HOLYROOD — The Central Plains USD 112 board of education approved the 2020 budget Monday after a 30-minute public hearing at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood.

The 2020 budget shows expenditures from the general fund went up from the prior year — from $4,216,111 in 2019 to $4,966,188 for 2020. The estimated tax rate is still 20 mills.

“The majority of that extra money is an increase in our virtual school,” said Superintendent Greg Clark.’

Clark said the local option budget for 2020 is down a little from last year — from $1,490,906 in 2019 to $1,442,469 in 2020. That is based on 12.892 mills.

“We’re going to go ahead and take our general outlay to eight mills this year from 6.990,” Clark said.“Which will give us an estimated tax levy of $835,899.”

Clark said the LOB is down this year because of decreased enrollment.

In other business:

• Three patrons spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting. Here is a sample of those comments:

Rita Stephens, former USD 112 teacher, said she was notified by board clerk Diane Ney in April that the district was not going to renew her contract for the 2019-20 school year. She said at the May meeting, the agenda indicated non-renewal would be discussed again.

While she did not attend that meeting, Stephens said she did not receive anything from the district about that discussion.

Stephens said that doesn’t follow the letter of the law.

“We need to get together and see what happened that I was not given anything except this one letter after the April meeting,” she said.

Don Siemsen said he sees a “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch your back” agreement between Claflin and Wilson. He said that is why Michelle Brokes, board president, said football games would always be played at Claflin.

“By closing Bushton, you don’t have to contend with the football field any longer,” Siemsen said.

Siemsen said he hopes the district will get new board members who do not act selfishly.

Dennis Zink echoed many of Siemsen’s comments. He focused specifically on the board’s decision to close Central Plains Middle School in Bushton.

“How can closing a building that had over $800,000 in improvements and renovations improve the school system,” he asked.

Zink said USD 112 is not a unified school district.

“We are north end and south end,” he said.

Zink asked why doesn’t the board do what they know needs to be done.

“Close Wilson Junior-Senior High School and reopen the Bushton building,” he said.

• A list of substitutes was approved for the 2019-20 school year.

• Board members Brokes, Tony Zink and Cherlyn Maier were appointed to the USD 112 Hall of Fame Committee.

• Approval was given to sell the baseball field at Claflin to the City of Claflin for $1.

• An agreement with the Farmer Township Library was approved. The library will pay the district $100 per month to have the library in the former Central Plains Middle School. USD 112 will provide internet service.

• Clark will work through the details of organizing a school bus stop in Bushton. He said the original thought was to have the bus stop near the tornado shelter. However, safety concerns were raised by patrons and Clark suggested the possibility of using the library at the former school building.

• Approval was given to a property insurance proposal submitted to the board. The policy would insure the Bushton building for $3 million and the contents for $100,000.

• Approval was given to CPJSHS athletics to have a bicycle raffle.

• Approval was given to move the graduation pictures from the former CPMS to the community building in Bushton.

• Approval was given to Brenda Buehler as a nurse at Wilson School, Dan Gunder as assistant junior high boys’ basketball coach at CPJSHS, Ruth Potter as a junior high cheer sponsor at CPJSHS, Megan Cates as a high school dance sponsor at CPJSHS, Leslie Wright as a custodian at CPJSHS, Maddie Demel as assistant track coach at CPJSHS and Tracy McKenna as an a.m. early childhood development paraprofessional at CPES.

• Clark said the first meeting of the Futures Committee is Tuesday, Aug. 27, at CPES. Comprised of 12 members — three from each major area of the district — Clark said the committee will focus on what is the future of USD 112. Members will report to the board in January.

• No action was taken after an executive session to discuss negotiations.

• No action was taken after an executive session to discuss matters pertaining to attorney-client privilege.

The next meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Sept. 9, at CPJSHS in Claflin.