing for state funding losses of 4 percent for 2010-11

The State of Missouri recently announced significant withholdings of state funding for public school districts. For the Lee's Summit R-7 School District, the losses in state funds total approximately $1.9 million, including reductions in basic state aid as well as funds for Parents As Teachers, reimbursement for school-bus transportation expenses and Prop C (state-wide sales tax) monies.

The R-7 School District and school districts state-wide were also notified recently that they should budget for a 4-percent reduction in state aid in 2010-11.

In Lee's Summit R-7, school district officials were already planning to cost contain an additional $2.1 million in 2010-11 – on top of the $9.1 million in budget cuts implemented this school year. With the recent announcements at the state level, the necessary anticipated cost containment may increase to as much as $5 million for the next school year. When combined with the $9.1 million in cost containment enacted this year, the R-7 2010-11 budget may need to reduce close to $14 million in anticipated expenditures.

The cuts in state funds are based on factors outside of the local districts' and the state's control. With more jobless Missourians, fewer are able to pay state income taxes, resulting in a decline of 12.7 percent in state revenue when comparing the first two months of 2010 with the same two months in 2009.

"Although we have been planning for additional losses in state aid, the amount of lost revenue is more dramatic than expected," said Dr. David McGehee, R-7 superintendent. "This is distressing news that will force us to make tough decisions and to examine reductions in areas we have not wanted to consider in the past."

The revised state funding information was shared with the R-7 Board of Education during a March 2 workshop. Although the 2010-11 Lee's Summit R-7 budget will not be approved until summer 2010, R-7 administrators presented several large-scale cost-containment measures for consideration. These possibilities include a district-wide salary freeze for 2010-11 as well as study of a schedule change at the middle schools, examining a move from a five-of-seven to a six-of-seven period teaching schedule. High schools are already planning a move to a six-of-seven teaching schedule for 2010-11 as part of a number of cost-containment measures determined last year. Any potential change in the middle-school teaching schedule would not begin until 2011-12 at the earliest. Whether at high school or middle school, the change to the six-of-seven teaching schedule would not change the number of class periods for students.

Other ongoing cost containment measures include deferring maintenance, further reductions in operation budgets district-wide, lowered capital costs and increases in energy savings. The district is also continuing its efforts to cut staffing expenses by reducing the number of employees through attrition. When R-7 staff members retire or resign, an administrative team is carefully evaluating each open position to determine if it should be filled, eliminated or placed "on hold" for further discussion later in the school year. A number of staff positions were eliminated last year, and close to $1.6 million in staffing costs have been eliminated for 2010-11 so far, mainly through attrition. These staffing reductions are in the areas of administration, instruction and support services. As other employees retire or resign, additional jobs may be eliminated for further savings in 2010-11.

Another possibility is a reduction in the 2010 R-7 elementary summer school program. Missouri legislators are considering a decrease in funding for summer school programs with the potential of no state funding at all. The R-7 School District is monitoring the state's decisions about the summer program and will provide information to parents as soon as possible. Secondary summer school will be offered in a similar manner as in past years due to the impact this type of last-minute change could have on some students' ability to graduate from high school.

"These are challenging times for Missouri school districts as well as our families and businesses," Dr. McGehee added. "We will be making tough decisions these next few months and possibly beyond. Fortunately, our district has emphasized solid budget planning and stewardship for many years. This is helping our district address both anticipated and unanticipated funding losses without resorting to the drastic measures – such as school closings or wide-spread layoffs – that we've seen in some districts in our area and nationwide."

R-7 officials will continue to monitor the state funding situation and provide updated information to parents, employees and staff members as it becomes available. For more information about the district's budget challenges, visit http://www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/districtinfo/MeetingBudgetChallenges.htm.

(Posted-March 10, 2010)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District to hold kindergarten
enrollment April 22 at all elementary schools

The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District is preparing to enroll children entering kindergarten in August 2010. To qualify, students must be 5 years old before Aug. 1.

Parents are asked to register their soon-to-be kindergarten students during kindergarten enrollment, scheduled from 4:30 to 7 p.m. April 22 at all R-7 elementary schools.

Please visit the R-7 kindergarten enrollment website at http://elementary.leesummit.k12.mo.us/Kroundup.htm or call your child's elementary school for more information.

(Posted-March 9, 2010)

Informational video about Lee's Summit R-7 School
District no-tax-increase bond issue available on website
10-minute video features students, parents, staff and citizens

Several Lee’s Summit R-7 School District students, staff members and citizens are featured in a 10-minute informational video focusing on the district's April 6 no-tax-increase bond issue. The video is being used through the bond-issue speakers’ bureau, is posted on the district website.

The video is also being presented at numerous school and community events during the next few weeks. You may view the video and read more information about the ballot issue by visiting www.leesummit.k12.mo.us and selecting “April No-Tax-Increase Bond Information and Video.” If you would like to request a speaker and video presentation for an area group, please contact Janie Rohlfing in the R-7 Community Relations Department at janie.rohlfing@leesummit.k12.mo.us or 986-1014.

The Greenwood governmental access cable television channel is also broadcasting the video throughout the day, normally scheduled for 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., 9 p.m. and 11 p.m.

The $16 million bond issue was placed on the April ballot following a recommendation from the R-7 Citizens’ Advisory Committee. The issue is designed to positively impact each R-7 student and school and includes school improvements, technology enhancements, energy-saving upgrades, new school buses and funds to purchase land for a future middle-school site.

(Posted-March 9, 2010)

Lee's Summit R-7 Nutrition Services Department to initiate recorded
phone messages to remind families when charges are pending

In an effort to provide accurate information to families, the Lee's Summit R-7 School District Nutrition Services Department is initiating a new automated reminder telephone call system to notify parents when their child has accumulated breakfast or lunch charges.

Students are allowed to charge meals through the Lee's Summit R-7 cafeterias to help ensure that children do not go hungry when their account runs low. Beginning this spring, an automated reminder phone call will go to the homes of students after the account reaches a negative balance of $2 or more. The calls will be made twice each week.

The Lee's Summit R-7 Nutrition Services Department is self-supporting and provides breakfast and lunch to approximately 17,000 students and close to 2,000 staff members. Its goal is to provide nutritious, appetizing meals for students at an affordable cost. The new reminder phone calls for families with charges over $2 will also help the program remain cost effective and continue to be self-supporting.

Through the department's online payment program, known as MyNutriKids.com, parents may make online deposits, check their account balance and view histories of meal purchases. This system also allows families to sign up for e-mail notifications when their account drops to a specific amount.

For more information about the R-7 Nutrition Services Department, visit www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/nutrition.

(Posted-March 2, 2010)

Eric Sharp named R-7 School District Learning for Life Award
winner for March

Eric Sharp was named the Lee's Summit R-7 School District Learning for Life Award winner for March. He is the R-7 School District heating/ventilation/air-conditioning supervisor.

The award is presented to one employee each month who is nominated by co-workers and selected by a staff committee.

"Eric is a team player and an outstanding representative for our school district" said a co-worker. "He is one of the nicest persons you will ever meet."

(Posted-March 2, 2010)

Cedar Creek Elementary School fifth-grader recognized
for receiving Prudential Spirit of Community Award

Alex Wood, a fifth-grader at Cedar Creek Elementary School, was recently recognized as one of two Missouri winners of the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. This nationwide program honors young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism.

Alex has raised more than $3,000 over the past five years for a variety of hunger-related charities by selling lemonade and baked goods that he prepares himself. Alex has recruited friends to help him with the lemonade and baked goods sales and conducted food collection drives to feed the hungry through pantries and other organizations. Last year, he launched his own baking business, Clean Hands Bakery with proceeds from the business going to various charities.

Alex received a proclamation from Lee's Summit Mayor Karen Messerli recognizing him for the state award during an assembly at his school Feb. 23. Alex and the other state honoree, Simone Bernstein of St. Louis, will both receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, D.C., in early May. Ten of the award winners will be named America's top youth volunteers for 2010 as part of national recognition efforts.

(Posted-February 25, 2010)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District continues to enact 'green'
practices and sustainable improvements to save money

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District is continuing to increase its emphasis on energy-saving or "green" facility and other capital improvements by using federal funding and savings generated by reducing fuel and utility costs.

During the Feb. 18 Board of Education meeting, R-7 officials provided a report on initiatives related to new school construction as well as school additions, renovations and upgrades at existing schools and support facilities. Recent R-7 no-tax-increase bond issues, as well as the April 6 no-tax-increase bond issue, are also incorporating energy-saving practices into construction plans.

As a rapidly growing school district, Lee's Summit R-7 has constructed 22 new school and support facilities over the past 20 years while also completing numerous additions and improvements at schools. Throughout the past two decades, new school construction efforts have increasingly focused on sustainable, cost-effective measures designed to save money while providing a safe, healthy environment for students and staff members.

This next year, Lee's Summit R-7 is completing the final scope of work on the sixth phase of its ongoing energy-saving performance contract program. These efforts have included lighting upgrades, heating/ventilation/air-conditioning improvements, water-usage savings and boiler and chiller upgrades. The facility improvements are taking place at 13 school sites with work occurring between April 2010 and August 2011. The capital improvements will be completed without increasing the district's operating budget thanks to funding from voter-approved no-tax-increase bond issues as well as grant funds and ongoing energy savings.

Performance contracting began in 2002 within the Lee's Summit R-7 and is projected to save more than $4.4 million in energy costs over the next 15 years.

In addition, the R-7 School District is planning to replace four inefficient diesel vehicles with four electric vehicles. These electric trucks will be used by distribution employees who work throughout the school district. The trucks will be purchased with the assistance of matching federal economic stimulus funds and will generate considerable fuel-cost and maintenance savings. The trucks are very efficient to operate (8 cents per kilowatt), have only four moving parts making them extremely quiet in school zones. Over the course of the 15-year program the district will save nearly $80,000 to go toward other capital needs.

Beginning in May 2009, the R-7 School District also initiated a district-wide recycling program that provides schools and the community with convenient recycling drop-offs at each school while generating revenue for the school district. Since the programs inception, the school district has generated nearly $8,000 dollars for schools, redirected nearly 75 percent of its solid waste from landfills. It has also provided students, staff and families with an additional recycling option, often allowing them to save money by eliminating their curbside recycling bill. In 2010 this program is forecasted to grow as public awareness increases and additional vendors become available.

In 2009-10 the district initiated a new contract to recycle, reuse or properly dispose of all outdated electronic devises. Since the contract was awarded the district has received over $36,000 in commissions and has incinerated hundreds of cartridges and components turning the "waste" into concrete mix materials used in the construction of highways, sidewalks and driveways.

"Going green is generating green for our students," said Ron Cox, R-7 director of purchasing and distribution.

(Posted-February 22, 2010)

Longview Farm Elementary students capture third place in Missouri Archery Tournament

A team of sixth-graders from Longview Farm Elementary School captured third place in the Missouri National Archery in the Schools (MoNASP) State Tournament, held Feb. 13 at Linn State Technical College in Linn, Mo. The local team won in the elementary division and included a total of 48 Longview Farm students who participate in the school's popular after-school Archery Club.

