HOLYROOD — A brief preliminary review of insurance choices for the former Central Plains Middle School building in Bushton was given to the Central Plains USD 112 board of education Monday during the monthly meeting at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood.

Insurance agent Chris Conrade said the building and contents of CPMS currently has a value of $6.8 million — 20.64 percent of the district’s insurance premium.

Conrade said he didn’t have exact figures available for coverage but will work on several scenarios for the board to consider.

Conrade also explained that the district currently has replacement cost coverage and that might shift on the CPMS building to an actual cash value amount, which takes into consideration depreciation.

Conrade said the companies that insure schools are a little concerned about unoccupied buildings. Superintendent Greg Clark said that in addition to the Farmer’s Township Library, the building will be used for storage. He is working on a plan for the use of the building.

“We will continue to have security cameras there,” Clark said.

“We will get the numbers firmed up,” Conrade said.

In other business:

• The terms of board president Michelle Brokes and board vice president Tony Zink were extended until January 2020 when the new school board is seated.

• Diane Ney was approved as district board clerk.

• Darlene Lank was approved as district board treasurer.

• The consent agenda containing a total of 18 items was approved. These items included the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter and the Great Bend Tribune as the district’s designated newspapers for legal publications, John Sherman as the board attorney, a 1,116 hour school year which is mandated by the state for the 2019-20 school year, and Clark as hearing officer for student matters.

• A total of 10 district policies and resolutions were approved by the board. These include a resolution for public records, a resolution to adopt new board policies and a district inoculation policy that was in line with state policy.

• The name of Central Plains High School was changed to Central Plains Junior-Senior High School, board member Brad Schiermeyer was chosen to serve as the representative to the Governmental Relations Network, board member Jacob Charvat was chosen to serve as the representative to the professional development committee, and petty cash limits were set as follows, $1,000 for Central Plains High School; $1,000 for Wilson Schools; $1,000 for the USD 112 Board of Education; and $500 for Central Plains Elementary School. The meeting time and dates for regular board meetings will stay the same at 6 p.m. the second Monday of the month at the various attendance centers. These will be determined at a later date.

• Patron Don Siemsen of Holyrood asked the board how much it would save annually if Wilson School students in grades seven through 12 were bused to Central Plains Junior-Senior High School to attend classes in the south end of the district.

Charvat said that is kind of a loaded question because the board has no idea how many students from Wilson would attend if that were to happen.

Siemsen responded the board didn’t know how many people will move from the area as a result of closing the school in Bushton either.

“That is true,” Charvat said.

“But I think you play the average,” said Superintendent Greg Clark.

“It definitely makes a difference on how many do come and don’t come,” Zink said. “Because we get funded in our general fund based off of our enrollment.”

Siemsen said the board would save several hundred thousand dollars a year by adjusting staff.

“I’m not sure this board acts unselfishly,” he said. “It doesn’t make any difference what I say here because you’ve already made up your minds. But I think this board needs to look at things for the district rather than selfishly.”

• Approval was given to a $28,787.51 bid from Suchy Construction to pave the ramps coming in and out of CPES. They will also repair the front curbing at the school.

• Clark said he discussed the makeup of the Future’s Committee with Gary Sechrist of the Kansas Association of School Boards. Sechrist’s first meeting with the committee will be Aug. 27. The committee will meet in September, October, November and December then present recommendations to the board at the Jan. 13, 2020 board meeting.

Clark said the focus of the committee will be what is the future of the district and how it is constructed.

Clark said he is trying to get volunteers to serve on the committee.

“It’s a commitment these people are going to have to make,” he said.

Clark said when the board decided to close CPMS, that wasn’t the “end all, be all.”

“We still have work to do,” he said.

• Clark said he talked with Sherman about an agreement with Farmer’s Township Library for the use of the former CPMS in Bushton.

Clark said the library board will pay the water bill because there will be access to a bathroom for use by library patrons. Security cameras will also be left up.

Clark is going to do more investigation on bathroom access and water availability.

• Clark said the district had a $231,266 loss at Central Plains Junior-Senior High School from hail damage recently. The building will receive 19 new skylights and a new roof as a result. He said the building had a few leaks as a result of the storm, but nothing major. Clark expects the first insurance check to arrive soon for the work.

• Clark said officials with Graduation Alliance will be in the district July 22 to meet with Trina Templeton of the Lakeside Learning Center.

“We’re excited to see what they can do for our district,” Clark said.

• Approval was given to a $12,983 bid from Trane to replace the compressor in the air conditioner at CPES.

• After some discussion of the baseball field at CPJSHS in Claflin, including the fact that it is owned by the district and not by the city, Clark said he and Sherman will work with the Claflin City attorney on an agreement for the ball field.

“It’s a good opportunity for dialog,” noted Zink.

• No action was taken after a 10 minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel.

The next meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 12, at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood.