WILSON — By a vote of 5 to 2, the Central Plains USD 112 board of education voted Monday to close Central Plains Middle School in Bushton beginning with the 2019-20 school year.

The tension among the large crowd was thick as the vote came at the end of a three-plus hour-long meeting in the Wilson School gym.

According to the resolution approved by the board, students attending the middle school will be transferred to either Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood or Central Plains High School in Claflin.

Several board members made it clear the decision was not made lightly.

“This decision is not an easy one,” said board member Brad Schiermeyer before the vote. “Every single thing the public has brought to our attention I am definitely considering.”

Schiermeyer said the board must save money for the longevity of USD 112.

“I do not take any decision to close a building lightly,” he said.

“This was not a rush decision,” added board vice president Tony Zink.

“The reality is this has been discussed for quite some time,” said Michelle Brokes, board president.“The long-range plan is to make this district viable. To make it financially viable as well as to continue to offer good quality programs for our students.”

Brokes said the board can’t keep pushing a decision down the road.

“We don’t have the transfers to make anymore,” she said. “We cannot continue down this path and think that we’re supposed to be a district.”

Another view

“I don’t see how we can sit here and say this is what is best for the kids,” said board member Jerry Bieberle.“I just don’t see the benefits.”

Bieberle said the middle school is currently the most efficient building in the district.

“Now we’re going to decide to close it to save less than $100,000,” he said. “Other cuts are possible.”

Bieberle said he completely disagrees with those who say it’s not the school, it’s the location.

““That is not right,” he said. “This has nothing to do with the town of Bushton,” he said. “It’s about what is best for the district and for the kids.”

"I do not take any decision to close a building lightly."
Brad Schiermeyer
Board member

Bieberle said it is “just completely wrong” to close a building that is more efficient than other district buildings without hardly saving anything and — at the same time — spending more over the next two years to make the new configuration work.

Bieberle made a motion to table the vote until new school board members are seated after the November election and they have more time to review costs.

“There are four positions that are possibly going to change on the board,” he said. “I’m not saying they will change, but they could possibly change.”

His motion died for the lack of a second.

Other voices

As with the previous board meeting, almost a dozen patrons voiced their thoughts before the vote was taken. Here is a sample of some of those comments:

“The board has spent a tremendous amount of taxpayer money on the Central Plains Middle School in Bushton for the last year or year and a half,” said Jane Habiger. “And here we are tonight ready to close the door on that. Was that the plan when you voted to spend that money? Did you have that in the back of your minds?”

She asked the board not to make another rash, costly decision without a long-range plan.

“It’s too late in the game to close down a school now,” said Karen Habiger.“We are here to help each other. I don’t believe we are being treated very well. They are taking everything from us.”

“I just wanted to remind the board one more time what an injustice it would be for the Farmers Township Library to close if the Bushton school is closed down,” said Karen Riggs, library board president.“Many services were shared between the school and the library to the advantage of both the middle school students and the community. A library is the literary lifeblood of a community and school.”

In other business:

• Superintendent Greg Clark asked that the board consider transferring another $160,000 out of the contingency fund at the end of the year to help cover expenses. Previously, the board voted to transfer $150,000 to help cover expenses. He said that would drop the district’s contingency fund to less than $100,000 to begin the 2019-20 school year with.

• Approval was given to a $42,498.45 purchase of 88 Chrome books, plus a number of I Pads and cases for the 2019-20 school year.

• The board tabled a decision on the purchase of workers compensation insurance, student insurance and property and casualty insurance for the 2019-20 school year until the end-of-theyear meeting on June 27.

• Approval was given to a $22,379 bid from DCS to work on the boiler at CPHS.

• After a 30-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel, Ted Schmidt was hired as the boys’ basketball coach at CPHS.

• Randy Fox was hired as the new principal at Wilson School and Susan Thielen was hired as a half-time sixth grade teacher at Wilson School. Rebecca Whitmer was hired as a custodian at Wilson, while Megan Zelenka was hired as the forensics, junior class sponsor and yearbook leader at Wilson. Ted Long and Anna Criswell were hired for the summer weights program at Wilson. Eric Schmidt was hired as assistant football coach at CPMS.

• The board accepted the resignation of Lakin Sprick as library aide at CPMS.

The next meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be an end-ofthe-year meeting at 7 a.m. Thursday, June 27, at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood.

Note to Readers: Ross Janssen’s weather is on Page B9.