With the third-place award, the Longview Farm team also qualified for the national tournament, scheduled during May in Louisville, Ky. This tournament is the largest archery competition in the world, drawing close to 5,000 students from across the United States.

Close to 700 students from throughout the state competed in the Feb. 13 tournament, which is coordinated through the Missouri Department of Conservation. Archery is gaining in popularity across the nation as a sport that provides opportunities for all students to succeed. It does not require above-average strength or stamina and also teaches discipline, responsibility, confidence and concentration.

Sixth-graders at Longview Farm Elementary School participate in a two-week archery unit featuring International Olympic Style Target Archery. They also have the opportunity to join the school's Archery Club, sponsored by Longview Farm teacher Steve Lanier. This year's after-school club included 51 students.

Longview Farm has also hosted MoNASP tournaments this year and last year as a way to encourage participation and raise money for the school archery program. This year's event included 31 schools and more than 700 students.

Mr. Lanier and Longview Farm physical-education Tiffini Tomlin are both certified archery instructors. Mr. Lanier, a long-time advocate for archery instruction for young people, added, "Students' educational lives and general outlook have been positively improved through the MoNASP program. I'm honored to be part of this awesome program as we work to change students' lives one arrow at a time."

(Posted-February 22, 2010)

Kelly Seitz named principal for Richardson Elementary School

Kelly Seitz, currently assistant principal at Underwood Elementary School, was named principal for Richardson Elementary at the Feb. 18 Board of Education meeting. Mrs. Seitz will begin her new job next summer and will replace Mary Naudet, who is retiring at the end of this school year.

Mrs. Seitz has served as Underwood assistant principal for six years and previously worked as a fifth-grade classroom teacher and a middle-school teacher in the Blue Springs School District and as a secondary teacher in the Fort Osage School District. In all, she has worked in education for 22 years.

Mrs. Seitz earned her bachelor's, master's and education specialist degrees from the University of Central Missouri. She is a member of the Missouri State Teachers Association, the Missouri Middle School Association, the Kansas City Suburban Elementary Principals Association and the National and Missouri Elementary Principals Association.

(Posted-February 22, 2010

R-7 School District students named National Merit Scholarship Corporation finalists

Four Lee’s Summit R-7 School District seniors were recently named National Merit Scholarship Corporation finalists through the national program. Students recognized are Emily Griffith, Lee's Summit High School, and Mavis Brefo, Lindsey Jackson and Mark Spatz, Lee's Summit West High School.

The students were named National Merit Scholarship Corporation semifinalists last fall.

Recognized students have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 8,200 National Merit Scholarship Awards, worth close to $33 million, to be offered this spring. There are approximately 16,000 semifinalists throughout the United States.

Emily Griffith is the daughter of Scott Griffith and Lynn Griffith. At Lee's Summit High School, she is a member of the Marching Band, Sounds of Summit chamber choir, Concert Choir and National Honor Society. She is also involved in the Kansas City Youth Symphony.

Mavis Brefo is the daughter of Stephen and Elena Brefo. At Lee's Summit West High School, she is on the varsity soccer team, is lead critic for CAPPIES theatre review program and is a member of Harmony Council, Titan Smart and National Honor Society.

Lindsey Jackson is the daughter of Brian and Carolyn Jackson. At LSWHS, she is involved in National Honor Society, the Freshman Mentor Program, Concert Chorale and Una Voce chamber choir.

Mark Spatz is the son of Jeff and Nancy Spatz. At LSWHS, he is involved in the FIRST Robotics Team, was in charge of the team's programming and electronics his sophomore and junior years and is technical manager this year.

Founded in 1955 to conduct the annual Merit Scholarship competition, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a privately financed, not-for-profit corporation that operates without government assistance. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by nearly 500 independent sponsor organizations and institutions as well as with the corporation’s own funds.

Nearly 1.4 million students throughout the United States entered the 2010 Merit Program as juniors by taking the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen of program entrants. Semifinalists will be notified of their finalist standing in spring 2010.

(Posted-February 11, 2010)

Susanne Mitko featured on cover of 'HerLife' magazine

Susanne Mitko, Lee's Summit R-7 School District and Missouri Teacher of the Year, was recently featured in a cover story for the February issue of "HerLife" magazine.

Ms. Mitko was named Lee's Summit Teacher of the Year last spring and was chosen for the state recognition last fall. She was selected as the state's top teacher following an extensive application process, including a personal interview with a nine-member selection committee appointed by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Ms. Mitko is in her sixth year of teaching seventh-grade social studies at Bernard Campbell Middle School and has taught for a total of 18 years.

The cover story focuses on Ms. Mitko's job as a social studies teacher at Bernard Campbell High School and her passion for education. The magazine also features several photographs taken of Ms. Mitko and her students at BCMS.

The magazine cover and article may be viewed at http://www.herlifemagazine.com/.

(Posted-February 11, 2010)

Lee's Summit R-7 schools respond with
generosity to Haiti earthquake victims

Lee's Summit R-7 School District students, staff members and families were quick to respond to the devastating earthquake in Haiti this winter. Schools are collecting money and supplies for a variety of charities, including Heart to Heart International, the American Red Cross and other relief funds.

Charitable activities have included fundraisers, collection of relief kits and special events. These activities are part of year-round character education initiatives at all R-7 schools that include community-service activities aimed at helping others while teaching children the value of generosity.

A few examples of the recent Haiti relief efforts at R-7 schools follow.

At the high school level, Lee's Summit High School's French Club organized a "Dollars for Haiti" fund drive for the Red Cross. Lee's Summit North High School Student Senate donated $1,000 to the Red Cross and collected additional funds during lunch shifts. Combined with a matching donation from EF Tours, the total contribution from LSNHS was $4,600. At Lee's Summit West High School, several student groups are coordinating collection of kit items, such as towels, soap and bandages for Heart to Heart International.

At Pleasant Lea Middle School, proceeds from the winter dance went to Haiti relief, and National Junior Honor Society is donating profits from a basketball tournament concession stand and other concessions to the Red Cross. Summit Lakes Middle School students raised close to $3,000 for Heart to Heart International.

Longview Farm Elementary, Mason Elementary, Richardson Elementary, Prairie View, Summit Pointe and Woodland Elementary have been collecting care kits for Heart to Heart International. Cedar Creek Elementary sponsored a "Pennies for Haiti" fundraiser, donating proceeds to the American Red Cross. Underwood Elementary participated in the "Souper Bowl of Caring," collecting money for the Red Cross. Pleasant Lea Elementary donated money raised at its annual Pancakes for Parents fundraiser and also held a Hats for Haiti fund drive.

At Trailridge Elementary School, PTA is conducting a Penny Drive during February with funds going to Haiti relief. Highland Park Elementary's Character In Action (CIA) group also collected money and supplies for Haiti relief. At Hazel Grove Elementary, Student Council is coordinating a Sole4Souls project, collecting new or used shoes and sending them to Haiti. Sunset Valley staff members collected almost $300 to go to Haiti relief, and Greenwood Elementary Student Council is hosting a "Hats for Haiti" fundraiser.

(Posted-February 11, 2010)

R-7 parent educator creates mural for area Hope House

Jackie Dorweiler, a Lee's Summit R-7 School District parent educator, recently completed a mural decorating the play room at an area Hope House. Working with several other volunteers, she completed the large mural and also gathered books and toys to donate for the toy room.

As a Lee's Summit R-7 parent educator, Ms. Dorweiler visits families who live at the facility, which provides assistance for victims of domestic violence. She noticed that the toy room was somewhat drab and decided to create a mural for one of the walls.

With the help of Kara Holdman, she painted the colorful mural, which features eight children with the words, "Children love the world-Children love each other." In addition, Ms. Dorweiler organized the donated books and toys onto toy shelves, which were constructed by Zachary Manos in 2007 as part of his Eagle Scout project. Zachary is currently a senior at Lee's Summit North High School and son of Belinda Manos, R-7 Parents As Teachers secretary.

Hope House services form a safety net of prevention, education and support for more than 10,000 victims of abuse every year. Residential and outreach services are provided through two secure locations in Independence and Lee’s Summit. The 24-hour hotline for crisis intervention can be reached at 816-461-HOPE (4673) or 816-HOTLINE (468-5463). More information is also available at the website at www.hopehouse.net.

(Posted-February 5, 2010)

Jeffrey Meisenheimer of Lee's Summit High School
named finalist for National Assistant Principal of the Year

Jeffrey Meisenheimer, assistant principal at Lee's Summit High School, was recently named one of three finalists for Assistant Principal of the Year through a program offered by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and Virco.

According to a release from the national association, "Finalists for the 2010 National Assistant Principal of the Year Award stand out in their ability to excel in this ever-demanding role. The role of the assistant principal has changed dramatically in the past decade. Today's assistant principals are involved in all aspects of education, including curriculum development, research, personalization and school-community relationships."

The national winner will be announced during the NASSP convention in March.

During October, Mr. Meisenheimer was selected as the Missouri Assistant Principal of the Year. He was selected based upon the impact he makes in providing collaborative leadership; his involvement in curriculum, instruction and assessment; and in personalizing education for students at Lee's Summit High School.

Mr. Meisenheimer will be honored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) at their spring conference on March 29. Jim King, MASSP executive director, said, "The position of assistant principal is a vital member of the school's administrative team. The assistant principal is expected to be everything to everybody. The assistant principal is expected to be at all activities and solve everyone's problems. The assistant principal is involved with evaluating teachers as well as working with data to improve curriculum and instruction. Many individuals serve in the role of assistant principal as a career and are dedicated to the students and communities they serve."

Dr. John Faulkenberry, LSHS principal, added, "A key role for any assistant principal is effectively managing students. Working one-on-one with students may be Jeff’s greatest attribute. Besides treating each student with patience and dignity, Jeff seeks out his most difficult students for the purpose of establishing a relationship that might help change each one's respective attitude towards school. I have been amazed at the deep relationships he has put in place with difficult kids. Although he often makes tough decisions, Jeff's demeanor never makes the situation more difficult. In fact, it is often the existing relationship with a parent that makes the decision more palatable."

Mr. Meisenheimer earned his bachelor's degree in business education in 1994 at the University of Missouri-Columbia, a master's degree in educational administration in 2000 and a specialist degree in educational administration in 2006 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

He previously taught and served as an assistant principal at Ruskin High School in Hickman Mills School District prior to moving to his current position as at Lee's Summit High School in 2004. He is involved in civic activities, including Habitat for Humanity, Masonic Lodge of Lee's Summit and Chapman, Kan., tornado relief. Mr. Meisenheimer has also presented at several conferences and has participated in a variety of professional development opportunities.

(Posted-February 3, 2010)

Cooperative led by Lee's Summit R-7 School
District saves fuel costs for local school district

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District recently helped organized a cooperative created to save fuel costs for nine local public entities. Through BidBridge, an e-auction services provider, Lee's Summit R-7 and the other eight organizations are able to pool their purchasing power and save fuel costs for all organizations.

