[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6517163,"mediaKeyId","5420098-15560feb4871e9c29433827f8a6d650a","parentId",5420098,"title","Votes at a glance: Smithville R‑II board approves contracts, policies, personnel and payments","audioSeconds",304,"startMs",2301000,"endMs",2605000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5420098-15560feb4871e9c29433827f8a6d650a&start=2301&end=2605","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5420098-15560feb4871e9c29433827f8a6d650a/thumbnail_2301000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6517163/Missouri/Votes-at-a-glance-Smithville-RII-board-approves-contracts-policies-personnel-and-payments","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6517163-9a22c68dec839208c62bfd03c326af0d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199982&Signature=WVLdFBNPlYeygsX5RSjgmF~7ZoIJAMJQMaS2C3od0TO0kKG8Trk-7CpLOldsN7oUrp9t4WulicHXAUBQpaWUfdqGUOxzZjp9Z3-2jHi1tdY3ho-jfmYh2OhGhQ2~cgp7F7Bkc~K1PfLSBkg4FLV~m~rmrOE5G6a-p9lfyvED2FOYHnyyG2Y~6rUT8QCDoiQBskeXsqDDVd84MEtBNeA4O2D5XLwgLxW36RYFX9gMSZ8aTVojqt3UyAFrIbL2jaAYp-yhuU51A4LOE131fWrG9FHbsDcNnCX0t6-47kzhT1Ftq6vD5r5MLsAIKYcdt86r90fwvCZQKVxQRbsjXISMMg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Smithville School District","date","2025-07-17T08:43:50.817Z","article","The Smithville R‑II Board of Education approved a number of routine and contract items during its July meeting. The board recorded motions, seconds and votes on consent items, capital‑project agreements and policy readoptions. Where the transcript recorded abstentions, those are noted below.

Key board actions and outcomes

- Consent agenda: The board approved the consent agenda as presented, which included prior meeting minutes, program workshop minutes, the ESBA annual support renewal, a Sherwood Center career‑ladder agreement, teacher cadet credit adjustments, the 2025–26 AMI plan, a Northwest Missouri State University partnership for student teaching, an Innovation Learning MOU, bus rental and travel requests for FFA convention, occupational and physical therapy services, orientation and mobility services, meal prices for 2025–26, and a copy‑paper bid. Motion and second were recorded; vote outcome approved (tally not specified in the transcript).

- COP resolution (lease‑purchase): The board approved a Certificate of Participation (COP) resolution for a lease‑purchase financing related to an energy project; a motion and second were recorded and the board voted to approve. (Details and final financing documents to be finalized by staff and counsel.)

- Insight Design Studios agreement: The board approved the agreement with Insight Design Studios after staff confirmed EdCounsel and district attorneys had reviewed contract terms. Motion and second recorded; vote approved.

- Durham School Services contract addendum: The board approved an addendum to the Durham School Services transportation contract. Board discussion explained the addendum uses a per‑day rate and lowers the contracted days from 172 to 163 for the current term; staff said the 4% annual increase remains part of the contract’s per‑day pricing. Motion and second recorded; vote approved.

- Newkirk Novak agreements: The board approved the Newkirk Novak agreement and a separate enabling‑work authorization to allow initial construction work to proceed. Motion and second recorded; vote approved.

- MSBA policy actions: The board readopted board policy BBFA (first and only reading as presented) and approved MSBA 2025A policy updates on their third reading. The board also approved MSBA 20.5B policy updates for the first of three readings. Motion and second recorded for each; votes approved or advanced as the item required (third reading = final adoption; first reading = advancement).

- Personnel report: The board approved the personnel report as presented. A board member noted an intent to abstain from that item; the transcript did not name the member in the motion text. Motion and second recorded; vote approved.

- Approval of bills for payment (July): The board approved the July bills for payment. Miss Whitaker recorded an abstention on this vote. Motion and second recorded; vote approved with one abstention (Miss Whitaker).

