District overview
McCormick County School District
A one-campus rural district deciding on an $18.5 million bond while rebuilding after a gym fire
Can an $18.5 million bond be repaid without raising taxes?
McCormick County School District runs an elementary, middle and high school on one educational complex on Highway 28 South. It serves about 540 students. The elected Board of Trustees meets the second Monday of each month. The board has asked voters to approve up to $18.5 million in bonds for a high school wing with an auditorium, arts space and career-technical labs. The district says the current debt-service levy can repay it without a tax increase.
Repayment plan
About $1.25 million a year over 20 years. The current debt-service levy brings in about $1.5 million a year.
Millage
For this year the operating rate is 154.86 mills and the debt-service rate is 24.3 mills, according to the county auditor's figures. Staff gave 24.7 mills in October.
Limit does not apply
Debt approved by referendum is not subject to the state's 8% cap, so the levy could rise later if needed.
Operating budget
About $12.4 million for 2026-27. The reserve was $3.7 million on June 30, 2025, down $473,000.
Supporters point to the district's academic gains. McCormick Middle School earned back-to-back Excellent report card ratings. District leaders say the wing would add career-technical offerings on campus and give the arts programs space that now uses the gym.
Where the district stands
Read aloud at the September 14, 2026 meeting. Auto-captions only.
Major projects
High school gym fire recovery
in_progressLightning set the high school gym roof on fire on May 22, 2026. The middle school gym reopened in August. The high school gym roof is being rebuilt, with electrical, HVAC and sprinkler work to follow. Insurance covers the repairs except a $5,000 deductible.
- Fire
- Middle school gym reopens; high school roof plans approved
- Roof decking going on
Funding
District deductible; remainder by insurer
Fine arts and career-technical wing
plannedA planned high school wing with a 380-seat auditorium, band and art rooms, culinary space and career-technical labs. It goes ahead only if voters approve the bond.
- Board votes to pursue referendum
- Bond resolution and architect approved
- Referendum
Funding
General obligation bond (November 3, 2026 referendum)
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Practical guides to school phone policies, district budgets, and administrator hiring.
Explore resources →Built from recordings of McCormick County School District board meetings from November 2025 to October 2026, on the district's YouTube channel, using auto-generated captions. Names were checked against news coverage and the state school boards association roster.
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