Another False Press Release From The Lee's Summit R7 District

While they finally admitted to me that their press release was less than honest, they never sent it out in the same manner that they sent the original press release. Therefore, many folks falsely believe that Lee's Summit did this all by themselves and that those few families that are fighting with the district have no reason to fight.

Why didn't the district newsletter show that the school district got first place with the help of the Lee's Summit Autism Support Group? That is what helped the district get first place. I feel as though the district should share the recognition with us. When team members sign up they have to put what school district that they attend. Then that district gets credit for all members that go to that district. The Alliance stated "If you add the Lee's Summit Autism Support Group to the Lee's Summit School District team, it is very clear they are the winners for the school district."

This is the press release from the district:

Lee's Summit R-7 School District team captures first-place award for participation at annual KC Walk for Autism AwarenessThe Lee's Summit R-7 School District captured a first place award for participation in the fifth annual Kansas City Walk for Autism Awareness held April 12th at Unity Village. Awards were presented in three categories, and the school district team won in the school/organization-based team division.The R-7 team, lead by autism specialists Kelly Lee and Stacey Martin, included a total of 90 walkers. The team raised nearly $2,000 and consisted of school district staff members and parents. The district will receive a $750 grant as first-place winner. Funds will be used to benefit children in the district with autism spectrum disorders.

This was the second year that the R-7 School District team received this award for participation in the walk. The walk is organized by the Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City and is designed to increase public awareness for autism spectrum disorders and to fund projects and programs within the metropolitan area. In all, the Walk for Autism Awareness raised $102,000 this spring. Award winning teams were announced in mid-May. (Posted-May 22, 2008)

Autism alliance rewards LS groups
By Brett Dalton The Journal Staff

It’s no secret that the R-7 School District and members of the Lee’s Summit Autism Support Group don’t always see eye to eye.

Their disagreements were brought even more to the public’s attention earlier this year when LSASG co-founder Sherri Tucker vied for one of the three open R-7 Board of Education seats.


However, despite their differences of opinion, the two entities collaborated during an event last month to bring home two notable honors.

The LSASG and the R-7 School District both won first-place awards for fundraising during the 5th Annual Kansas City Walk for Autism, which took place on April 12 at Unity Village. The awards were announced last week by the Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City.

The LSASG won for the team with the most donations, raising nearly $3,700 from approximately 40 participants.

For their fundraising efforts, the group won an engraved trophy and a $300 Visa gift card. Debbie Shaumeyer, co-founder of the LSASG, said the gift card funds will be used to support the group and the families in the Lee’s Summit and Greenwood communities.

“This is truly a humbling honor and very exciting for our support group,” Shaumeyer said.

With 90 walkers at last month’s event, the R-7 School District raised nearly $2,000, easily eclipsing its goal of $1,000, and earned the first-place prize for school district donations. According to Robin Russell, spokesperson for the Autism Alliance, the R-7 School District won first-place with the help of the money raised by the LSASG.

As the winner, the R-7 School District will receive a $750 grant, which will be used to benefit children throughout the district with autism spectrum disorders, according to R-7 information.

This year’s Kansas City Walk for Autism Awareness raised more than $102,000 from the more than 1,400 adults and children who participated in the event. The walk consisted of a 1.5-mile family fun walk and resource fair in a carnival-like atmosphere, according to the event’s Web site.

Money raised through the event will be distributed to area organizations through a grant process to support programs that serve the needs of individuals with autism spectrum disorders and their families. The KC Walk for Autism Awareness is the signature fundraising event of the Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City. All money raised from this event will remain in the Kansas City area, according to the Web site.

The Autism Alliance of Greater Kansas City is a bi-state community organization comprised of individuals committed to the development of a network of resources targeted toward fostering an informed community that facilitates the independence, acceptance and emotional well being of individuals with autism spectrum disorders throughout their entire life span, according to its Web site.

The Alliance will “strive” to be a collective voice for the Kansas City autism community by implementing programs and events, which will aid families while increasing public awareness and acceptance of individuals with autism spectrum disorders, according to its Web site.

For more information about the Alliance, visit its Web site at www.autismalliancekc.org. For more information about the LSASG, visit its Web site at
http://www.lsautism.org/.

Sherri R. Tucker
President, Lee's Summit Autism Support Group
http://www.lsautism.org/
autism@kc.rr.com

Dear Sherri,
Thank you for contacting our district regarding the Walk for Autism Awareness. Kelly Lee has done some research with the walk organizers. This is Kelly's fifth year to participate in this event (which is also five years old). She learned this week that the "scorings" were calculated differently this spring.

In previous years (including the R-7 team's 2007 win), the award was based solely on those who registered specifically with the R-7 team. You are correct that this year, the team organization award also included others who indicated Lee's Summit R-7 as their school district. So in addition to the 90 R-7 team members, the walk organizers also counted the 41 individuals from the Lee's Summit Autism Support Group as well as 30 other walkers who signed up as individuals or as members of other teams. So in all, the walk organizers gave the R-7 School District credit for a total of 161 members.

Our district is very grateful that these 71 individuals also indicated their affiliation with Lee's Summit R-7. The R-7 90-member team raised $2,000 at the walk. Thanks again, Janice

Janice Phelan
Community Relations Director
Lee's Summit R-7 School District
301 NE Tudor Road
Lee's Summit, MO 64086
(816) 986-1095
web page: www.leesummit.k12.mo.us

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