Taylor Community School Corp board approves crisis plan, contracts and handbook updates; applies for school security grant

The Taylor Community School Corp board opened its regular meeting with retiree recognitions and proceeded to approve a slate of operational items, including the district—risis management plan, multiple contracts for speech-language services, handbook revisions and the district pplication for a Safe School Security grant.

The board recognized Tina Johnson, a longtime bus driver and cafeteria staff member who served roughly 36'7 years with the district, and noted a second longtime elementary teacher, Amy, was retiring after 30 years but was not present. The board then took up routine business and filed the monthly financial reports subject to audit.

On policy and operations, the board completed a vote to approve the 2026'7 crisis management plan. Members also moved and approved three separate speech-language pathology contracts, one with Karen Norris, one with an individual identified as Andrea (surname not specified in the transcript) and one with Grace M. (recorded in the meeting as Grace Maple). Administration said Karen and Andrea have worked previously under independent contracts and that hiring Grace as a speech-language pathology assistant will allow the district to discontinue a virtual-provider contract and result in a financially favorable arrangement for the corporation.

The board approved student handbook revisions for Taylor High School, Taylor Middle School and Taylor Elementary School. The middle school changes include a new accountability plan under academic expectations that requires students to meet three of four criteria (show growth on checkpoints, meet attendance expectations aligned to state guidance, achieve passing semester averages and avoid repeated in-school or out-of-school removals) to qualify for certain privileges. Administrators said the change is intended to emphasize academic growth and noted data gaps on checkpoint assessments that the district will address through parent communication and intervention strategies.

Other approvals included student fees for the 2026'7 year, an athletic trainer agreement with Addie (a trainer retained through a community partner that assists with licensure and training), and a minor revision to the 2026'7 academic calendar that adjusts daily start and end times (high school now reported at 7:50 a.m. to 2:38 p.m.; elementary 8:25 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.) to better align with bus schedules.

The board voted to approve submission of the 2027 Safe School Security grant application, described in the meeting as the usual mechanism to fund SROs on a 50/50 match basis. Administration also described a pending NextGen SIG grant application the district submitted; presenters said an awarded grant would provide an initial planning year (reported as $300,000) and then approximately $1 million per year for implementation in subsequent years, with notification expected in August. The board was told the proposal would fund a point person, intervention staff, and site visits if awarded.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda approval: motion moved and seconded; meeting recording shows one member vocalized opposition and the motion recorded as passing (transcript notes 'Passes 5'). • 2026'7 crisis management plan: approved (motion moved and seconded). • Speech-language pathology agreements (Karen Norris; Andrea; Grace M./Grace Maple): each motion moved and seconded and recorded as carried; board noted contracting changes would let the district end a virtual-provider contract. • Taylor High School, Taylor Middle School, Taylor Elementary handbook revisions: approved; middle school version includes new academic-accountability criteria. • Student fees for 2026'7 (High/Middle/Elementary): approved. • Athletic trainer agreement (Addie): approved; district retains trainer through community partnership. • 2026'7 calendar revision: approved; start/end times adjusted to aid bus scheduling. • Safe School Security grant application (2027): approved for submission; described as 50/50 match funding for SROs.

What happens next Administrative staff will finalize the paperwork and post the approved documents; the board will consider final adoption of any policies after the required reading periods. The district expects notification on the NextGen SIG grant in August. The meeting adjourned after the board confirmed the next meeting will begin at 5:00 p.m.