BUSHTON — Bill Lowry, superintendent of Central Plains USD 112, spent most of an hour-and-a-half July 6 answering a variety of questions from 50-60 patrons at the Bushton Community Building regarding the upcoming Aug. 1 vote.
The vote will give patrons of the district the option to disorganize with a yes vote or remain the same with a no vote.
Lowry was invited to take questions by the community of Bushton and patrons who requested the meeting, which was conducted by the grassroots organization called the United USD 112 Save Our District.
While patrons had the opportunity to ask questions of Lowry directly or make statements, most of the questions were sent in beforehand and were posed by Denise Schmidt of Claflin, who is working with United USD 112 Save Our District and Jessie Habiger, Bushton, the organization’s Bushton area representative.
Following is a selection of those questions along with Lowry’s answers:
I heard the board of education is looking to use the Bushton building for student programs, practices and activities in the future. Can you give more information on this?
“That has been brought up and discussed this year since I have been here. It’s a possibility. I believe we’ve used that for junior high basketball practice in the past, so that has been discussed. It depends upon the needs of the district.”

If a yes vote were successful, would this new corporation between the board of education and City of Bushton stop the student activities and practices in the future?
“The district would dissolve or disorganize, so there would not be any school district to be a cooperative agreement.”
Would the Little Oilers football team also stop using the football field and holding games on Saturdays if a yes vote goes through?
“I would assume that if it is a community group where the city owns that property, I would assume that they could continue that based on numbers and participation.”
In combining the two junior/senior high schools, some of the teachers resigned or were not renewed, but there were openings for teachers at Wilson Elementary School. Why can’t the high school teachers teach the elementary students?
“All teachers are licensed for grade level. Those teachers that were available or there were possible openings took positions to continue teaching.”
A benefit or advantage that was listed  as a reason for building closure at the Jan. 4 building closure meeting in Wilson was the estimated savings of $1,021,032 by closing Wilson Jr./Sr. High School. This would save $778,398 in salaries alone, $120,980 in KPERS retirement benefits, $30,000 in student athletics and $91,654 in estimated supplies. Can you explain why adding money to base pay of teachers is important in the future?
“We’re in a teacher shortage. If your base pay is in the bottom 10 in the state, you don’t attract good teachers out of Fort Hays State or Salina. You have to recruit people. The numbers you just read are total expenditures. There’s always savings, but never 100 percent.”
Joyce Hoelscher of Bushton then took the microphone to speak about moving on to something bigger.
“I’d like to speak to the group about moving on to something bigger than down in defeat with those we are upset with,” Hoelscher said. “Yes, the previous school board and superintendent made decisions we were very upset with. At that time, there was a very definite feeling of being treated unfairly.
“Today, I want to talk about stepping above that vote and making something pretty impressive out of our lives. The (Bushton) plaza (the former Central Plains Middle School) has become quite an opportunity for this community to move on a voyage we never expected.
“We have businesses in the building — a library that is growing and organizing activities for the community, family get-togethers, a senior center and a rec center among more activities and opportunities than I know happen within the community. There will be a professional kitchen available soon for business baking, catering and just fun baking within groups. The city has talked about other options joining the plaza.
“The Central Plains Junior High School has had sports practicing in the building, which is great to have kids back in the building. Our football field has been maintained to still be the best football field around. The city council has voted in a special meeting to cooperate with our district to bring activities back to this building.
“My goal tonight is to ask you to please vote no. Keep the schools open to keep a possibility of more activities being brought back to Bushton as our communities grow.”
Hoelscher said to be able to say we now have school activities back in Bushton would be the greatest way of saying we were hurt with the decision of the past board and superintendent.
“But we are a community that supports the kids,” she said, “and we will be open to welcoming the activities and kids back to Bushton. A no vote shows this community is not going to be dismissed by anyone. We need our local schools to remain local. The local communities can work together for everyone.”
Allan Hurley of Bushton then added to Hoelscher’s comments.
“A couple of years ago, we started looking at what we thought was a win-win for the district down on this end,” Hurley said. “Bringing some of the sports activities back over here, particularly practices, and it worked out well.”
Hurley said he has talked to several board members and teachers about including Wilson students and making them a part of the district in some way.
“I don’t know how we can do that, but we can reach out to them, and if this is a no vote and it goes through, that they maintain what they have and they feel like they are a part of the district,” he said.
Hurley said he is afraid that with a yes vote, the district would be split up and anything that is already at Bushton, Wilson, Dorrance, etc. could be gone.
“Is that a possibility,” he asked Lowry.
“Yes,” Lowry replied.
Hurley said a no vote would be good for every community involved, including Wilson.
“I would recommend that if we can get a no vote, hold this thing together, we try to pull the communities together and the school district together and make them all feel a part of it,” Hurley said, “and do the best we can up there at Wilson.”
Habiger then closed with the following:
“A yes vote turns (our kids’) world upside down,” she said. “This is something they didn’t decide or ask for. They don’t get the option to vote, and yet some are voting to change their futures without even considering how each of the students feel or how it will affect them.
“Have the people who are upset about things that have happened in the past — who are maybe wanting yes out of hatred or wanting to destroy a specific community — have they asked the kids what they want? Have they thought about the kids and how it affects their lives and education?
“Vote no to allow our communities, all of them, to continue to thrive as best as they can and to keep the school buildings going as long as absolutely possible. To keep our taxes limited, to keep our staff and teachers employed, but most of all, to allow students to attend schools they are comfortable in, where they know the staff, see their friends and feel safe.”