September monthly spotlight

MID-AMERICA TECHNOLOGY CENTER / From the desk of Mike Eubank

A millage is the tax rate used by local governments to calculate real estate property taxes. One mill equals $1 tax for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. The term ad valorem is a Latin phrase meaning “according to value.” Ad valorem and property tax are generally interchangeable terms.

Schools and technology centers receive funding from ad valorem/ property taxes based on the millage rates applied to property within their districts. Mid-America Technology Center receives ad valorem revenue from the 18 school districts that make up the Mid America district. Ad valorem revenue accounts for approximately 85% of Mid-America’s budget, providing an important source of local revenue and helping maintain local control over the programs and services we provide. If you own property in Oklahoma, your property taxes may help fund several local entities, including the county general fund, county health department, school district general fund, school district building fund, school district sinking fund, technology center general fund, technology center building fund, and local libraries. Depending on where you live, your tax bill may also include assessments for fire protection, EMS, hospitals, waste services, junior colleges, roads, sewer systems, and industrial development.

On average, McClain County property tax bills include approximately 11 mills for Mid-America Technology Center, which represents roughly 10% of the assessed value of your property, or about $15 per month for the average property owner. Next month, we will explain how the assessed value of your property is calculated.

MATC Superintendent

Board Update

During the September board meeting, the FY-27 Estimate of Needs was approved. The board also approved the purchase of three post lifts, two rolling jacks, and an internal airline kit for the Automotive Service program using Carl Perkins Federal Grant funds. In addition, 20 hospital beds for the health training programs and an Electric Motor Control Trainer for the Industrial Robotics program were approved for purchase using Carl Perkins funds.

The board also approved a contract with DAP Architecture for the design of a new Animal Science building that will house the Equine and Veterinary Technician programs. Reports were presented on Full-Time Programs and Professional Resource Outreach, highlighting enrollment and service trends.

The board approved Amber Caldwell as the new Evening Practical Nursing instructor and Zach Brumley as the new Maintenance Electrical Technician.

Business Partner Spotlight

Wadley’s EMS in Purcell has been a longtime partner of MATC, supporting our EMS programs in nearly every way a business can. Owner Jackie Wadley and his team provide clinical opportunities for students in our Full-Time EMT Program, as well as for students enrolled in EMT, AEMT, and Paramedic classes through our PRO evening program — giving students real-world, hands-on experience alongside working EMS professionals.

Jackie also serves on MATC’s EMT Program Advisory Board, where his industry expertise has helped shape and strengthen our short-term EMS offerings. Several Wadley’s EMS employees go a step further, serving as adjunct instructors for our evening EMS and CPR classes, passing their field experience directly on to the next generation of first responders.

That commitment extends to workforce development as well. Wadley’s EMS has employed numerous MATC program completers over the years, giving local students a direct path from the classroom to a career close to home. Jackie has also invested in his own team’s growth, paying for Wadley’s EMS employees to attend our AEMT and Paramedic classes to advance their credentials.

From clinical placements to instruction to employment, Wadley’s EMS exemplifies what a true CareerTech partnership looks like, and MATC is grateful for Jackie’s continued investment in our students and programs.

Teacher Spotlight

Kris Miller brings more than 20 years of telecommunications industry experience to the classroom and is beginning his fourth year teaching the Broadband Technician program at Mid-America Technology Center. His fiber optic experience began in 1990 with his first fiber optic training through the National Cable Television Institute (NCTI).

In 1992, Kris earned NCTI Master Technician certification, building a strong foundation in broadband and communications technology. Continuing his commitment to industry standards and professional development, he earned the Fiber Optic Association’s Certified Fiber Optic Technician (CFOT) certification in 2023. Kris is passionate about preparing students with practical, industry-relevant skills for successful technology careers.

Broadband instructor

Staff Spotlight

Cody Barton is MATC’s Small Business Management Coordinator in the PRO department, bringing real-world business experience to the entrepreneurs and business owners he serves across the district. Before joining MATC two years ago, Cody ran an insurance agency in Purcell, giving him firsthand knowledge of what it takes to build and sustain a small business. That background now shapes the services and training he provides to local entrepreneurs and business owners throughout the MATC district.

Cody was awarded the Dennis Portis Rising Star Award at the 2026 OkACTE (Oklahoma Association for Career and Technical Education) Summit, recognizing his early impact in the CareerTech field. He also serves as PACE Division Vice President and is currently working toward his master’s degree in educational leadership, reflecting his commitment to growing both professionally and as a leader in the field.

Beyond his role at MATC, Cody serves as Executive Director of Leadership Mid-America, a local leadership development program for professionals in the MATC district. He is also active in the community as a member of the Purcell Rotary and a board member of the Newcastle Chamber of Commerce.

Program Spotlight

The Therapeutic Health Careers program is a rigorous, one-year curriculum engineered to provide students with a distinct competitive advantage in allied health fields through mastery of advanced anatomy and medical terminology. Students engage in practical application through “Friday Night Lights,” observing sideline injury evaluations alongside certified athletic trainers. Furthermore, students fulfill 24 work-based clinical hours under the mentorship of licensed Physical Therapists and Physical Therapist Assistants.

This comprehensive program prepares students for immediate professional workforce entry by awarding vital industry credentials, including Athletic Training Student Aide (ATSA), Exercise Science, and CPR certifications.