By using what's known as a "sealed bid platform," the cooperative has gained visibility and created a more dynamic and competitive purchasing environment. With a fleet totaling more than 145 school buses that transport 12,600 students in excess of 2.2 million miles annually, fuel costs have a significant impact on the Lee's Summit R-7 budget. Lee's Summit was the lead organization for the cooperative.

"The final bid results indicated that some of the cooperative's entities would save at least 10 cents per gallon, with two projecting more than 20 cents per gallon in savings," said Ron Cox, R-7 director of purchasing and distribution.

The cooperative was also featured on the BidBridge's national newsletter as an example of the power of cooperation.

(Posted-February 2, 2010)

Longview Farm Elementary School receives grant to establish community garden

Longview Farm Elementary School recently earned an approximately $7,140 grant to establish a community garden on donated land near the school. Through the school's Dirt Diggers' Club, the garden will be created with an emphasis on reinforcing educational concepts in this outdoor setting, encouraging physical activity among students and providing a variety of fresh homegrown options for students and community members.

The grant funding comes from the Greater Lee's Summit Health Care Foundation. The Longview Farm grant application was written by Alisa Seidelman, Ashlee Christians, Barbara Noble and Sue Hornyan, Longview Farm teachers and sponsors of the school's Dirt Digger Club, and Shelley Loethen, parent.

Gale Communities donated land for the garden across the street from the school in the New Longview Community.

By working in the garden, which will feature fruits and vegetables, students will learn a variety of lessons, including math concepts, through planning and planting, and science concepts, which will be reinforced through cultivation and maintenance of the garden. Students will develop and improve their skills in communication arts, problem-solving, civic responsibility and health and wellness.

Members of the Dirt Digger Club plan to present educational facts to students who will be able to enjoy the harvested food in the school's cafeteria. School staff members also plan to ensure that food harvested during the summer months is used by community organizations.

The project will include creation of a video that will be shared with other schools throughout Missouri. Students in the school's ASPIRE gifted program will create this documentary of the garden's creation and benefits, sharing the educational, health and community benefits of the garden.

Plans call for the garden to be developed in spring 2010.

(Posted-January 29, 2010)

LSNHS student captures second place in Music Teachers National Association

Lizz Hougland, a Lee's Summit North High School senior, recently captured second place in the Music Teachers National Association Composition Competition (senior division), a regional competition.

Her composition was called "Energy, Motion, Emotion" and was originally scored for flute, cello and piano. Lizz also rescored it for a string quartet and performed the composition for the LSNHS fall concert.

Lizz, a violinist with the LSNHS Symphony Orchestra, plans to attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City and major in music composition.

(Posted-January 27, 2010)

GBEEC students help celebrate Missouri School Board Recognition Week

Students from Great Beginnings Early Education Center helped celebrate Missouri School Board Recognition Week during a special presentation at the Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education's Jan. 21 meeting.

The students performed several songs for the Board members and presented thank-you cards to the Board members.

School Board Recognition Week, sponsored by the Missouri School Boards' Association, recognizes the more than 3,600 school board members across the state. These public servants are elected by local constituents and do not receive compensation for their tireless efforts.

Missouri School Board Recognition Week is held Jan. 24 through 30 this year. The goal of this event is build awareness and understanding of the important function an elected Board of Education plays in communities and schools.

R-7 School District Board of Education members are President Gene Brixey, Vice President Jeff Tindle, Patti Buie, Jon Plaas, Michael Dodig, Jack Wiley and Ron Baker.

(Posted-January 26, 2010)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District releases 2010-11 calendar

The Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education approved the school district's 2010-11 school calendar at its Jan. 21 meeting. The complete calendar may be viewed at the district's website at www.leesummit.k12.mo.us by selecting "District Info" and then "Calendars."

The first day of school will be Aug. 18. Thanksgiving holiday will be Nov. 24- 28, and winter break for students will be Dec. 22 through Jan. 3. (R-7 staff members will return to work Jan. 3 although students will not be in attendance on this day.) Spring break for students is scheduled for March 11 through 20 with March 11 designated as a teacher work day.

The last day of school, pending make-up days due to inclement weather, will be May 19, an early-release day. Any 2010-11 snow days will be made up beginning with May 20.

(Posted-January 22, 2010)

Dr. Michael Pragman to present keynote,
workshops at Honduras teacher conference

Dr. J. Michael Pragman, principal at Woodland Elementary School, was selected to present the keynote speech at the Teachers Teaching Teachers T3 conference, scheduled during February in Honduras. He will be presenting to approximately 600 bilingual educators.

Focus of the conference is to improve teaching strategies for bilingual schools in the country, and this year's event will be held at the Escuela International Campus in San Pedro Sula.

At the Honduras conference, Dr. Pragman will also present two workshops, both in the area of brain research with an emphasis on brain development from birth through adulthood and its tie to reading strategies.

In addition to serving as principal for the R-7 School District, Dr. Pragman is a learning and education consultant, specializing in brain compatible learning and teaching for today’s educators. An R-7 principal for 15 years, he opened Woodland Elementary School in 2001 after serving as principal at Westview Elementary for six years. He previously served as an administrator with the Kansas City School District's magnet program and worked as a speech-language pathologist in Springfield and Blue Springs.

For the last several years, Dr. Pragman has presented seminars locally, nationally and internationally regarding the latest brain research on teaching and learning and translating this research into practical and effective strategies for the elementary classroom.

Dr. Pragman earned his bachelor's degree in speech/language pathology, his master's in elementary administration and his doctorate in middle school administration, all from Missouri State University. He earned his Ed.D. in superintendency from the University of Kansas.
In addition, Dr. Pragman has been an adjunct professor for William Woods University for the past seven years and Baker University for three years.

(Posted-January 21, 2010)

Subscribers to free Lee's Summit R-7
podcast asked to re-subscribe by Feb. 2

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District initiated a weekly informational podcast last summer, available at http://www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/podcasts.htm. Known as "90-Second News," the weekly segments include brief updates about the district for anyone who prefers to receive their news via podcasts.

R-7 podcast subscribers will need to re-subscribe to the free service using Podbean.com by Feb. 2 to continue receiving the podcasts. The district is changing podcast providers to ensure that the service is free for listeners and no cost for the school district in the future. To re-subscribe, visit www.podbean.com, search for "lsr7" and click on the "subscribe button."

In addition to subscribing to the podcasts, interested individuals may listen to R-7 podcasts on their computers or download the podcasts to other audio devices.

In 2009, the district also added Twitter to its communication tools. Updates to the district's Twitter account are posted approximately once each day and are available to Twitter members who sign up as R-7 followers. You can view R-7 information at the Twitter site and also become a follower of R-7 news updates by clicking on "join today" at http://twitter.com/lsr7.

Both communication tools – podcasting and Twitter – are a free service to the general public and are also no-cost items for the R-7 School District.

(Posted-January 21, 2010)

Greg Foreman is guest artist with Youth Symphony of
Kansas City, performing with Kansas Silent Film Festival

Greg Foreman, music teacher at Highland Park Elementary School, was selected to perform as a guest artist when the Youth Symphony of Kansas City celebrates its 50th season. As part of this celebration, the Youth Symphony will perform the Symphony No. 3 in C minor, Op. 78, by Camille Saint-Saëns (the “Organ Symphony”) at 4 p.m. March 7 at the Music Hall, 301 W 13th, Kansas City. Mr. Foreman will perform at the four manual, Robert-Morton Theater Organ. For more information, visit http://www.youthsymphonykc.org/concert_season.htm.

Mr. Foreman will also perform as silent film accompanist at the annual Kansas Silent Film Festival, Feb. 26 and 27 at White Concert Hall, Washburn University, 17th and Jewell, Topeka, Kan. For information about this event, visit http://www.kssilentfilmfest.org/kssff2010/program.html.

(Posted-January 20, 2010)

Bernard Campbell Middle School initiates
backpack club to help provide food for needy children

Bernard Campbell Middle School staff members recently initiated a new program designed to help provide food for needy children over the weekend. Modeled after Kansas City Harvester's Backsnacks program, the effort provides a backpack filled with food to identified students.

The food includes nutritious, easy-to-prepare meals and snacks for BCMS students who could use assistance. An anonymous donor contributed 25 new backpacks this winter, and students and staff members have donated food and money to help fill the backpacks.

Each backpack is filled with the food items weekly, and students are given the backpacks to take home over the weekend on Fridays. Confidentiality is strictly maintained, and children participating are not identifiable to students or other staff members. Students return the backpacks for refilling for the next weekend.

Campbell staff members and parents who developed the program are Vicki Bullard, Wendy Brown, Tressa Wright, Nancy Collings, Terri Coats, BCMS staff members, and Diane Meyers,PTSA president. They are calling the initiative "Club B" or backpack club. The first backpack distribution went out Dec. 12 to 14 students, and Club B members plan to expand the program to additional children.

Research from Harvesters shows that children participating in the backpack food program show improvements in attendance, grades and standardized test scores.

Bob Glaser of Summit Bank of Kansas City presents Vicki Bullard, Campbell guidance counselor, with donations for Club B.

(Posted-January 20, 2010)

Three file for two seats on Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education

Three candidates have filed for two positions on the Lee's Summit R-7 School District Board of Education. Filing closed for R-7 Board of Education candidates on Jan. 19.

Candidates (listed in filing order) are Annette Braam, Gene Brixey and Dr. Jimmie Colbert. Mr. Brixey is currently president of the R-7 Board of Education and has been a board member since 2004. Mrs. Braam served on the Board of Education from 2002 to 2005.

The annual municipal and school election will be held on April 6. Board of Education members serve three-year terms. To vote in the April election, citizens must register by March 10. For information about registering to vote, visit the Jackson County or Cass County election office websites.

(Posted-January 20, 2010)

Lee's Summit R-7 high schools spring theatre schedule

All three Lee's Summit R-7 School District high schools are continuing to prepare quality theatre productions for second semester. For more information about all high school theatre productions, visit http://www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/schools/theatredepartments.html.

Lee's Summit High School will present "A Doll's House," written by Henrik Ibsen at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26 and 27 and March 5 and 6 and at 2:30 p.m. March 7. For more information, call (816) 986-2059 or visit www.lshstheatre.com.

Lee's Summit North High School will present "Godspell," the 1970s musical focusing on the life of Jesus Christ based on a series of parables from the Gospel of Matthew. "Godspell" is scheduled for Feb. 19, 20, 26 and 27 at Lee's Summit North. "The Jungle Book," a continuation of the LSNHS children's series, is a musical based on the Disney classic about Mowgli, a young boy, and his jungle animal friends – and enemy, the ferocious tiger, Shere Khan. "The Jungle Book" will be performed March 19, 20 and 21. For more information, contact the Lee’s Summit North Theatre Department at (816) 986-3031 or visit us at www.lsntheatre.com.

