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Heavy Equipment Operating

The Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) program offers high school juniors and seniors the opportunity to learn to operate heavy equipment.

The program is housed out of the LEAD Center. A building on the Ray-Pec east campus - near East Middle School and the Ninth Grade Center - provides a space for the equipment and open land for students to use as they learn to use equipment.

The program was developed in partnership with the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 101.

Program Brochure

Read about the program in this brochure (pictured below).

Heavy Equipment Operating Engineers flyer

Raymore Neighborhood Donates $5,000 to Heavy Equipment Operating Program

Ray-Pec High School students in the Heavy Equipment Operating (HEO) Program at the LEAD Center recently completed a project for the Silver Lake Homeowners Association in Raymore. The students graded and moved soil around Silver Lake, which is located off Lucy Webb Road.

The Silver Lake Homeowners Association paid approximately $7,300 for equipment rental and fuel costs. In addition to paying those costs, the Homeowners Association donated $5,000 to the program for the students' work.

Abe Lewis, Principal at the LEAD Center, said the project was a great learning experience for the students and a way to assist the local community.

On April 21, 2025, representatives of the Silver Lakes Homeowners Association (pictured above at the left and right) thanked the students and presented $5,000 to HEO Instructor Gary King (holding check).

Silver Lake Homeowners donate $5,000 to Heavy Equipment Operating Program

In the news!

This news story tells about Ray-Pec offering training in the Heavy Equipment Operators and HVAC trades. Watch this segment by KCTV5:

Heavy Equipment Operating Student Help With Integrated Learning House

Students in one new Ray-Pec High School program helped prepare the site for another new program coming in fall 2025.

In January 2025, students in the Heavy Equipment Operators Program helped prepare the site for the new Integrated Learning House at the high school. The Integrated Learning House will be an actual house designed for students with special needs to practice the skills needed to live on their own. Students will not live in the house, but will use the house as a classroom to learn a variety of tasks.

Groundbreaking Ceremony - May 2024

School Board President Ruth Johnson makes it official during the May 13, 2024, groundbreaking ceremony.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle addresses attendees at the groundbreaking ceremony.

Abe Lewis, LEAD Center Director, tells about the opportunities for students.

International Union of Operating Engineers

Business partners brought pieces of equipment to the site for the ceremony.

School District representatives and business partners celebrated the groundbreaking for the program.