Motion attributions and vote tallies: The transcript records motions, seconds and verbal calls to vote for each item but does not record individual yes/no tallies for most items; where an abstention was explicitly stated (bills for payment), that abstention is noted above. For items that required only first reading, the board advanced the policy as a first reading rather than adopting it outright.

The board did not record any failed motions on the items discussed. Staff and counsel indicated additional contract and financing documents will be finalized after the board’s motions when required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Smithville School District Board of Education Meeting - Wednesday, July 16, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At its July meeting the Smithville R‑II board approved the consent agenda, contract agreements with Insight Design and Newkirk Novak, a COP lease‑purchase resolution, a Durham School Services addendum, personnel actions and bills for payment; several policy items advanced or were readopted.","taxTitle","SMITHVILLE R-II, School Districts, Missouri","taxId",66947,"location","Missouri","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6517166,"Board follows Project Micah (Google) data‑center proposal; district flags valuation and tax‑exemption concerns",139,1561000,1700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5420098-15560feb4871e9c29433827f8a6d650a&start=1561&end=1700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5420098-15560feb4871e9c29433827f8a6d650a/thumbnail_1561000.jpg","/articles/6517166/Missouri/Board-follows-Project-Micah-Google-datacenter-proposal-district-flags-valuation-and-taxexemption-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6517166-e52cc341f3411a9e50c291888c8fbb50/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199982&Signature=btWWzo27er7H7OSKAG1yCLQzFXhsq9eYbVhnrdeN08awMxfOGY2L8Za6ugoK08PU2i3T4FDFXxlIBXbSGddNBm4kuRiP8lVjEL-Gx~m3W20QuHZIrVoa8vEKujOR2MkCKnDZYmx3ypPACVY0E888~144fW5tOfDNo4LwAIEUauWrmmazUSpJGLLO4-A0HDbu8BsReM0xbXSjuBLsXh2HfgjFHLnolCXUsDcWqWzReJ1EQ8GVqIiv1EfU99orOLwdiRNw84g5smGqJH6Za9Vz3doFNXl-ZJoPHjUasZ~~xkLHAckKkn7NfnyesHF9aZbFaH5tF2i42II1apgG1fkc-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Superintendent Justin Moss updated the Smithville R‑II board on a large proposed data‑center development across from district property known in the meeting as \"Project Micah.\" Moss said the client is understood to be Google and that the project has been described to the district as a hyperscale data‑center campus.

Moss said the developer’s initial proposal includes a tax‑exemption structure under consideration by Port KC and referenced discussion of Chapter 68 arrangements. He told the board the development as proposed could be “up to a $10,000,000,000 project” and that the parcel, as presented, would be 100% exempt from personal property. Under the initial agreement Moss referenced, the owner would pay 25% of real‑estate taxes as assessed by Clay County.

Moss described a valuation discrepancy between the neighboring completed data center and the proposed project, saying Clay County’s assessor valued the existing building at about $473 per square foot while the proposed project’s current valuation is closer to $200 per square foot. Moss and staff said those valuation and exemption terms are central to how the district expects any fiscal impact to be calculated.

Port KC has scheduled the matter to be considered by its board July 28; Moss said district representatives (including district legal counsel and Port KC contacts) have met with the applicant and that the district may ask board members to contact other elected officials, including Kansas City council members, as the process proceeds. “There may be a time where we ask you guys as elected officials to potentially reach out to other elected officials, particularly the Kansas City City Council,” Moss said.

District staff said they are participating in Port KC conversations, working with EdCounsel and other advisors, and monitoring both valuation methodology and the proposed tax‑abatement terms. Board members did not take a formal vote on the matter at the meeting; the item was framed as an update and an ongoing negotiation and monitoring effort.

