Dear USD 112 board members, We would like to ask you to consider extending Wilson Jr./Sr. High School for one more year.

Yes, we realize you’ve considered the issue — twice.

And you’ve said no — twice (you told the Catholic church “no” to extending the school’s closure, so it feels like a long shot that you will say “yes” to an editorial in the local paper, but it’s worth a try).

Will Monday’s board meeting be the proverbial “third time’s a charm?”

We realize it’s a long shot, but we certainly hope so.

Watching this school closure saga unfold has been gutwrenching. It’s brought out both the best and worst in us all.

We’ve seen the communities of Wilson and Dorrance rally together to explore every option to continue to operate an education center for junior and senior high schoolers in Wilson. These efforts are reminiscent of “The Little Engine That Could.”

It’s also brought out the worst in some of us, too.

That happens in the heat of the moment, and it happens on both sides of any issue. We say things in the heat of passion that upon reflection we know are unkind, but we are so deeply hurt that we lash out like a wounded animal.

Let’s all take one deep breath and realize the harsh words are coming from a place of hurt, then, let’s see what we can do to work together.

In last week’s edition of the I-R, we reported Wilson supporters once again requested an extension of one year to sort out a myriad of issues. If an extension isn’t granted, the community has gathered enough signatures to initiate a special election that could dissolve USD 112.

Does it really have to come to that?

What would extending Wilson Jr./Sr. High School cost the USD 112 board?

Pride.

When we are engaged in a bitter dispute, it’s easier to dig in and double down than it is to swallow our pride and say, “I was wrong.” But in this instance, nobody really needs to admit wrongdoing. The board simply needs to offer an additional 12 months for new laws, such as HB 2138 to go into effect. Some of these new laws could allow Wilson a more structured appeal at the state, or it could allow a separate district to be formed.

Would that be so bad? Would it be worse than potentially losing more than 100 students for USD 112 if the students who are displaced from WJSHS opt to attend an out-of-district school?

In this week’s paper, Wilson educator Alice Peterka points out the school had a mission statement that said, “We’re here for every student, every chance, every day.”

Can we all pause and reflect on that? What is truly best for every student in the USD 112 Central Plains district? Is it to close an education center and for those students to go out-of-district, or is it better to pause, swallow our pride and allow them one more year to sort out other options?

Karen Bonar Publisher