Lee's Summit West High School will present the Pulitzer-Prize and Tony-award winning musical, "A Chorus Line" Feb. 19, 20, 26, 27 and 28. Every performer has to go through an audition. However, in "A Chorus Line," the character of the director decides he wants to know more about these people who are usually just in the background of a musical. As a result, the audience watches and listens to the dancers at the audition and learns about why they got started and their hopes and fears for the future. PARENTAL ADVISORY—"A Chorus Line" contains serious subject matter that may not be appropriate for young children. For more information, visit www.westsidestage.com.

(Posted-January 15, 2010)

Lee's Summit R-7 high schools excel at state theatre conference

The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District was well represented by students from its three high schools at the recent Missouri State Thespian Conference. The conference, held at the University of Missouri-St. Louis on Jan. 7 through 9 gave students the opportunity to see shows from around the state, participate in classes with theatre professionals from all over the nation and compete for various awards.

After overcoming the weather obstacles, R-7 students brought home a variety of honors.

Seniors Erin Huffman, Lee’s Summit West High School, and Luke Minx, Lee’s Summit North High School, earned two of the four Theatre Performance Scholarships valued at $1,000 each by performing in front of representatives of 21 colleges and universities from seven states. After the votes were tallied, Erin and Luke received the top two rankings out of over 60 students auditioning.

Auditions for the next Missouri All-State Musical, "Jekyll and Hyde," were held as well. Over 100 students auditioned for roles or interviewed for technical positions with the production. Selected for the cast and crew were Olivia Lynn of Lee's Summit High School as a member of the chorus; Brian Boyce as Spider and Carter Ellis as Simon Stride, both Lee's Summit North High School; and Jenna Klausing as Lucy, Abby Dorning as costume designer and Jacob Bogart as a member of the chorus, all Lee's Summit West High School.

The show will be directed by Shayne Daniel, theatre teacher at Lee’s Summit North High School, and will be rehearsed at LSN at a series of camps to be held over the year. It will be performed at the next state conference in January 2011.

Four Lee’s Summit West High School students performed scenes from their school's fall play, "Almost, Maine," in front of the delegates to the Junior Thespian Conference which was held on Jan. 9 at the same site. Students who performed were Tyler Caby, Charlotte Parise, Chloe Gibbs and Jacob Bogart.

Official recognition was given to all the Lee’s Summit schools participating in the Trick or Treat so Kids Can Eat program. Craig Branch, representing the home office of the Educational Theatre Association in Cincinnati, Ohio, presented plaques to each school’s Thespian Troupe officers in recognition of the schools' Community Spirit and Cornucopia Awards. The presentation took place in front of the over 1,500 students and teachers in attendance from some 75 schools around the state.

In addition, theatre troupes from LSHS, LSNHS and LSWHS received Honor Troupe status for their production work and community-service involvement.

(Posted-January 12, 2010)

Chamber and R-7 School District sponsor spring recognition program

When you hear the phrase "outstanding teacher," who comes to mind? You may want to nominate this teacher for the Lee’s Summit Chamber of Commerce Excellence In Teaching/R-7 Teacher of the Year Award.

Twelve R-7 teachers will receive the Excellence In Teaching Award. Each award recipient will also become a finalist for the R-7 School District's annual Teacher of the Year Award. The district's Teacher of the Year goes on to compete in the Missouri State Teacher of the Year program.

Any teacher, pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, and any guidance counselor or library/media specialist is eligible for the program. Due to the Missouri Teacher of the Year guidelines, guidance counselors and librarians are only eligible for the Excellence In Teaching Awards. They will not be considered for the Teacher of the Year Award since the state program is restricted to classroom teachers only.

Former Excellence In Teaching Award winners are eligible to interview for the R-7 School District Teacher of the Year Award if nominated, although they would not be able to win the Excellence In Teaching Award again.

The recognized teachers will be selected by a committee composed of R-7 staff and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and the community. The 12 Excellence In Teaching winners will be announced in April and honored at an April 27 reception. The Teacher of the Year will be announced at the reception.

Nomination forms are being sent home with R-7 students during January. Anyone wanting a form may also visit the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District website at www.leesummit.k12.mo.us and select the Excellence In Teaching and Teacher of the Year option or call 986-1109. The deadline for nominations is Feb. 5.

(Posted-January 4, 2010)

R-7 School District to enhance security by adding surveillance cameras at schools
System to include "buzzer entry" at elementary schools, additional
surveillance at middle and high schools to deter theft and vandalism

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District is continuing its emphasis on safety and security by enhancing school camera surveillance systems at elementary, middle and high schools. Plans call for the additional surveillance cameras to be installed this spring and summer with all systems operational by fall 2010.

The R-7 School District has installed a few targeted surveillance cameras to enhance security during the last few years, especially in the area of theft and property damage deterrence. The cameras have been used effectively in high school cafeteria "scramble" areas and commons and on the exterior of schools located in more remote areas to prevent theft and vandalism. These efforts have been successful, decreasing vandalism to the schools' exteriors and reducing theft within the cafeteria food lines by approximately 80 percent. Cameras are also currently being used on R-7 school buses to help improve student behavior, also with great success.

This effort, designed to enhance safety while also reducing expenses related to theft and vandalism, is continuing this spring and summer with a focus on exterior door surveillance at the elementary level, high-traffic monitoring at the middle schools and high schools and surveillance of "remote" campus areas near athletic facilities at the high schools.

At the elementary schools, buzzer entry systems will be installed at all main doors, and school staff will have the ability to see anyone wanting to enter the building via computer monitors before visitors are allowed into the school.

"We researched the most effective and efficient ways to enhance surveillance at our schools," said Mark White, R-7 environmental/risk manager. "We found that the majority of elementary schools in the metropolitan area are using the buzzer entry systems, and school staff and parents have been very satisfied with this effort."

At middle schools and high schools, camera surveillance will be added to the schools' front doors and other main entrances for enhanced security. High schools will also have cameras installed in high-traffic interior areas and additional remote areas on the campuses, such as near athletic buildings and other facilities that are some distance from the main building.

Lee's Summit West High School is piloting the new interior and exterior camera systems this winter. LSWHS was selected for the pilot based on the fact that the school is located in a more remote area and would be a better area to test vandalism and theft deterrent measures. All schools will receive the new equipment later this spring and during the summer.

"We've seen property damage related to theft and vandalism where surveillance cameras would have helped us both prevent and investigate these incidents," said Dr. Cindy Bateman, LSWHS principal.

All cameras operate through a web-based, password-protected system and may be accessed by school staff and law-enforcement officials on their computers. The R-7 School District will be bidding the surveillance project after the first of the year, and the Board of Education is expected to take action on the bid award during February.

The surveillance systems are part of a comprehensive emphasis on safety and security throughout the school district. Other examples include school resource officers assigned to all secondary schools, school safety drills, regularly updated emergency operations plans for the district and each school and a close working relationship with officials from local law enforcement and fire/rescue agencies.

(Posted-January 4, 2010)

Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education approves no-tax-increase bond issue for April 6 ballot
Ballot issue designed to benefit students, improve existing facilities

The Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education unanimously approved a citizens' recommendation for an April no-tax-increase bond issue at the Board's Dec. 17 meeting. The recommendation came from the R-7 Citizens' Advisory Committee, a broad-based community group, after a comprehensive study that included a community survey.

The $16 million no-tax-increase bond issue will appear on the April 6 school and municipal ballot and requires a four-sevenths majority for approval. To view an R-7 informational web page about the bond issue, visit http://www.leesummit.k12.mo.us/districtinfo/election2010.htm.

According to CAC presenters at the November Board of Education meeting, the group prioritized a number of projects that will positively impact each student enrolled in the R-7 School District. The 14 projects selected include improvements at a number of R-7 schools, technology enhancements, energy-saving upgrades, new school buses and funds to purchase land for a future school site. CAC members emphasized that the comprehensive list of projects is designed to address facility needs at existing schools while benefitting students throughout the school district.

As part of the Citizens' Advisory Committee study, the group evaluated results from a fall random telephone survey, funded by Piper Jaffray. The survey, which included approximately 400 residents, included general opinion trends about the school district and about proposed bond-issue projects. A total of 80 percent of those surveyed "strongly favored" or "favored" the bond issue after learning of potential components and the no-tax-increase aspect.

Projects recommended for inclusion in the April 6 no-tax-increase bond issue are:

A second-phase remodeling project at Hazel Grove Elementary to complete first-phase improvements funded through a voter-approved 2008 no-tax-increase bond issue. Work would include construction of a first-grade classroom, art room and music room; renovations to the office area, focus room and staff work room; new public restrooms; and new storage areas.
The addition of a new auxiliary gymnasium at Bernard Campbell Middle School. The school's second gymnasium, this addition would serve physical-education classes, school athletic teams and activities. This project would provide parity among all three middle schools since both other schools have two gymnasiums.
A remodeling project at Pleasant Lea Middle School to improve spaces for the school's teacher planning center and student guidance area.
Technology improvements to address instructional and operational technology needs, laptop and desktop replacement, network infrastructure, security and storage, and emerging technology initiatives in the areas of student instruction.
Resurfacing of all three R-7 middle-school tracks to serve physical-education classes, athletic teams and community walkers and runners.
Construction of two unlighted, multi-use women's softball fields at Lee's Summit North High School that would serve physical-education classes and athletic teams, eliminating team travel to Legacy Park for practices and home games.
A Lee's Summit High School multi-use physical-education/activity/athletic project that would remodel the school's existing spaces for wrestling, athletic training, mechanical and robotics team activities while constructing an approximately 7,700-square-foot new building. The new building would serve men's and women's programs and include restrooms, a weight training/strength-conditioning area, locker rooms, offices and storage areas.
Remodeling of the area currently used by Lee's Summit High School wrestlers to create a district-wide robotics center. This project would be made possible by the addition planned for the LSHS physical-education/activity/athletic facility listed above. R-7 high schools' robotics teams would use the remodeled space, allowing them to share materials, tools and shop facilities.
Renovation of existing tennis courts at all three high schools that would upgrade court surfaces and serve physical-education classes, athletic teams and community members.
Replacement of the existing grass turf at all three high schools' stadiums with multi-use, all-weather artificial turf to serve physical-education classes, high-school and middle-school football and soccer teams and high school marching bands, drumlines, cheerleaders, flag and dance teams. Community organizations would also have the opportunity to use the artificial turf fields. The project would eliminate the need for rescheduling and relocation of R-7 stadium events due to weather-related challenges while providing safe and dry fields for physical-education and extra-curricular activities. It would also offer a partial operation and maintenance cost savings payback over the life of the turf while bringing the district's stadiums in line with artificial-turf stadiums at the majority of metro-area high schools.
Funds to go toward the sixth phase of the district's ongoing performance contracting energy-conservation efforts, including upgrades to lighting; heating, ventilation and cooling equipment and controls; water-use equipment; high-efficiency boilers and chillers; and irrigation systems.
Money earmarked for a number of smaller capital improvements at schools across the district in areas such as flooring renovations, painting, paving, roofing and general maintenance.
Funding for new school buses and improvements to the existing bus parking area.
Money designated for the purchase of approximately 35 to 40 acres for a future R-7 middle school to meet growth needs in the years to come.