The superintendent identified Port KC and Chapter 68 valuation arrangements as the principal decision points and said the district will continue to engage legal counsel and county assessors as the review proceeds.","Superintendent Justin Moss briefed the board on Project Micah (a proposed hyperscale data center, client described as Google), noting valuation differences, proposed tax exemptions and a Port KC vote scheduled for July 28 that could affect district revenues.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":92,"_49":83,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6517170,"Smithville R‑II details high‑school renovation timeline, playground and athletic‑field work",0,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5420098-15560feb4871e9c29433827f8a6d650a&start=1561&end=1561","/articles/6517170/Missouri/Smithville-RII-details-highschool-renovation-timeline-playground-and-athleticfield-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6517170-c8feb85bb04dfd437bb1a05cd2fa60fe/orig.mp4?Expires=1771199982&Signature=gfLRfDV9J3XBRlmavA26KKztyCIBaAHodfyI8hDmYZiQjuSHC3vAiFuqfd83iAMO2ZUoPcOp4l0qnjpM2uipJjdKH8mqTI0tO6FYlsVEjv9BCGvcL7hyVKzxQ5Em80ChlU4Utph~cmskpKBltbg7EyKMTVrL1eZyIhpaTkeRqHQh3Y5KT8TTbeE~ZVnnXPMNd2VM4l972IC6k3KSVMdk0UluR4M~NZxNPzlo10lkH05w5m2oqS70882Fl~lReBHEX~lcjNRKCAYzw8W3ntlfbu6QDROMm5~SPy240SLRFO-ONpMp4n5mlRoGNpbLB9EBRdXj-TZ-slleAmqabZmKpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Smithville R‑II Board of Education heard a wide update on campus construction and renovation plans during its July meeting, including schematic design for a high‑school addition, a phased playground installation and timelines for new baseball and softball facilities.

Superintendent Justin Moss told the board the district’s design partner Insight Design and construction partner Newkirk Novak have produced early schematic drawings and are working through material and sequencing constraints. “Getting steel is really tough right now,” Moss said, and the district emphasized early confirmation of design documents will allow steel to be ordered sooner.

Moss said the district expects the new baseball facility to be ready by February (before the baseball season) and that work on the softball field remains less certain because the district is still awaiting subsurface information. “We still haven’t gotten to Mammoth what that, conditions of the current, dirt and everything that will be below the field. So that is not finalized,” he said.

Playground work is already underway. Moss said Mammoth has started work on elementary playgrounds and estimated a roughly 10‑week construction window that would complete the turf installation the week after Labor Day for the section currently being worked on. “We are excited to share that Mammoth has started work on our elementary playgrounds,” he said.

District staff described how construction will affect daily operations at the high school. Newkirk Novak plans to close the existing bus loop when work begins on the 1969 portion of the building so large mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems can be rerouted. The district estimates 45–60 days of rerouting work before visible demolition and construction of the new foyer and office areas begin; steel delivery was described as expected by the end of the year, with a target of January for major steel pieces entering the site.

To maintain secure visitor access and limit disruption, the district is planning a temporary entrance through the Performing Arts Center (PAC). The board discussed alternatives for a temporary exterior entrance that would be built for the start of the school year; district staff said an exterior temporary entrance would cost about $85,000. Trustees and staff discussed a lower‑cost option that would use an interior route through the gym and behind the stage to limit the use of bond funds on temporary work.

Moss said the construction sequencing aims to keep certain practice and activity spaces available: the district intends to return the gym/stage area to extracurricular practice use after school hours. He said the overall construction program for the high school is expected to take about one year once major work begins, and the district is targeting January 2027 for the new foyer and front‑entrance areas to be completed.

Board members asked staff to continue reporting on schedules and costs as designs are finalized and contractors provide detailed pricing. The board voted separately later in the meeting to approve the Newkirk Novak construction agreement and enabling‑work authorization (see “Votes at a glance”).","Superintendent Justin Moss and district staff updated the board on schematic designs, construction sequencing, playground installations and temporary access plans for the high‑school renovation and elementary playgrounds; the district said the high‑school project is scheduled to be substantially complete by January 2027.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Smithville R‑II board approves contracts, policies, personnel and payments

Board follows Project Micah (Google) data‑center proposal; district flags valuation and tax‑exemption concerns

Smithville R‑II details high‑school renovation timeline, playground and athletic‑field work