001We'd like to welcome everybody to McCory County Board of Education regular board meeting November 18th 2025 5:30 p.m. Central office call order. Braxton >> here. Drew >> here. >> Cody >> here. >> Espa here. >> Chair is here. I need a motion to approve the agenda and the agenda. Make a motion we approve the agenda and the agend [clears throat] father we have approach you in the mighty name of Jesus. We thank you, Lord God, for watching over our students, our staff. Lord, we thank you that during this time that be traveling, we ask you protect them and watch over them. We ask for wisdom for everyone to do what is would help them grow and be established. Father, we thank you for it in the name of Jesus. Amen. This time the pledge of
002high school JTC Oliverian to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Superintendent Communications, Dr. Taylor. >> We have Miss Brandy here. She's going to give us an update on our healthy kids plan. >> Dr. Taylor, just asking you all an update kind of how things are going in health services with the district. And so, this is our school here in our contract healthy kids clinic. We began the partnership in the 22 23 school year. We have a school based clinic that provides a nurse practitioner and a registered nurse that sees our students as well as six school nurses at no cost to the district. So, um we have access to those professionals and we can
003do strep test or any labs that's ordered by the nurse practitioner. He wanted me to share some numbers. So last year's numbers the total numbers of students that were sitting in the school nurse visits were 17,441 students as students as old school nurse in the clinic and they referred to our nurse practitioner 952 visits and we also had 91 telealth visits. So a tele health visit is our provider isn't available in person, they can see a provider over a telealth machine. And so currently that's last year's number. So I'll live to exceed those this year because already through October the 31st, we've had 6,693 school nurse visits and 381 provider nurse practitioner visits. So it's a beneficial program. Just wanted to take a moment. Thank you all for supporting the program and just seeing the
004importance of school health. >> And that's at no cost to >> no cost to the district like I said >> and kids. Absolutely. >> Treasury, we had grant reimbursements. District activity fund. We had some operating expenses from the death accounts. Um debt service, we had bond payments. food service reimbursements totaling $336,000 leaving us with a general funding balance of approximately 10.2 million. >> Any questions for Mr. Thank you. >> at this time public comment [clears throat] we have three uh people Megan Dobs, Caitlyn Ross, and Roger Phillips. State law requires us to give 15 minutes on public comment. So you all have five minutes each to speak on. First up is Megan Dodge. >> Good evening. I grew up in McCra County and became a resident of the town community six years ago. I attended
005Spittown Elementary for three years before the consolidation of the school and I was the last in my family to walk those halls before the school closed. It's where I met my husband. Uh, we all know that time moves on and things change, but at what cost are we making this change. Will the taxpayers be burned with both demolition and future build of a bus garage? What will happen with the current garage, and how long will it be before a new one is actually built? The mission statement on your website says, "Your vision is to faithfully serve with respect, honesty, and integrity, and to make a positive impact in the lives of all citizens of this district. Over the last few weeks, I have struggled to feel that impact. The lack of transparency about the process
006of demolition was concerning. Although it is a relief to know now that proper disposal of this material will be handled professionally and not buried on site, I am still burdened that the plan is to pave over this historic site. I urge you to rethink your decision about erasing our history so soon and to explore preservation options further. 50 years from now when someone researches the history of this Mtown community, I hope they find a story not just about those who fought to preserve this historic site, but about the board members who have the decision to erase history, but instead chose stewardship over destruction. Treating the community members with the highest respect and honoring its history would be a wonderful legacy to leave behind. I also want to thank my friend Caitlyn for leading the way
007and reminding us that standing up for our community and our history may not be easy, but it makes us better stewards and it leaves the for um actually just I will shorten it for this this [clears throat] round. Um I actually mainly only have three questions. one, um, why does it take filing a complaint with the EVA in order for it to finally be absolved to proper procedure? Um, you know, the board is mostly elected. Why are the voices of the community not being heard? And I know a lot of good people put you all here with hiring, making sure that the elections were proper. Why does it take that? Um, also if it takes individualized approval through the insurance company in order to get this historic uh photo documentation, why are there people allowed
008in all hours of the day and night? Also, what is the route with the proposed auctions? because [snorts] um I mean if they're allowed in any other time, why can we not let a official go in and historically document for the purpose of continuing education? Even >> I want to be clear on that because you attacked me personally last night, my email, that was my email. I have a job to do for this district now and that job requires me to go through protocols. I was very professional with you when you got on Facebook and gas lit me. I didn't. >> Yes, you did. And I'm I'm just going to tell you, I have a job to do that I was doing. I reached out to you with professional courtesy to set up the photo