During comprehensive discussions by the Citizens' Advisory Committee members, the group prioritized projects selected for the $16 million bond issue from initial presentations totaling close to $20 million. Group members determined that funds initially designated for the purchase of land for a fourth high school site could be deferred for a future bond issue based on enrollment growth and existing student needs. Initial presentations also included the sixth phase of energy-saving performance contracting totaling $750,000, and committee members recommended that this amount be reduced to $250,000. Elimination of the funds earmarked for land for the future fourth high school site and reduction of the amount requested for energy-saving efforts allowed the Citizens' Advisory Committee to make the recommendation for the $16 million bond issue while staying within restrictions for a no-tax-increase issue.

The Lee's Summit R-7 Citizens' Advisory Committee was originally established in 1952 and serves as an advisory council organized to make recommendations to the Board of Education. The approximately 40-member group includes parents and non-parents as well as representatives from the R-7 Board of Education, district staff, PTA, the Lee's Summit Educational Foundation, Economic Development Council, Chamber of Commerce, higher education, health care and small business.

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District continues to be among Missouri's fastest growing districts although enrollment growth has slowed due to the struggling economy in the last couple of years. Since 1990, the district has gained an annual average of 430 new students, reaching 17,238 students in kindergarten through 12th grade this year.

For more information about the Citizens' Advisory Committee recommendation, visit the district's Board of Education meeting website at http://www.boarddocs.com/mo/lsr7sd/Board.nsf/Public?OpenFrameSet and select the Nov. 19 meeting and then "Presentations/recognitions."

(Posted-December 18, 2009)

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District earns state’s
Distinction in Performance Award for ninth year in a row
Local district is among handful statewide scoring “perfect 100”
on criteria all nine years award has been offered

The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District was one of 18 metropolitan-area school districts to earn Missouri’s coveted Distinction in Performance Award this year, according to a Dec. 17 announcement from state education officials. The award honors districts for academic achievement and progress during the 2008-09 school year.

This is the ninth year in a row that the R-7 School District has received the Distinction in Performance Award, which has been offered by the state for just nine years. More remarkably, the Lee's Summit School district is one of just a handful of Missouri public school districts to have earned the Distinction in Performance Award with a perfect score for all nine years.

"Missouri is recognized nationwide for its high standards for academic performance," said Dr. David McGehee, R-7 School District superintendent. "We are especially pleased to continue to receive this honor from our state and to meet and exceed the requirements for this award year after year. It is definitely a tribute to our staff members, families and community."

This state-wide honor follows several national awards the district has earned during 2009. Last spring, the R-7 School District captured the national Magna award for its 21st Century Learning program. In addition, the district's Nutrition Services Department was named District of the Year in School Nutrition last July by the national School Nutrition Association.

A total of 319 Missouri districts will receive the Distinction in Performance award, based on criteria set by the State Board of Education. The annual recognition is based on school districts’ performance on Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) test scores, ACT college-entrance test scores, attendance and dropout rates and other measures of academic performance during the 2008-09 school year.

To qualify for the recognition this year, K-12 districts had to meet 13 of 14 standards, including all of the standards that are based on Missouri Assessment Program test scores. The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District met and exceeded this goal, meeting 14 of the 14 standards and scoring a perfect 100 points for the ninth consecutive year.

Under the state’s accreditation process, school districts are formally evaluated once every five years, according to State Board of Education standards. The Distinction in Performance award is based on the same performance criteria that are included in the accreditation review process, but the award provides an annual confirmation and recognition of a district's consistent performance.

The Distinction in Performance Award is intended to provide an incentive for districts to focus on continuously improving academic achievement in all of the areas covered by the accreditation standards.

State education officials will formally recognize each of the award-winning school districts later this school year.

(Posted-December 17, 2009)

LSHS earns national honor from 'U.S. News
and World Report' for second year in a row

For the second year in a row, Lee's Summit High School was among 41 high schools in Missouri to be included in U.S. News and World Report's annual "America's Best High Schools" ranking this month. Lee's Summit High School is also one of just three Kansas City metropolitan-area high schools to be recognized through the national magazine.

This is the third year that the magazine has developed this ranking to determine which high schools are most successful. U.S. News and World Report worked with School Evaluation Services, an education data research business run by Standard and Poor's, to develop a "comprehensive methodology that judges how well high schools serve all their students, not just those who are college bound."

A total of 1,750 high schools across the United States earned either Gold, Silver or Bronze Medals. LSHS earned a Bronze Medal, the same honor earned by the school last year. Lee's Summit North High School also earned the Bronze Medal three years ago. Only 8.4 percent of the eligible schools earned a Bronze or Silver Medal in Missouri. Other metropolitan-area schools earning recognition through the national magazine were Lincoln College Preparatory Academy in Kansas City, Mo., and Sumner Academy in Kansas City, Kan.

According to U.S. News and World Report, School Evaluation Services analyzed 18,743 public high schools in 49 states. The evaluation measured how each school's students performed on state proficiency tests, examined how well each school's disadvantaged students did and looked at whether the school was successful in providing college-level coursework.

(Posted-December 10, 2009)

Lee’s Summit Elementary Named top recycling school in
R-7 School District for 2008-2009 year

Lee's Summit Elementary School was recognized Nov. 13 by Deffenbaugh Industries as the Lee's Summit R-7 School District's top recycling school for 2008-09. The local school recycled 10,955 pounds of material during the second quarter of the year, the highest total in the district on a per-student basis.

In all, the Lee's Summit R-7 School District recycled 413,986 pounds of material during that same period. During a Nov. 13 assembly, Deffenbaugh Industries presented a banner to Lee’s Summit Elementary principal Katie Collier. The presentation was also in celebration of America Recycles Day.

Each student received a One Earth One Chance bookmark. The bookmarks were created exclusively for Lee’s Summit Elementary and were printed on recycled paper.

“We’re looking forward to congratulating the students, staff and neighbors of Lee’s Summit Elementary,” Deffenbaugh Senior Vice President Tom Coffman said just before the presentation. “It’s encouraging to see the community embrace the school recycling program, and the whole district should be proud of their results. They diverted an impressive amount of material from local landfills. ”

The Lee’s Summit R-7 School District adopted Deffenbaugh’s One Earth One Chance program last April. The program encourages students and staff to recycle paper, plastic, aluminum and cardboard in containers placed at each district facility. The containers also provide a popular and convenient recycling option for the community.

(Posted-November 24, 2009)

John Faulkenberry selected as president of Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals

Dr. John Faulkenberry, principal at Lee's Summit High School, was recently selected as president of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. The state-wide association includes more than 1,200 members from high schools across Missouri.

Dr. Faulkenberry has been an educator for 20 years, including 10 as a social studies teacher at Blue Springs High School, Lee's Summit High School and Lee's Summit North High School; four years as an assistant principal at Lee's Summit North High School; and six years as principal of Lee's Summit High School. Within the R-7 School District, Dr. Faulkenberry has earned the district's Learning for Life Award and the LSNHS Silver Shoe Award.

He has served as a Board member for both the Greater Kansas City Missouri Principal's Association and the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. In addition, he was named 2008 Missouri High School Principal of the Year by the state association and received the Missouri Association of School Librarians Service Award for School Administrators that same year. In the community, Dr. Faulkenberry is an active member of the Lee's Summit Optimist Club, previously serving as president and receiving the Optimist of the Year Award two times.

(Posted-November 24, 2009)

Lynn Lang named KC suburban area's Distinguished Principal

Lynn Lang, principal at Cedar Creek Elementary School, was recently named Distinguished Principal by the Kansas City Suburban Elementary Principal's Association for 2009-10. Mrs. Lang is among approximately 12 principals across the state competing for Missouri Distinguished Principal through the Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals.

Mrs. Lang has served as Cedar Creek principal since 2000 and previously worked as an elementary principal and assistant director of student learning in Turner, Kan.; and as an elementary teacher in the North Kansas City School District and in Emporia, Kan. She has worked in education for 34 years.

A Lee's Summit resident, Mrs. Lang earned her bachelor's degree from Wichita State University, her master's degree from Emporia State University and her specialist's degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. She is a former president of the Kansas City Network of Women Administrators and is also a member of the National and Missouri Associations of Elementary School Principals, the Kansas City Suburban Elementary Principal's Association and the R-7 Professional Development Committee.

While working in North Kansas City, Mrs. Lang received the North Kansas City Teacher of Distinction Award and was a nominee for the Kansas City High Five Award through that district. She was also a nominee for Kansas Teacher of the Year and was named an Emporia Master Teacher as well as the Kansas Jaycees Outstanding Young Educator for 1982.

The Missouri Distinguished Principal will be named next spring at a statewide conference.

(Posted-November 10, 2009)

Jane Hentzler featured in national magazine profile of award-winning school nutrition directors

Jane Hentzler, Lee's Summit R-7 School District Nutrition Services director, was recently featured in a national magazine. The R-7 Nutrition Services Department was named the School Nutrition Association District of the Year for 2009, an award presented to one program throughout the nation.

The two-page article appeared in the October issue of School Nutrition, which is distributed to school districts throughout the nation. Ms. Hentzler, a registered dietitian who has served as director of the R-7 Nutrition Services Department since 1990, was named Missouri Food Service Director of the Year for 2008-09 and SNA Midwest Region Director of the Year during spring 2009.

The magazine article profiled both Ms. Hentzler and the award-winning local program, especially highlighting the R-7 Nutrition Services focus on customer service and active student participation.

(Posted-November 2, 2009)

Lee's Summit R-7 schools take a leading role in career and technical education

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District will make education news during November by launching an initiative to broaden career development. The program, Missouri Connections, will provide all students with access to Internet-based career exploration and planning. Students formerly completed a four-year plan through a hard-copy document. For the first time this year, all eighth-graders will complete a Personal Plan of Study through Missouri Connections.

Missouri Connections is an online career assessment tool providing a comprehensive, research-based approach to career exploration, planning, and development. The program is brief, user-friendly with highly reliable results based on extensive research. Missouri Connections relates the results of interests, skills and work values assessments to occupational information. The system opens the door to continued exploration with direct links to job opportunities, post-secondary options, scholarship and financial aid information, and additional career development resources.

The format was selected to support technology-based learning in R-7 schools and enhance student computer proficiency. Online technology allows students to review their results immediately and involve their parents easily by accessing their career portfolio and assessment results at any time and from any Internet connection.

Schools may access aggregate results to assist course selection and aid curriculum planning. This information will allow schools to monitor educational transitions and prepare students for post-high school education and employment.

To learn more about this initiative, visit the Focused Learning webpage, http://cesttf.leesummit.k12.mo.us/focusedlearning.html or contact Tawni Boman, R-7 career exploration instructor at (816) 986-1125, tawni.boman@leesummit.k12.mo.us.

