Dear I-R Editor:

I read Alan Rusch’s coverage of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education meeting at Holyrood on March 24, and I believe the Superintendent is correct on feeling a lot of push back when he discusses the idea of combining the Wilson and Central Plains sports programs. There are at least five costs associated with combining the programs:

One, lost time for the student, if a student participates in volleyball, track, basketball and football that student could spend an estimated 155 hours per school year on the bus — 155 hours the student can’t work, hard to study. Estimated cost 155 hrs. x $7.25 min. wage x 20 students = $22,475.

33 weeks x 5 days = 165 days, 165 days x 47 miles round trip = 7,755 miles, 7,755 miles/50 mph = 155 hrs.

Two, exposing students to a bus ride on a poor road, the county road south of Wilson is not a state road and is not maintained like one, it is not always marked, snow removal is not the same. Does the district want to be responsible for a bus load of kids out there? Would Central Plains patrons want their students on that road in the winter? You can’t estimate a cost for this one.

Three, estimated cost of a bus driver, 155 hrs x $15 = $2,325

Four, estimated cost of a bus, 7,755 miles x $1.45 per mi = $11,244.75 Five, estimated fuel, 7,755

Five, estimated fuel, 7,755 miles/10 mpg = 775.5 gals., 775.5 gals. x $5 = $3,877.5

Estimated cost of busing from Wilson to Claflin or Claflin to Wilson as I’m sure it wouldn’t just be Wilson students expected to be bussed, if Claflin has football, Wilson should have basketball or vice versa. $39,922.25 per school year, expensive.

Wilson is growing, our school is important to that growth, the school will grow with the city, it’s good for USD 112. Wilson is aware more housing is needed, a new duplex is being completed now, The City of Wilson is obtaining grants to improve existing housing, it’s good for USD 112. The Wilson grocery is being remodeled thanks to a grant, it’s good for USD 112. The Wilson/Dorrance area patrons are fierce supporters of Wilson School activities, good for USD 112.

What’s good for Wilson is good for USD 112. Wilson can be a good partner in USD 112. Shutting down the Wilson School is good for no one. The students will scatter to Sylvan Grove, Ellsworth, Russell and a few to Claflin.

While serving on the USD 328 board, we worked together to keep two K thru 12s operating, no one was trying to shut one of them down. The Wilson/Dorrance area patrons support USD 112, but if the board can’t figure out a way to operate two separate K thru 12 schools then Wilson/Dorrance patrons may organize, consult with an attorney, and explore options with Sylvan Grove, Ellsworth or Russell schools and consolidate with one of them. The land transfer should be the land and school that Wilson and Dorrance brought into the USD 112 transferred to the district we consolidate with.

In this letter I am speaking only for myself.

Chuck Crawford former USD 328 (Quivira Heights) board president Wilson, Kan.