CLAFLIN — At Monday’s meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education, a group Wilson residents had a special request: Consider a land transfer of Wilson School to another school district.

The group also asked the board to delay the closing of the 7-12 building at Wilson School for one year to give them time to find a school district willing to do the land transfer.

On Jan. 9 by a 5-2 vote, the board approved a resolution closing the Wilson Jr./ Sr. High School building at the end of the 2022-23 school year and reassigning those students grades 7-12 to Central Plains Jr./Sr. High School in Claflin.

USD 112 Superintendent Bill Lowry said during Monday’s board meeting at CPJSHS, the group talked to him about whether there is the potential of a land transfer in the 2024-25 school year.

“We’ve already passed the date for this year,” he said, “so now we’re looking at 202425.”

Lowry said the group is asking that USD 112 continue to fund grades 7-12 at Wilson for the 2023-24 school year if there is interest shown by another district for a land transfer, as well as an agreement between USD 112 and that district.

“Really, we can’t do a lot of action until a district says ‘yeah we’re interested in wanting to do this,’” Lowry said, adding that it appears the Natoma school district has shown the highest interest. “And that’s when you have to sit down and come to an agreement. If both boards agree and there is a signed agreement, then it will go to the state board of education for approval.”

In order to get the request on the agenda at the state board of education’s April meeting however, Lowry said such an agreement would need to be completed within the next two weeks.

“The reason I state that is because at the beginning of May, you’re getting into the end of the teacher contract period to continue contracts,” he said.

Jacob Charvat, a representative of the group and a former USD 112 board member, said the group had representation at the school board meetings in Ellsworth and Natoma, and information is being sent to the Sylvan-Lucas and Russell school districts as well as to the Catholic Diocese of Salina to possibly look into a Christian school.

“I think if you gave them that one year where they still have their school, it’s going to easier to transition into a new district,” Wilson group member Kayla Cullens said. “I think we owe our students at least one more year, and after that, we know that if this doesn’t happen, after the next school year, it closes. We have this opportunity and we just have to try.”

Kenny Beneda, another member of the group, said he has contacted Dennis Hershberger, the local representative on the state board of education to seek information.

“He encouraged us to talk to him tomorrow about a land transfer,” Beneda said.

“We can’t prolong this past May,” Lowry said. “If we’re going to do this, we need to take action as quickly as possible.”

He suggested that if a school district does show interest, then three people from that board join three people from the USD 112 school board and commence the process of coming up with an agreement so that at a special meeting, it could be presented to the board for consideration.

“Each board is going to have to agree on the same agreement,” Lowry said.

“As a school board, we’re definitely not trying to stand in the way of what the communities are trying to do,” USD 112 Board President Tamara Dody said, “because we do understand some of the difficulties and challenges such a large district and such a large land mass pose. We can’t deny that; I don’t deny that. So, as far as that goes, I’m interested to hear if another school board is interested. We’re open to a discussion. We definitely don’t want to prolong the stress and anxiety in order to plan and prepare for next school year.”

Dody said there definitely needs to be a deadline, however. She suggested the board hold off on making any particular motion and discuss it further in a future special meeting.

Lowry recommended the board wait to see if intent is expressed by another school district in doing a land transfer.

After further brief discussion, the consensus of the board was they are willing and interested to talk to any interested school district about a land transfer, with the understanding that the proceedings would be expedited.

“Now, we’re in a waiting game,” Dody noted.

In other business:

• After a 33-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel, the lists of supplemental positions and certified staff were approved as presented. Also approved were the reappointments of Central Plains Elementary School Principal Jane Oeser, CPJSHS Principal Toby Holmes and Lowry as superintendent.

• Approval was given to the resignations of CPJSHS custodian Callie Ploutz and CPJSHS family and onsumer science teacher Terri DeWerff.

The next meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, March 13, at either CPJSHS or the USD 112 district office, both in Claflin.