(Posted-October 30, 2009)

Lee's Summit R-7 School District featured in national magazine
article about districts excelling in internationally oriented programs

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District was featured in the September issue of District Administration, a national magazine for school district administrators. The article featured several districts across the United States that are offering expanded international programs.

The article was headlined "Going Global: As the 21st-Century world gets flatter, districts across the United States are building more internationally oriented curricula and programs." It included information about the growing movement among school districts to include the international world in American education, and the positive reaction these districts are receiving from parents, businesspersons and others.

The national magazine article includes quotes from Dr. David McGehee, Lee's Summit R-7 superintendent, and Dr. Dan Lumley, who recently retired from the district after serving as curriculum director.

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District also received national attention in this area last spring when it was recognized as a first-place winner in the American School Board Journal's Magna Awards program for the R-7 “21st Century Learning” program. Students learn 21st Century skills through several integrated initiatives: the International Baccalaureate high school program; foreign language course offerings at the secondary level, including Spanish, French, German and Chinese; a modern global issues course that is a graduation requirement; an international travel exchange program with Japan, China, France, Italy, Mexico, and Germany; and the Summit International Studies Academy, which simulates a business environment. The district was also the first public school district in Missouri to offer Chinese.

To read the complete "Going Global" article in District Administration, visit http://www.districtadministration.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=2120.

(Posted-October 28, 2009)

Jeffrey Meisenheimer of Lee's Summit High School
named Missouri Assistant Principal of the Year

Jeffrey Meisenheimer, assistant principal at Lee's Summit High School, was selected as the Missouri Assistant Principal of the Year as part of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP)/Virco Assistant Principal of the Year Program. He was selected based upon the impact he makes in providing collaborative leadership; his involvement in curriculum, instruction and assessment; and in personalizing education for students at Lee's Summit High School.

Mr. Meisenheimer will be honored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP) at their spring conference on March 29. Jim King, MASSP executive director, said, "The position of assistant principal is a vital member of the school's administrative team. The assistant principal is expected to be everything to everybody. The assistant principal is expected to be at all activities and solve everyone's problems. The assistant principal is involved with evaluating teachers as well as working with data to improve curriculum and instruction. Many individuals serve in the role of assistant principal as a career and are dedicated to the students and communities they serve."

Dr. John Faulkenberry, LSHS principal, added, "A key role for any assistant principal is effectively managing students. Working one-on-one with students may be Jeff’s greatest attribute. Besides treating each student with patience and dignity, Jeff seeks out his most difficult students for the purpose of establishing a relationship that might help change each one's respective attitude towards school. I have been amazed at the deep relationships he has put in place with difficult kids. Although he often makes tough decisions, Jeff's demeanor never makes the situation more difficult. In fact, it is often the existing relationship with a parent that makes the decision more palatable."

Mr. Meisenheimer earned his bachelor's degree in business education in 1994 at the University of Missouri-Columbia, a master's degree in educational administration in 2000 and a specialist degree in educational administration in 2006 at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

He previously taught and served as an assistant principal at Ruskin High School in Hickman Mills School District prior to moving to his current position as at Lee's Summit High School in 2004. He is involved in civic activities, including Habitat for Humanity, Masonic Lodge of Lee's Summit and Chapman, Kan., tornado relief. Mr. Meisenheimer has also presented at several conferences and has participated in a variety of professional development opportunities.

(Posted-October 9, 2009)

LSHS Project Grad initiates car raffle fundraiser

Lee's Summit High School recently began selling tickets for the school's 2010 Project Grad car raffle. Project Grad is an all-night celebration for high-school seniors, held just after graduation and paid for primarily through fundraisers.

Tickets for the drawing are $20 each or six for $100. Those participating in the drawing have the opportunity to win an automobile from Don Kahan Chevrolet in Lee's Summit.

LSHS parent volunteers will be selling tickets at selected varsity home game events. The automobile featured in the drawing will be at a number of the events, so watch for the car if you want to purchase tickets.

The drawing will be held in spring 2010. For more information, please call (816) 726-3171.

(Posted-September 30, 2009)

R-7 School District students named National Merit
Scholarship Corporation commended students

Fifteen Lee’s Summit R-7 School District seniors were recently named National Merit Scholarship Corporation commended students through the national program.

Students recognized are Michael Bushur, Lee's Summit High School; Eric Armstrong, Kent Doan, Drake Duckworth, Tyler Hein, Jacob Hoyt, Anna Schuler, Chase Wheaton-Werle and Tabor Zimmer, all Lee's Summit North High School; and Nico Burasco, Michael Creech, Tyler Dennis, Shouyi Liu, Sally Rymer and Kinzie Zitzman, all Lee's Summit West High School.

Letters of commendation from the school and National Merit Scholarship Corporation, which conducts the program, are presented to these academically talented seniors. About 34,000 commended students throughout the nation are being recognized for their exceptional academic promise. Although they will not continue in the 2010 competition for Merit Scholarship awards, commended students placed among the top 5 percent of more than 1.5 million students who entered the 2010 competition by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test.

Founded in 1955 to conduct the annual Merit Scholarship competition, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a privately financed, not-for-profit corporation that operates without government assistance. The organization announced its semifinalists last month, and commended students were just recently named.

(Posted-September 29, 2009)

Six R-7 School District students named
National Merit Scholarship Corporation semifinalists

Six Lee’s Summit R-7 School District seniors were recently named National Merit Scholarship Corporation semifinalists through the national program. Students recognized are Emily Griffith, Lee's Summit High School; Kaedi Love, Lee's Summit North High School; and Mavis Brefo, Lindsey Jackson, Joe Kayser and Mark Spatz, Lee's Summit West High School.

Recognized students have the opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 8,200 National Merit Scholarship Awards, worth close to $33 million, to be offered next spring. There are approximately 16,000 semifinalists throughout the United States.

Emily Griffith is the daughter of Scott Griffith and Lynn Griffith. At Lee's Summit High School, she is a member of the Marching Band, Sounds of Summit chamber choir, Concert Choir and National Honor Society. She is also involved in the Kansas City Youth Symphony.

Kaedi Love is the daughter of Patricia Dean-Love and Robert Love. At Lee's Summit North High School, she is involved in theatre (both performing and working as a technician), Concert Choir and National Honor Society.

Mavis Brefo is the daughter of Stephen and Elena Brefo. At Lee's Summit West High School, she is on the varsity soccer team, is lead critic for CAPPIES theatre review program and is a member of Harmony Council, Titan Smart and National Honor Society.

Lindsey Jackson is the daughter of Brian and Carolyn Jackson. At LSWHS, she is involved in National Honor Society, the Freshman Mentor Program, Concert Chorale and Una Voce chamber choir.

Joe Kayser is the son of Allan Kayser and Lori Kayser. At LSWHS, he has participated in football and baseball and participates at Gautreaux's National Martial Arts Training Center in Blue Springs. Joe also plays drums in a rock/metal band.

Mark Spatz is the son of Jeff and Nancy Spatz. At LSWHS, he is involved in the FIRST Robotics Team, was in charge of the team's programming and electronics his sophomore and junior years and is technical manager this year.

Founded in 1955 to conduct the annual Merit Scholarship competition, the National Merit Scholarship Corporation is a privately financed, not-for-profit corporation that operates without government assistance. Scholarships awarded through the program are underwritten by nearly 500 independent sponsor organizations and institutions as well as with the corporation’s own funds.

Nearly 1.4 million students throughout the United States entered the 2010 Merit Program as juniors by taking the preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which serves as an initial screen of program entrants. Semifinalists will be notified of their finalist standing in spring 2010.

(Posted-September 16, 2009)

Susanne Mitko of Lee's Summit R-7 School District
is named Missouri Teacher of the Year for 2009-10
Campbell Middle School educator honored
Sept. 1 during surprise assembly at her school

Susanne Mitko, a Lee's Summit R-7 School District teacher who "brings the world to her students" and helps them connect world history to their own lives, has been selected as Missouri Teacher of the Year, according to a Sept. 1 announcement by state education officials.

Ms. Mitko is beginning her sixth year of teaching seventh-grade social studies at Bernard Campbell Middle School and has taught for a total of 18 years. She was recognized Sept. 1 during a surprise assembly for students and staff members at her school.

She was selected Aug. 31 after a personal interview with a nine-member selection committee appointed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Last spring, Ms. Mitko was named Lee's Summit R-7 Teacher of the Year through a process involving the R-7 School District and Lee's Summit Chamber of Commerce.

Ms. Mitko currently teaches the history of the Eastern Hemisphere, from Stone Age time to AD 1500, with a special emphasis on world religions and cultures. She works with a wide range of students, from those with special needs to those preparing for International Baccalaureate studies.

"I am part salesman, part thespian and part cheerleader as I strive to spark my students' interests and engage them in the world. Social studies is the vehicle through which I teach children about our world and prepare them for their futures," she wrote in her Teacher of the Year application.

She shares her personal travel experiences with students – including a trip to China – and helps them gain perspective from other cultures. She uses current issues and world events to help students appreciate the impact of geography, culture and politics on history.

Ms. Mitko also likes to grab students' interest with real-world problems and issues. For example, she described the activities in her recent "Heroes" project: "Students research a problem in Sub-Saharan Africa, find examples of individuals making a difference and then develop a call to action for the school community. Students not only learn about a problem, but create solutions and become more empowered by their positive impact on the situation."

Ms. Mitko tutors students in after-school help sessions, and she mentors new and aspiring teachers. She earned her master’s degree at Avila University in Kansas City and has maintained her relationship with Avila as an adjunct instructor for both graduate and undergraduate students.

Ms. Mitko's colleagues describe her as a creative instructor who constantly finds imaginative ways to spark her students' interest in learning ancient history – and who takes time to learn each of her student’s unique needs and strengths.

Her principal, Dr. Vicki Porter, observed that Ms. Mitko "sets clear goals, communicates high expectations, employs positive reinforcement, demonstrates enthusiasm, personalizes instruction and encourages student response. Susanne turns routine classroom topics into exciting adventures."

Before joining the Lee's Summit School District, Ms. Mitko taught at Father Flanagan’s Boys' Town in Omaha, Neb., for one year and at the Visitation School in Kansas City for 12 years.

She began college with the goal of becoming a lawyer, but shifted direction and chose to become a teacher. Ms. Mitko earned a bachelor's degree and an education degree at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

The State Board of Education will honor Ms. Mitko and the five state finalists in the Teacher of the Year program at a Nov. 16 banquet in Jefferson City. Each teacher will receive cash awards and other prizes.

The Missouri Teacher of the Year program is conducted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education with major funding provided by the Boeing Company, St. Louis. Ms. Mitko automatically becomes Missouri’s candidate for the National Teacher of the Year program, sponsored by the Council of Chief State School Officers.

(Posted-September 1, 2009)

R-7 School District ACT college-entrance exams are above
state and national averages, among highest in metro area

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District students taking the ACT college-entrance test scored above state and national averages, according to results recently released from the 2008-09 school year.