009opportunity. Yes, there are steps to do that. There are always steps to do that. And being attacked on Facebook for simply communicating with you is not okay. I mean, and I'm saying that on my behalf, not anybody here's behalf. >> Okay. What What in that did you find is an attack? because I never said we weren't doing it. I was actually instructed by Dr. Taylor. >> No, that's the reason why I made sure that the email was viewable. That way, you know, >> it could be seen, hey, you you did you said what you said. So, with that, it was just a question because there's residents saying, hey, there's people in and out of here all hours of the day and night. >> There are there are trespassers and I know Dr. Taylor and I
010know our officers have dealt with that. Okay. What officers? Because with KSP there are no reported documentations. >> We don't use KSP, ma'am. We have our own police force if you didn't know that. >> Okay. >> It's been set up since 2019. I was I was the one that helped set it up with Dr. Taylor actually when he was DP. [snorts] >> Okay. So then one last question. What are the true intentions? If there's not a bus garage going up in your career span or I mean the board is elected, if it's not going to happen in anybody's career span, why now? Why push it through now? >> Well, I appreciate the visit. They were very informative. [clears throat] It was nice to get to speak with those folks when they came down. Um, in
011a school district, don't just look at two years down the road. You strategically plan. You look at your assets. You look at what you have 10 years, 15 years, 20 years down the road. The plans are when feasible to construct a bus garage. It's on our facility plan to construct a bus garage. It may be five years, it may be 10 years to say when the finances will be available for that. But it would be physically irresponsible for us to let that piece of property go when other properties in the county are very limited and hard to find. That's that's the true intention. And I want to caution you about something. Um Facebook is not really the place to uh to get your news and there's been a lot of facts um that have been
012put out there that's not true like spending like our athletic facility that we had to bond the money for that was on our facility plan was approved by KDE. It was a little over $4 million. We had turf football turf baseball fieldhouse renovation and spending $4.3 million on athletic facilities doesn't mean you have to spend that on academics. There's no law or regulation that says that has to be done. So information needs to be correct [snorts] and needs to be checked and at any time if you have questions make an appointment come in sit down with we'll talk about it. >> Okay. Well on that front that was also verifiable through the state. >> I talked to I talked to KD today and they said that's the most absurd thing they've ever heard. So, I
013don't know who you verified it with, but that's not correct. >> Okay. >> Are you finished? >> Yeah, >> I stopped your clock when he's already talking. So, if you >> It's okay. >> Okay. [clears throat] Roger Phillips. Uh, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Um, I want to thank each board member. Uh, these are hard decisions. Uh, I know it's it's a tough decision for you to have to make. Uh, I applaud you. I think you guys are doing the right thing by demolishing it. I worked in the school system two different times from 2008 through just a couple years ago. Uh, many things was taken to Smithtown. It was actually the board of education's actually it's their it was their junkyard. Maintenance would take stuff out there and then somebody else would go out
014and see a need in it and then they would have to bring it back back and forth just I mean it's just crazy. Um we went in there many times and uh windows be broken out. Um, and actually twice there was feces where someone had stayed all night and used the bathroom in the hallway. I mean, it's just it was just it's just a matter of time before you guys are going to be sued when somebody gets in there and, you know, gets cut real bad or or something. I don't understand how you can afford uh actually even afford insurance on it um without it, you know, really hurting the district. I mean, is you know, is it is it is it really worth it is what I'm saying. We've got an older generation in
015the Smithtown. Uh we've had a lot of great guys uh pass away in the last four or five years. uh have a lot of widows out there, a lot of older people. We got a widow on one side on both sides of it actually and then one directly in front of it. Um, and if this was given to just anybody or, you know, sold to to somebody, uh, McCor doesn't have no planning or zoning. You know, anything could be put in there. And, you know, my worries is another drug rehab such as the one that was put in Whitley as far as down at the U motel. And then the old doctor's office, you know, they bring people in from away from here. And I understand we have drug problems as far as with our
016own folks. And you know, I understand that. Uh and and it it affects every every family, but you know, I hate to see something like that go in out there and you be able to sign out, bring foreigners in here. We have enough, which I guess everybody has a dope dealer on each corner that they live on. But my question is, you know, if you guys live next to it, would you still want it there? I don't think you would. >> I was going to say, no one ever said that we want a drug treatment facility in >> Well, I'm just I'm just I'm just I'm just throwing out what could be and what couldn't be. >> But why can't we not throw out something productive? Well, why why is it sitting out there for
