HOLYROOD — Central Plains USD 112 Superintendent Greg Clark and his building administrators have been given clear direction by the district’s board of education — begin work on a common block scheduling plan that would be implemented for both Wilson Junior-Senior High School and Central Plains Junior-Senior High School in Claflin.

That message, by consent agreement of the entire board, was sent Sept. 28, during a special meeting at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood.

“This is going to take a significant amount of time to work through this and it won’t be perfect from the get go,” Clark said.

After the plan is developed, it will be presented to the board.

“I feel that’s a step in the right direction,” said Brad Schiermeyer, board president.

Block scheduling, however, is just a first, baby step along a slow and lengthy path, with the goal of maintaining the longterm viability and stability of the district and raising educational opportunities for USD 112 students.

Dr. Brian Jordan of the Kansas Association of School Boards, led the discussion at the special meeting. He updated the board on possible next steps in the process by reviewing the work of the district’s configuration committee.

He talked about how change affects people differently and the art and science of leading people Clark, who along with his

Clark, who along with his building administrators, has been working on options and possible future configurations for the district to consider, said the focus is squarely on what is best for all students in USD 112.

“We are stronger together,” he said. “We are not in dire straights — we’re okay. We’ve got to look at efficiencies and improving the product we give to students.”

Clark said he would like to provide more opportunities for real-life experiences for students. For example, the district could buy an unoccupied, dilapidated home in Wilson. Wood shop students could then gain real world experience by rehabilitating and updating the home, which would then be sold to a family with children who would become students in the district.

Clark said the district could also open day care centers in Wilson and Claflin in which students interested in childcare could gain real-world experience.

Clark said he would like to also look at the sharing of staff between both ends of the district, which, along with similar schedules, would reduce teacher work loads.

Board member Tami Schepmann said it excited her to create opportunities for students.

“Because if we can’t provide what students need, our students will go elsewhere,” she said.

She also liked the idea of reducing stress on teachers.

Board member Tony Zink said while the process the district is considering is good, the board needs to keep in mind they have to have honest — and sometimes blunt — discussion on these matters and how to best achieve the goals they are striving for.

Jane Oeser, CPES principal, asked the board to also consider the fact that her building needs more physical space to better accommodate students — now and in the future.

But the need for more space at CPES is just one of several physical needs facing each building in the district. Board members noted the heating, venting and air conditioning system at Wilson School needs repaired or replaced. School parking lots in the district are in need of the same consideration.

Clark noted that due to the increasingly high costs associated with the needed physical repairs to the district’s buildings, there are certain items the district can’t afford to do.

The idea was then floated that the board may have to take a hard look at another bond issue somewhere down the road to deal with these physical issues in order to maintain the future viability of these buildings.

Jordan plans to meet again with the board in November to gauge the progress being made.