R-7 students averaged a 23.3 on the composite score, compared to 21.6 for the Missouri average and 21.1 for the national average. The Lee’s Summit R-7 composite score was also one of the highest among Kansas City metropolitan area high schools. In addition, the R-7 composite score increased from 22.9 in the 2007-08 year.

A total of 886 Lee’s Summit R-7 students took the ACT test last school year, a record number for the school district. This is 72 percent of the 2009 graduating class of all three R-7 high schools combined. Total 2009 graduates from the three schools was approximately 1,225.

In specific subject areas, Lee's Summit R-7 School District students also scored above the state and national averages. These subject-areas are English, mathematics, reading and science.

The ACT is America's most widely accepted college entrance exam. It assesses high school students' general educational development and their ability to complete college-level work. The multiple-choice tests cover four skill areas: English, mathematics, reading and science. The writing test measures skill in planning and writing a short essay.

(Posted-August 19, 2009)

R-7 School District students score above
state average on Missouri Assessment Program

Lee's Summit R-7 School District students scored above the state average in all grade levels in math, communication arts and science on the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests this year. R-7 students take the math, communication arts and science MAP tests each spring, and the 2009 results were released by the state in early August.

The students' average scores are based on the percentage of students scoring in the top two achievement levels. The 2009 MAP test results continue a tradition of R-7 School District student success. The local district has won Missouri's Distinction in Performance Award, the state's highest recognition for academic achievement, for the past eight years. The R-7 School District is also among just a handful of districts in the state to earn a perfect score on criteria for this award each year for the last eight years.

R-7 staff members are reviewing the MAP test data recently released by the state. District staff members examine the data, work to determine which strategies have been effective and where improvement can be made. Teachers and principals conduct this extensive analysis of the MAP scores as part of annual district and school plans emphasizing success for each student. Monitoring of student progress continues throughout the school year.

The MAP test scores and analysis help school districts and individual schools evaluate their instructional programs as well as student progress. MAP test scores are one of many evaluation tools used by the R-7 School District to continually improve instruction and student achievement.

(Posted-August 17, 2009)

Lee's Summit OfficeMax partners with R-7 School District
to provide discounted school supplies to local families

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District is partnering with local OfficeMax stores to provide discounted school and office supplies to district employees and families. As part of a three-tiered savings program, the R-7 School District has negotiated discounted prices for school and office supplies.

Through the corporate partnership program, the R-7 School District will receive both the discounted supplies as well as a rebate check at the end of the calendar year based on gross sales receipts. R-7 employees are able to purchase the supplies at this same discount throughout the year if they show an OfficeMax discount card available through their schools.

These same discounts will be offered to R-7 students and their parents throughout the school year. Parents and students seeking this discount should bring in a report card from the previous or current school year or simply show a driver's license or other identification indicating an address within Lee's Summit R-7. No minimum purchase is required to obtain the discount.

Families can earn additional savings during the Missouri and Lee's Summit sales-tax holiday weekend, scheduled Aug. 7 through 9. Selected school supplies, clothing and computer items are eligible for the sales-tax holiday.

(Posted-July 30, 2009)

Lee's Summit R-7 families invited to use Atomic Learning web-based software training
Free technology-training resource includes information on computer and Internet safety

Lee's Summit R-7 School District students, parents and staff members have the opportunity to receive free web-based technology training through a program known as Atomic Learning.

During the 2008-09 year, the R-7 School District joined forces with Atomic Learning, a nationally recognized provider of web-based software training, to offer this service to all R-7 staff members, students and parents. Atomic Learning provides innovative training tutorials on more than 110 of the most commonly used software applications and other technology resources. The service is available 24 hours each day, seven days a week through the Internet.

The web-based training program helps school employees, students and the students' families quickly and easily learn about technology whenever and wherever they like. Atomic Learning can assist in classroom training, in staff development and for individuals learning at their own pace.

Atomic Learning also includes a number of components designed to help parents keep their children safe online while avoiding computer viruses and other computer security problems. The online resource uses an innovative approach to software training that focuses on answering common questions encountered when learning and using software. The Atomic Learning library includes short, step-by-step instructions on applications such as Microsoft Office, Adobe products, Texas Instruments calculators and new technology such as blogging, to name just a few examples. Parents may also use the resource to help their child with home work on the computer.

Atomic Learning is available on school district computers. Students and their families are provided with login information by their schools so they can access the program on their home computers. There is no charge for R-7 employees, students and district families to access the program from their personal computers, although they will need to know their user name and password. If you are an R-7 parent interested in accessing this web-based training program, please contact your child's school for login information.

For more information about Atomic Learning, visit the company's website at www.AtomicLearning.com.

(Posted-July 29, 2009)

Article about R-7 School District employability transcripts published in national magazine

An article focusing on the Lee's Summit R-7 School District's employability transcripts program was published in the May issue of "Connections," a magazine for the National Career Pathways Network. The article is written by Tawni Boman, R-7 career exploration instructor, and Elaine Metcalf, R-7 career coordinator.

Employability transcripts were developed by the R-7 School District during the 2008-09 school year and are designed to help high-school students compete for jobs, apply for scholarships and prepare for the transition from school to career.

The new transcripts are available for students who are graduating in May 2011 and beyond. Sophomores and freshmen may request the transcripts by completing a form at their high school's guidance office.

The new program was developed as part of the district's emphasis on connecting all students to their future. The high schools will also continue to offer academic transcripts, which are used when students apply to colleges and universities.

The employability transcripts emphasize career preparedness through selection of an area of focus, dependability through record of attendance in school, career readiness academic skills through ACT WorkKeys scores, supervised internship programs and technical skill attainment through national certifications.

The national publication article focused on the R-7 School District's efforts to engage future workers during this challenging economic time. Also included was information about the district's focused learning efforts from eighth grade through senior year. The article is available at http://www.cordonline.net/connections/19_3/19_3_boman_transcripts.htm.

(Posted-June 29, 2009)

Lee's Summit R-7 Board of Education selected for MSBA 2009 Education Leadership Team

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District Board of Education was recently selected for the Missouri School Boards' Association (MSBA) 2009 Education Leadership Team. This prestigious award went to just 10 of Missouri's 523 public school districts this year.

The Education Leadership Team Award is based on school boards' outstanding commitment to ongoing professional development, to regional and statewide leadership, to active participation in legislative advocacy for public schools and to the successful implementation of both compliant and transformative education policy, according to an MSBA spokesperson.

The 10 recognized school districts will be formally identified and celebrated at the MSBA Leadership Summit in Columbia during June.

(Posted-June 5, 2009)

R-7 Program Proactively Addresses Future
Workforce Shortages, Impacts Economic Development
The following column is from Teresa Evans of the
Lee's Summit Economic Development Council

I recently participated in a webinar that brought to light some startling statistics about the future of our labor force. With high school drop-out rates on the rise — about 30% nationwide — coupled with an anticipated severe workforce shortage as baby boomers retire, now is the time to engage our future workers. We must encourage high school students to finish their education and explore various career paths, filling the economic development pipeline with educated, skilled workers to fill quality, high-paying jobs in industries like health care, manufacturing, technology and engineering with companies right here in Lee’s Summit.

Fortunately, the Lee’s Summit R-7 School District already has a program in place to proactively address future workforce shortages: the Career Pathways Advisory Team. The Career Pathways Advisory Team connects students and educators with industry experts, creating an ongoing dialogue to discuss industry trends and necessary training and skills to address long-term labor needs. The program enhances the classroom connection by fostering a relationship with local businesses to augment the students’ and teachers’ knowledge in the fields of Arts and Communication; Business, Management and Technology; Health Services; Human Services; Science, Technology, Engineering and Math and Natural Resources.

Indicative of the strong public-private partnership between R-7 and the Lee’s Summit Economic Development Council (LSEDC), for the past year or so, LSEDC has been a resource for the Career Pathways Advisory Team, helping connect Lee’s Summit business leaders and industry experts to the program. The relationship that an educated workforce has on economic development and a community’s ability to attract and retain quality jobs is a critical one, so LSEDC was more than willing to help the program by asking investor companies to participate in connecting kids and curriculum to the business community. Some LSEDC investors who have committed their time to sharing knowledge and skills with the Career Pathways Advisory Team include Meyer Companies, DVA Enterprises, ViraCor Laboratories, Plastic Enterprises, Hollis & Miller, Affinis, Lee’s Summit Medical Center, St. Luke’s East and Paradise Park.

Lee’s Summit is fortunate to have an outstanding school district with the initiative and foresight to develop a program like the Career Pathways Advisory Team to head off future workforce shortages in our community. With 93.6% of adults high school educated and 46.2% of the labor force having a post-high school degree, the Lee’s Summit R-7 and Blue Springs R-4 School Districts are doing their part to make Lee’s Summit one of the smartest communities in Eastern Jackson County. An educated, skilled workforce that is ready for the future and sustainable business feeds directly into the LSEDC’s efforts to attract and retain quality, high paying jobs to Lee’s Summit.

For more information about the Career Pathways Advisory Team, contact Elaine Metcalf, Career Education Coordinator at 816-986-1084 or elaine.metcalf@leesummit.k12.mo.us.

(Posted-April 6, 2009)

R-7 School District among top two school districts on state's "top 10" schools lists
District has state's second-highest number of schools appearing on list

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District recently captured a prestigious honor as part of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) Highest-Performing Schools "top 10" lists. Among the statewide lists, Lee's Summit R-7 schools appear a total of 21 times, which rank schools based on their scores on the spring 2008 Missouri academic achievement tests.

This was the second-highest number of listings for any school district in the state. The R-7 School District also had significantly more appearances on the top 10 lists than any other Kansas City metropolitan-area school district.

Lee's Summit R-7 schools making the top 10 lists included Cedar Creek Elementary with four appearances, including fourth-grade communications arts and math and sixth-grade communications arts and math; Underwood Elementary with four appearances, including fourth-grade communications arts and math and sixth-grade communications arts and math; Hazel Grove Elementary in both sixth-grade communications arts and math; Longview Farm Elementary in both sixth-grade communications arts and math; Summit Pointe Elementary in both sixth-grade communications arts and math; Woodland Elementary in both sixth-grade communications arts and math; Highland Park Elementary in sixth-grade math; Hawthorn Hill Elementary in sixth-grade math; Lee's Summit High School in both 11th-grade communications arts and 10th-grade math; and Lee's Summit North High School in 10th-grade math.

The top 10 lists include a category for each grade level tested in each of the three required subject areas – communication arts, math and science. Top 10 lists are further divided into categories of schools with less than 250 students, schools with enrollments ranging from 250 to 500 and schools with more than 500 students. These lists were based on the percent of students scoring at the "proficient" and "advanced" levels, the top two levels on the MAP test.

(Posted-March 26, 2009)

Lee’s Summit R-7 School District wins
first place honors in Magna Awards program

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District has been selected as a first-place winner in the American School Board Journal’s 15th annual Magna Awards program.

