Concerns about transparency

Dear Editor, At the Russell USD 407 Board of Education meeting on Oct. 9 (see minutes, under section 56-058 Administrative Reports, subsection B. Superintendent), it was mentioned that Superintendent Bill Lowry, representing Central Plains USD 112, made contact and was interested in discussing a land transfer.

A discovery meeting transpired on Oct. 17 between a minority of Central Plains and Russell Board of Education members and their superintendents, where the numbers, a critical component of any “sale” or “sell out,” were reasonably expected by Russell. Without any financial or enrollment information prepared, a packet was promised to Russell the next day.

On Oct. 31, a formal request was made to Central Plains for a copy of the same land transfer packet provided to Russell. This request was acknowledged by Central Plains Superintendent Bill Lowry on Nov. 2.

Due to prior inconsistencies and lack of transparency by Central Plains USD 112, another individual made the same land transfer packet request to Russell USD 407 on Nov. 2. On Nov. 6, a 19-page document was received from Russell.

Three days later, on Nov. 9, a two-page document was finally received from Central Plains Superintendent Bill Lowry. Nowhere in Superintendent Bill Lowry’s email did it say any part of the request had been denied. Additionally, only one of the two pages provided by Central Plains matched any of the 19 pages provided by Russell.

This is exactly what many community members have been experiencing in requesting information from Central Plains’ District Office. It is unacceptable and people are rightfully upset. Furthermore, the land transfer discussion initiation by Central Plains with Russell was a shock to many well-informed and engaged individuals. There have been no open meeting discussions to foresee it coming, nor have there been any meetings with the communities it would affect. In all prior land transfer discussions, this was the first initiated through the Central Plains District Office. Their involvement and assistance over the last two years was nonexistent. What suddenly changed?

In any case, within the documents provided by Russell USD 407, there is a section called “Funding Considerations” from Central Plains USD 112. All are monetary; one of several items listed indicates willingness to reimburse Russell $55,968.00 for the 11 students which Russell gained from the Central Plains Wilson Jr./Sr. High School closure, but only if they approve a land transfer this school year (20232024). Not including estimated tax valuation, this section offers over an estimated $600,000 in reimbursements over the next two school years.

An enticing offer for consideration, but it also raises the question of who created and authorized this to be presented to Russell USD 407, committing Central Plains district to approximately $600,000 in funds, if accepted. If Central Plains Board of Education created and approved this, again, it did not happen in an open meeting. Additionally, the offer suggests that Central Plains acknowledges the funding they receive for those 11 students are in fact undeserved funds. If they are willing to offer reimbursement for the students they are not educating, has the same offer been presented to the other districts that are?

In previous and current campaign materials of recently re-elected Chad Rogers, Central Plains USD 112 at-large position, he lists transparency as a core value. Yet three years and 11 months into his first term, here we are, still waiting… Darcy Vopat Wilson