01720 something years and not nothing done? That's what it's not these guys' fault. >> No, but they're the stewards. >> But but but each when when the consolidation, you had Sterns that was consolidated. You had Eagle Sawyer, uh all those places, things was done with them. Nothing was ever done with Smithtown because it was used for uh like I said, a junkyard for the board of education. It's lucky that we haven't had more maintenance workers hurt by carrying stuff out there and then having to bring it back. I mean, I mean, I'm talking heavy stuff. [snorts] Uh, and used to we'd have an auction out there and after uh we quit uh voting for uh local people, we started voting for people away from here. That's a stop and uh you know you could get
018rid of some of this stuff but now it's just I mean it's it's eyesore you giving me my over my time building. >> You got 46. >> Okay. Uh but now like I said uh and you everybody talked about the new building. I talked to a guy today and he said that he uh spent eight years in in the new building and that was in ' 64 when he started. So, it's not on new building. If if I think what needs to happen is you guys need to go through those buildings and tape what what's all wrong with them and show to some of these people that are, you know, think it's such a great place and they would understand understand that you know you can't to bring to bring these builds back it's going
019to cost millions it may cost you a million dollar especially old building I don't know if you got enough money to even do those build a little four million six years ago >> how much 4 million six years ago >> see I'll speak to something about this my experience Taylor can tell you this because I think this is part that's been lost to the folks that are coming into this conversation the last two months this This is a conversation that's been going on for six years now. Back in 2019, I was tasked by Superintendent Cory Keith to work on the Spintown property to find the deeds to look at whether we wanted to sell it, whether we wanted to demolish it. And those conversations have been going on since it started all the way back
020in 2019. These have been long thoughtout conversations and plans. They nobody rushed to make a decision. been talked about since you used to arrive. >> So, and that's even before my time since I started 2019 here, it's been discussed in some form or another. And one of the first calls I had that I think it's important for people that are just outside watches understanding is I called the KDE to discuss selling or demolition and the options. And the first thing KD did was check our facility plan and they gave me the green light because our facility plan had no plans for Smithtown building. Now what I think is also important for people that are listening to this unfold understand your facility plan is developed by the local planning committee that is made up of community
021members a board member the superintendent we advertise for these positions every so often and Dr. S how often we advertise for them and people get on this committee and they help design this plan. This plan was not made just by the board. It was made by all sorts of stakeholders within the community that were [snorts] part of our local planning committee to develop our facility plan. And as I stated well back pre209, Smithtown has not been a part of our facility plan for the district. And there's been no in the six years we've been discussing this. There's been no outcry that it's been on the agenda, I would venture to say somewhere between 10 and 15 times in the last six years to discuss what we're going to do with it, you know, start the
022process, start looking into it, get the deeds, what are we going to do. This has not been a rushed decision. This has been a long drawn out. I venture to say when this when I first started at least, Braxton was the board member that was even here when this discussion started and it spanned across multiple board members, multiple boards, multiple superintendent to get us to where we are right now. No one took this decision lightly. No one took this decision half-heartedly. And just for clarification, at least three different planning committees that are made up of community stakeholders have taken no action to put Smithtown into part of our facilities plan. That is three different four-year periods at a minimum and maybe more. I'd have to go back and ask KD if they can even pull
023them up 12, 16, 20 years ago. But for at least the last three plans we've put up, there's been nothing for Smithtown property, which means that multiple people within the community, multiple board members, multiple superintendent, no one has come forward with any plan. And now that we're at the last moment of dealing with this is when everybody, I guess, kind of found out about it. But it's not been secretive. Like I said, it's been on the agendas. It's been discussed. It's been debated. And the facility plans are a public record that anybody can look at if they want to look at them. And it lays out the district's plans and what they're planning to do, what they're wanting to do. And and you prioritize within that plan, too. You know, Dr. Taylor was talking about
024when funds are available down the road. Our every time we do a facilities plan, we will put priorities as to what we're going to do first. What's our highest priority? And generally speaking, your highest priorities, the first project and the next project you're going to do. And those decisions aren't just made by the board or Dr. Taylor. They're made by the community stakeholders that get involved in the planning process for the facilities plan. Now, there is certainly input from the superintendent and the principles and the board members, but anybody long term, if you have interest in what the district's going to do, every four years, we do these committes. you know, pay attention when it's time to do it. Come sign up, get on the committee, be a part of the discussion. I to my