The district was recognized in the 5,000 to 20,000 enrollment category for its “21st Century Learning” program. Students learn 21st Century skills through several integrated initiatives: the International Baccalaureate high school program; foreign language course offerings in middle and high school, including Spanish, French, German and Chinese; a modern global issues course that is a graduation requirement; an international travel exchange program with Japan, China, France, Italy, Mexico, and Germany; and the Summit International Studies Academy, which simulates a business environment. The district was the first public school district in Missouri to offer Chinese, which is currently taught by two visiting teachers.

Lee’s Summit R-7 is a two-time Magna Award winner, also earning top honors in 2008 for Great Beginnings Early Education Center.

Indiana’s Evansville Vanderburgh School Corporation, Oregon’s Springfield Public Schools, and Washington’s Bridgeport School District earned grand prize honors in this year’s contest, which is presented with the support of Sodexo School Services. All of the winning districts will be recognized at the National School Boards Association’s annual conference in April in San Diego.

The Magna Awards recognize districts across the country for outstanding programs that advance student learning and encourage community involvement in schools. This year’s three grand-prize, 15 first-place, and 15 honorable-mention winners were selected based on three enrollment categories: less than 5,000 students, 5,000 to 20,000, and 20,000 and above.

“As schools face unprecedented challenges in today’s difficult economy, the Magna Awards are an opportunity to showcase innovation and the bold steps taken by districts every day,” said Marilee Rist, ASBJ’s publisher and associate executive director of the National School Boards Association (NSBA). “This year’s entries reflect the hard work of school boards, superintendents, and staff who strive to meet changing community needs in creative and innovative ways.”

Lorna Donatone, president of Sodexo School Services, said, "Sodexo is proud to support the Magna Awards because they celebrate partnerships that encourage fresh approaches to education. This year's winners inspire others by showing us how school boards and communities can innovate and persevere to advance student learning."

American School Board Journal initiated the Magna Awards in 1995 to recognize school boards for taking bold and innovative steps to improve their educational programs. An independent panel of school board members, administrators, and other educators selected winners from more than 340 submissions. This year’s applicants came from more than 45 states; districts in 22 states were winners or honorable mention recipients.

The 2009 winners are highlighted in a special supplement to the April issue of ASBJ and will be formally recognized on April 6 at the School Leaders Luncheon at the Hilton Bayfront Hotel in San Diego, Calif. The luncheon is part of NSBA’s 69th annual conference scheduled for April 4-7 in San Diego.

American School Board Journal (www.asbj.com) is the award-winning, editorially independent education magazine of NSBA. Founded in 1891, ASBJ covers a broad range of topics pertinent to school governance and management, policy making, student achievement, and the art of school leadership. In addition, regular departments cover education news and trends, school law, research, communications, governance, and school finance issues.

Sodexo, Inc. (www.sodexoUSA.com) is a leading integrated facilities management services company in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, with $7.7 billion (USD) in annual revenue and 120,000 employees. Sodexo serves more than ten million customers daily in corporations, health care, long term care and retirement centers, schools, college campuses, government, and remote sites. Sodexo, Inc., headquartered in Gaithersburg, Md., is a member of Sodexo Group, and funds all administrative costs for the Sodexo Foundation (www.sodexofoundation.org), an independent charitable organization that, since its founding in 1999, has made more than $11 million in grants to fight hunger in America.

Magna Awards website: www.asbj.com/magna

(Posted-March 24, 2009)

Two R-7 students named Achievement Scholarship finalists

Lolita Arrey of Lee's Summit High School and Katherine McClain of Lee's Summit North High School are among approximately 1,300 students recently named finalists in the 45th annual Achievement Scholarship competition, according to officials at the National Achievement Scholarship Program. These scholastically talented high-school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for approximately 800 scholarships worth more than $2.6 million to be awarded this spring.

The National Achievement Program, conducted by National Merit Scholarship Corporation, is a privately financed academic competition that operates without government assistance. It was initiated in 1964 to recognize academically promising black students throughout the nation and to provide scholarships to a substantial number of the most outstanding program participants. To date, over 27,800 young men and women have received Achievement Scholarship awards worth more than $91 million.

All Achievement Scholar awardees will be selected from the finalist group on the basis of their abilities, accomplishments and potential for success in rigorous college studies.

More than 150,000 high-school juniors from throughout the United States requested consideration in the 2009 National Achievement Program when they took the 2007 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists were designated within geographic regions and are the highest-scoring program entrants in the states that make up each region.

(Posted-February 11, 2009)

Summit International Studies Academy provides students
with foundation in business, cultures and languages

Lee's Summit R-7 School District students have the opportunity to focus in international studies, global issues, business and languages thanks to the new Summit International Studies Academy (SISA). The academy is open to qualifying juniors and seniors from all Lee's Summit R-7 high schools. The school operates out of the district's Summit Technology Academy.

The new course, taught by Curt Cook, follows a business model. Students work as members of an intercultural consulting firm and earn "salary points" for the work they perform in class. These points translate into grades, giving students a mock work experience.

"I believe students at SISA are receiving a unique experience that will prepare them for a global economy," Mr. Cook said. "They will leave in May with an appreciation for cultures, people and languages from around the world."

SISA students experience a survey of multiple world cultures, covering all regions of the globe. Each student selects a specific culture to study, examining this culture in depth and becoming an expert in the selected area. The students work individually and in collaborative groups in corporate simulations, learning how to make successful job bids and community presentations as members of an intercultural consulting firm.

Hannah Bruton, a senior from Lee's Summit West High School, appreciates the dual nature of the course. "SISA is the basic joining of creative business and culture in an open-ended world," she said.

Students also enjoy the creative environment of the course. "SISA allows students to expand their cultural horizons in a free-flowing, yet structured environment," said Abigail Cable, a senior from Lee's Summit High School.

Tanja Petrovic, a LSHS senior, agreed, saying that the program provides students with "an out-of-the-box atmosphere."

Language is an important component of SISA. Students are required to have completed at least three years of a foreign language. In addition, students use the interactive Rosetta Stone language software to become well-acquainted with eight to 12 languages.

Summit International Studies Academy operates in a high-tech environment with a paperless classroom, and students can log on to an Internet program to check assignments, work online and collaborate with other students and international experts. They also learn how to operate a number of multimedia software programs as part of their corporate presentations.

Community members have been enthusiastic about the new program and are serving as mentors and experts for the SISA students. Volunteers are needed to make classroom presentations, conduct online critiques of student resumes and other work and to provide students with direction and expertise in business. Plans also call for students to be involved in service learning and community-service projects with area organizations.

Community members interested in serving as a mentor for this program may contact Curt Cook at curt.cook@leesummit.k12.mo.us or 986-1499, extension 7996.

(Posted-October 1, 2008)

R-7 School District initiates online courses to provide additional
opportunities for students, help them meet graduation requirements

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District initiated three new online courses for high school this school year. The classes, which are all graduation requirements, are designed to provide additional learning opportunities for students and also help them meet increasing requirements for graduation.

New online courses offered are modern global issues, health and personal finance. Students will complete the same course curriculum, and all teaching will be conducted online. Students work independently at various times of the day and week, although they must meet regular deadlines and keep up with assignments as they would in other courses.

Each class requires that students attend an orientation session conducted by the online instructor before beginning the course. Students are also required to attend a mandatory, proctored final at the end of each semester course.

High-school students enrolling in the courses should be self-directed, motivated and organized; be comfortable communicating with instructors and other students online; and have access to a computer meeting specific requirements. Those enrolling in the courses were required to complete an application and also meet with their guidance counselor to discuss the course requirements.

The courses, part of a web-based program known as "R7 Online" were developed during the previous school year by R-7 teachers. The classes operate through a software system called Blackboard, designed to facilitate online courses, meetings and discussions.

A total of 61 students from all three R-7 high schools are enrolled in the three courses this semester. This new opportunity has been popular with students seeking to free up their schedule for other courses.

"There are so many other classes offered at school that I would like to take which makes getting all of them in during four years nearly impossible," said Amanda Galey, a Lee's Summit West High School student. "I decided to take as many online courses as possible to free up some time during the school day to take the classes I want to take."

Students are also excited about this new way to complete coursework.

"I chose to take the online class because I needed the credit this year and did not have room for a single class in my daily schedule," said Alexis Messner, a student at Lee's Summit North High School. "I also wanted to try a new type of study."

A major component of the online classes is strict adherence to the district's R7 Online code of conduct, said Dr. Amy Gates, R-7 director of instructional technology. Students commit to follow these rules, including online etiquette (sometimes called "netiquette") that emphasizes use of formal English, avoidance of abbreviations or slang, online respect for others, discussion board manners, proofreading, e-mail formats and plagiarism.

"The students taking these online courses are learning a life skill that will help them in college and in their careers as online learning becomes more prevalent," Dr. Gates said.

Teachers for the online classes are Cheryl Anderson and Jared Lewis for modern global issues, Brenda Dumler and Vicki Crisafulli for personal finance and Heather Crain and Rhea Moses for health. For more information about the online courses, visit http://alldistrict.leesummit.k12.mo.us/r7online/. This website also provides students with the opportunity to test their computer system for minimum requirements and take an online assessment to see if online learning is right for them.

(Posted-September 12, 2008)

R-7 School District offers enhanced Internet safety website for families

The Lee's Summit R-7 School District recently launched a new web page focusing on Internet safety tips for children and parents. You may access the page by visiting the district website at www.leesummit.k12.mo.us, selecting "Parents and Students," then "Parenting Information" and "Internet Safety and Children." To access the page directly, go to http://alldistrict.leesummit.k12.mo.us/internetsafety/.

The Internet safety web page was developed by the R-7 Instruction and Technology Departments. It includes general Internet safety tips and information, such as a listing of chat abbreviations, games for children that focus on Internet safety and information on dangers children face on the Internet.

There is also a complete section on cyber bullying, including information about prevention and how to deal with an online bully. The third section features the district's Atomic Learning tutorials, which provide innovative training for more than 110 of the most commonly used software applications and other technology resources. The service is provided free over the Internet for R-7 staff members, students and parents.

The R-7 Internet safety webpage includes links to approximately 35 websites that focus on Internet safety and cyber bulling. R-7 staff members will continue to update the site with new resources as they become available.

Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, students will also learn lessons about Internet safety through the elementary DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) program. DARE officers in all R-7 elementary schools will include Internet safety in their regular lessons in second, fourth and sixth grades.

Lee's Summit CARES, a community group working to combat substance abuse and to promote youth safety, is also helping address Internet safety. The community group presents a session on cyber bullying and Internet safety at its annual Parents University. In addition, Lee's Summit CARES sponsors bullying lessons in all elementary schools, and these presentations also include information on cyber bullying.

The R-7 School District hosted Internet Safety Night April 23 in cooperation with MOREnet (Missouri Research and Education Network) and local law-enforcement officials. The event included a presentation and panel discussion.

(Posted-April 28, 2008)