CLAFLIN —The USD 112 Central Plains Board of Education was bombarded with a general consensus of displeasure from visitors during the public forum Monday evening.

For about 20 minutes, various people from within the district voiced their concerns with the upcoming vote for disorganization. Those who spoke had different stakes in the game, from a city council member to a realtor, each weighed in on the situation.

First up was Corey Liebl, Claflin resident and city council member.

“My roots are with Central Plains,” he said.

Liebl has been researching the facts behind the upcoming Aug. 1 vote through articles from various media outlets, podcasts and social media posts.

“I’ve learned nothing,” he said, elaborating that social media and news outlets are not giving accurate or useful information. He went on to research district financials, meeting minutes and other information available to the public. His conclusion was that the upcoming vote will lead to destruction.

“It just amazes me that we’ve gotten to this point,” he said. “This has the potential to destroy all three schools. A no vote is the only way to keep a school at Wilson as I see it.”

Next up was local realtor J.D. Johnson, who attacked the topic from a professional angle. He acknowledged the differing opinions on both sides. However, he expressed that there is area in which both sides have common ground. “One thing both sides can agree on is that we love what our current property values are,” he said.

He went on to explain that if a yes vote were to pass, 107 teachers and staff will be searching for jobs and more than 350 students will be displaced if these schools close. This will, in turn, make the communities unattractive to people with children. He said he has already received calls from two clients interested in selling depending on the outcome of the vote.

“Values of homes will drop drastically,” he said. “The impact will be swift and extremely drastic.”

Following Johnson was Taylor Bieberle, who appealed to voters to vote no as well.

“A yes vote threatens, and could very well destroy, a school district that has graduated, year-after-year, kind, successful, dedicated students,” he said. “Central Plains would dissolve as a thriving district. That alone should scare rural Americans.”

In other news, the board will be surveying the 11 families who live outside the 2.5-mile radius for next school year. Their options are to have a bus pickup for transportation or be paid mileage for transporting their children to and from school. The current rate they are being paid is 37 cents per mile. Should the majority choose to be paid mileage, board member Roger Robinson requested the mileage pay increase to the state level of 55 cents per mile.

The board approved handbooks for next year. This includes faculty, student and new activities handbooks. Changes made to the student handbook include the following:

• Students who are ill must report to the office or nurse and the school will initiate parent contact. Students who contact parents without the prior knowledge of the school may be counted as an unexcused absence.

• Ineligible students will not be allowed to ride to or from activities in district vehicles.

In addition, a new activities handbook has been created. The book states, “It is the purpose of this handbook to familiarize students, parents and coaches of USD 112 of the policies and procedures necessary for the successful operation of the activity program. We hope that this handbook will inform students, parents and coaches regarding administrative rules and regulations within our programs. This handbook is not meant to cover every set of circumstances, but to serve as a guideline for all to follow in the area of interscholastic activities.”

• No increases will be made to student fees next year, however, the district insurance rate through EMC Insurance Co. has increased by 27 percent to $43,000. The KASB Workers Compensation Renewal has also increased to $8,252.

• The end of the year meeting is scheduled for June 28 in the morning as it has been in the past.

• The Kansas Board of Education is expected to hold meetings in three of the USD 112 communities to discuss what can happen after the special election. The board will release all information in regards to those meetings when it becomes available.