025knowledge, we've never had an overabundance of people interested in signing up for it. And it's not because we don't put it out there. It's because people just haven't come forward and wanted to participate in it. And that's and I'm sorry I've taken up a lot of time board members, but I just think that's so important for people to understand, even some of you board members. Like I said, when this started, Braxton was the only one that was even here. And some of you all probably weren't even aware of how long and the different steps that went into this. But this has not been some hastily rushed to decision. It's been something that dozens of people over a period of several years have looked at, debated, and planned. I appreciate, like I said, when I first
026started, I appreciate each and every one of you. It takes a lot of courage to do what's right. Uh, and I think you guys are doing what's right by just just doing the demolition of the Smith. But now um it it does it takes a lot of courage and I want to appreciate you guys for letting me speak tonight. Thank you. >> I have one more letter here. [clears throat] >> Dear members of the school board attendees, I would like to apologize for my absence this evening. Prior to have prevented me from beginning in person, however, as a lifelong resident of Smithtown and former student at Smithtown Elementary from head start through fifth grade, I feel compelled to share my thoughts regarding future use of old Smithtown Elementary School property. Living only a short distance
027from school, I have witnessed his decline since closure. At this at the same time, I carry fond memories of my years there. Walking home with classmates, learning within the walls and feeling s once fostered. These memories current conditions of building more disheartening. I believe the property should be repurposed in something constructive and beneficial for our community. As many residents know, Smithdale faces challenges with drugs and crime. Late at night, it is not uncommon to see individuals struggling with substance abuse. Unfortunately, community resources such as law enforcement, patrol, or neighborhood watch efforts appear limited. While I do not attend to criticism of law enforcement, this is simply my observation. However, I cannot support the placement of a rehabilitation facility or homeless shelter so close to my home. While I have compassion for those struggling with addiction
028or homelessness experience [snorts] shows that such facilities often bring unintended challenges, particularly when local infrastructure, law enforcement, job training, mental health counseling, and employment opportunities is insufficient to support them. For these reasons, I urge the board to consider auction that strengthens Smithtown without overburdening its residents. A community center or park would honor the school's legacy, provide a constructive outlet for youth and families, and help restore pride in our neighborhood. Thank you for your time, consideration, and respectively Brandon Taylor. We have one more. My name is Christy Hill and I have been a resident of the Smithtown community for 42 years. I apologize for my absence from the meeting tonight as I am an bus driver for our great school system and also driving for after school tutoring tonight. After living my entire life in Smithtown
029and attending elementary school here, this property does [snorts] great memories, but unfortunately memories are all that is held there as the property itself is an eyesore to our community. Not only is it unpleasant to look at, it has a huge draw for trespassers in the area. I would love to see the property properly tore down and hopefully used as something constructed for the future. My family and I own several properties in Smithtown and would love to see the area thrive again after the old buildings are closed up. Thank you for reading my letter and hearing my concerns. Please feel free to contact me at any time this matter. >> [clears throat] >> I'm gonna bring light on a few things and I've got a a lot of stuff here, but uh but you know there's
030a lot of things like Mr. Taylor was talking about on Facebook that really bothered me. This started out as a talk about a building. Some people want it, some people don't. You're going to have it in everything. uh you're going to have 50/50 of most time on everything that you make a decision on. But on these Facebook post uh first of all on proper procedures, we have never been it's always been a proper procedure. Uh we was not going to go over there and just tear the building down with machines. We when we mentioned money for machines, that wasn't the cost of tearing it down. That was just renting the machines. But on these uh Facebook post when it says demolition with the board carelessly at the hem, we're not carelessly at the him. We
031have done nothing other than discuss this, go through the steps and make sure that everyone in that community is safe. We have not touched one piece of asbestous or anything in that building. So we have not put anyone in harm uh endangering lives of the entire community. We have endangered no lives. We use it as like Mr. Phillips said as a junkyard. Uh funding swept under the nose of the people. Uh we raise taxes and I know you have wanted this out there and we done it in a public meeting. open meeting. We did not talk about the uh >> compensating rate because we were going to lose how much Steph7,000 >> $70,000. So there was no need to talk about compensating rate. We were going to lose money as a district. So we went
032with the 38.5% which is still the lowest in the state. U but if you if you want to look at percentages on the taxes. We have not had a raise in taxes in 10 years or >> we declined nine straight years. >> Nine straight years we have not raised a tax in this county. Once you raise it uh what we did and save that money for the district, you never hear about those years. Everybody is focused on this. But we're not hiding anything here. Build our youth. Give them the the tools. Our schools have the tools and the people to do anything they want. We have everything that every other school have and and we get so much uh flack about this football field. It's not for just football. It's for soccer. It's for band.
