WILSON — The Central Plains USD 112 board of education will continue moving forward to complete a facilities study initiated in November with Wiens and Company Construction of Hutchinson.

That was the consensus of the board during Monday’s meeting at Wilson School.

Before the decision, Sid Wiens, owner of the company, asked board members if they wanted him to back off the study, given last month’s vote to move all 7-12 grade students in the district to Central Plains Junior-Senior High School in Claflin beginning in the 2023-24 school year.

“We’re happy to step back and just pause,” he said.

Wiens said to move forward with the study, a steering committee made up of residents in the various USD 112 communities needs to be established. These residents, led by Wiens, will look ahead and form recommendations to address the facility needs of the district for the next two generations. He stressed, however, the committee will not address the problems facing the district.

Brad Schiermeyer, board president, said even with the changes that were approved last month, all of the buildings are still part of USD 112 and are functioning.

“So I would think that we would want to continue,” he said.

“I’m not here to put pressure on you,” Wiens said. “I just want to make sure we’re not failing you.”

Board member Allison Koch said she would be in favor of asking Wiens to pause the study until the district figures out what it will look like in two, three or 10 years. Superintendent Greg Clark

Superintendent Greg Clark asked what would happen if the board moves forward with the study. “We do know that we’ll have

“We do know that we’ll have Central Plains High School,” he said. “We do know we will have Central Plains Elementary School. We don’t know about Wilson. They’re actively looking at going to another district. I don’t yet see the benefit of not moving forward.”

Clark said if, by chance, Wilson remains in USD 112, which he hopes will happen, the board could easily, at the end, come back and look at Wilson School and its needs.

“If Wilson leaves, or if Wilson stays, the only change will be we would have this elementary school here,” Clark said. “I think we move forward. That’s my recommendation.”

In other business:

• Consideration of hiring Ken Windholz as building principal at Wilson for the 2022-23 school year was tabled. After the board meeting Schiermeyer said that (and other topics) would be discussed at a special meeting of the USD 112 board of education, set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 25, at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood.

• A decision on the location of the district office was tabled until the special board meeting after a motion made by board member Chad Rogers failed due to lack of a second. Roger’s motion was to offer Plum Creek Apartments in Holyrood a two-year contract for two apartments to house the district office.

Other locations being considered are the former school building in Bushton, the old elementary school in Claflin and the purchase of a portable office.

• The board approved replacement of two rooftop air conditioning condensers at Wilson School at an estimated cost of $30,033.

• After two executive sessions totalling 25 minutes to discuss non-elected personnel (contract), the board approved a $1,500 stipend for Clark for the extra duties he assumed last month until the end of the school year.

• By consensus, the board agreed the district will continue moving forward with establishing a daycare facility at Wilson School and at the Central Plains end of the district.

Clark said the daycare facilities would be open to any family in the district. He noted the daycare would utilize existing space at Wilson School, but a daycare in Claflin is still at least a year out. Clark also said he doesn’t have the final cost to the district.

“It’s a great perk for the community and a great perk for the school,” said board member Roger Robinson.

“It’s something that will draw people in,” Clark added.

• Three school fees were approved for the 2022-23 school year. First, the fee for 3-yearolds was lowered from $50 to $35 per week. Second, the price of an adult lunch was raised from $4 to $4.20. Third, a $40 fee was implemented for seventh and eighth grade students who take home laptop computers.

• Certified and classified positions for the 2022-23 school year were approved.

• Principal’s contracts for Jane Oeser and Toby Holmes were approved for the 2022-23 school year.

• District staff were approved for the 2022-23 school year.

• Holmes was approved as the driver’s education teacher at CPHS.

• Katie Bellah was approved as a para-professional at CPES, and Amanda Plattner was approved as a part-time paraprofessional at CPES.

• Wayne Dewerf was approved as the vocational agriculture teacher at CPHS.

• Resignations were approved for Cindy Heinze and Ruth Billinger, cooks at Wilson School; Daniel Dawson, principal at Wilson School; Deb Gould, high school social studies teacher at Wilson; Becky Littrell, para-professional at CPES; Gunner Helton, maintenance at CPES; and Darlene Lank, board treasurer.

• The resignation of Karla Kiplinger as a physical education teacher at Wilson also was approved.

• The board will digest information presented by Clark on a proposal from INA Alert of Ellinwood to install security systems at schools in the district. These include secure entrances, cameras and vaping detectors.

• Clark will get bids by the June meeting on needed roof repairs at Wilson and CPES.

The next regular meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, June 13, at Central Plains High School in Claflin.

"I think we move forward. That’s my recommendation."

Greg Clark

USD 112 Superintendent