033It's for uh cheerleading. It's for anything. You can hit golf balls off of it if you wanted to. It is for everyone in our school district and they deserve it. That is a facility and they deserve it. And Mr. Taylor's already talked about the 4 million. The is not true about spending it on the on the other end of that. And uh transparency this board, you know, these guys didn't know I was going to read this tonight. I will guarantee you right now, we take times from our family. We ran for this job because we wanted to help. We didn't do it for no other reason. There's no money under the table. You've heard it since I was a kid. We make [clears throat] $150 a meeting, but I will guarantee you every one of
034us gives back to the kids more than we make. We've given it every bit back. So, it infuriates me that people get online and hammer us on lies that we have not done or we will not do. We have thousands of kids to take care of. We are voted in as board members. We work for the parents and the kids this county and we're not going to sit up here to make a bad decision. We're going to make the best decision we can. But it takes three votes on every decision. So whatever that is, that's what it goes with. But we do not sit here and try to manipulate or do anything wrong for our kids ever. CTE. Uh, it says on the Facebook post that they get $1,000 each. Those folks get $1,000 stipen
035on top of what they make. There is Tiffany. Do you have the grants? What CTE has >> Yes. Um, CTE above salaries. Let me find my number. $179,568 they get to spend on their programs for supplies. [snorts] >> So it I mean it's not just $1,000. CTE is a great program. We put a lot of money into CTE. They have a lot of good things going. One of the best programs. >> Yes. Uh the backback program, it said on the Facebook post, $500 monthly. Uh I talked to them. Uh every school is different. And uh it will take about $1,200 down to $900 depending on what school that is. Dave Durham told me that every bag was about seven to9 dollar in that bag per week. We send out 50 bags. That's just the middle
036school. So, it's a lot more money than $500. [snorts] The lunch programs, that was correct. We are reimbursed unless the government shuts down. Then we have to we have to pay that bill until it opens back up. Uh but covering up and instead said covering up like we have 10 days before we tear the buildings down. How much can we cover up? We have nothing to cover up. Everything is in black and white. Professional people will come in here and tear that building down. There will be that will be their job. That's why we pay them. There will be no asbestous. That's what they do. They're professionals. And the the show of a lifetime and shenanigans. We come in here and do our job. We have no shenanigans. We don't have a show of a
037lifetime. We focus on kids and that's that's our job. If if you're here and you don't have that in your heart to do it, then you're in the wrong place because that's what we do. So, here's my uh here's what I say. You don't believe everything you hear on Facebook, [snorts] call your board member. We work for you. We'll tell you the truth. We can get you the paperwork to back it up. And uh we have nothing to hide. We work for the parents and kids. And that is transparency. Uh to me, we have nothing to hide. We can prove I mean we can show you any paper we have. The last the last time they come and check the asbestous what was the price on it? It was one company. >> Yeah. Monitoring or
038the report the price to gas. >> Yeah. >> To take it out. >> Yeah. >> 63,000. >> So it's here. I mean just ask for it and like I said we have nothing. But these board members, we didn't speak at the last meeting on it. We let Mr. Taylor speak because he was DPP last year and over building ground. So, he knew a lot more than we did about the building. So, like I said, don't don't get on there and hammer these guys and me because call us, ask us. we can have a a good conversation and you know if I don't like it or you don't like it then we can say well we tried. So that's what I got to say on that. I need a motion and second by action motion. Need
039a second. >> Hi. Actions with discussion. Discuss or take action on athletic field projects. Number one, approve field plans and board members over the plans that the architect sent down to finalize the renovation of the fieldhouse. We're ready to go ahead and put those out to share those with you. Two is three and Tiffany sent that to you. She has it all. That's just updated with the current numbers. Then three is contract and that's that's just tying that up. Finishing finish. >> What was three again? >> Just finishing up the paperwork. Any [clears throat] discussion on that or action? >> Pretty much. >> Yeah, that's just approving all of this and then you all ready to send out. And just so you all clear too since there was a question on three, the Helis contract
040is the state standard contract form. Like there's not >> these contracts all pretty much come from the state the same way like Frankfurt and KDE kind of dictate how construction contracts for school districts operate and what you put in and what you don't put in them. And so for them to do business with us, it's a form contract similar to dozens we've approved over the years in the past. Motion approve athletic field projects, two chairs. Next meeting. Oh, sorry. on the addendum. Environment elimination group LLC to properly remove and dispose of the asbestous and universal waste items identified to qualify for survey dated November 13, 2024. We're going to add 4 L and 4 M. 4 L approved to solicit bids for a business abatement removal and for him authorize superintendent and board attorney to
041take any and all actions necessary to start the process of the demolition of Smithtown school building 4K is removed because [clears throat] at the time we made the agenda we thought they were on the state procurement list on bid list they aren't on that list so we have to put it We did try to get three. Next meeting and adjourn. The next meeting board of education will be Tuesday, December 16th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. Central office and two special rest. Thank you.