CLAFLIN — Parents of students in grades 7-12 in Wilson and Dorrance who, for the past many months, have been desperately searching for a path forward to educate their children, may now have a new glimmer of hope.

At Monday’s meeting of the USD 112 Central Plains board of education in Claflin, the board approved by a 6-1 vote to negotiate a lease agreement with the Catholic Diocese of Salina for the use of the 7-12 school building at Wilson for the 2023-24 school year.

The single no vote was cast by Board President Tamara Dody.

“When the initial motion was made last April, it was to give a year for a land transfer to be thought out,” Dody said.

She noted all the “eggs” were placed in the basket of the USD 299 Sylvan-Lucas school district.

“And then that didn’t work out,” Dody said.

Now, she noted, all the eggs have been placed in the basket of the diocese and extending the process yet another yearwould be going back on the motion previously made.

Earlier, Superintendent Bill Lowry noted the diocese sent a letter to the USD 112 board requesting a one-year extension for the school to help give the diocese time to iron out options with respect to opening a Catholic junior/senior high school in Wilson.

Aaron Dlabal, a representative of the Save Wilson Schools group, said regardless of whether or not the board wants to grant that extension, the diocese would like to lease the building and share the junior/senior high school side with the district.

That would include splitting the cost of utilities, basic repairs and staff (custodians, cooks, etc.).

“I struggle to find a significant downside for the district,” board member Brad Schiermeyer said. “Especially if we do a lease.”

Board member Josh Hurley said he didn’t see a struggle in leasing the building. The struggle, he noted, will be sharing the costs.

Lowry reminded the board and those in attendance that the district is still operating under the fact that a resolution was passed in January to close Wilson Jr./Sr. High School at the end of the 2022-23 school year and reassign those students to Central Plains Jr./Sr. High School in Claflin. In addition, a motion to delay that closure for another year failed at the March meeting by a 5-2 vote.

In other business:

• After a 15-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel, the board accepted the resignations of Wilson fifth grade teacher Brooke Reis, Wilson vocational agriculture teacher Stephanie Laack and Wilson art teacher Christine Slechta, all effective at the end of the 2022-23 school year. Also accepted was the resignation of Wilson cook Tammy Pellant, effective April 14.

• Approval was given to have Innovative Solutions do an air quality study and environmental letter at CPJSHS at a cost of $3,200.

• Kirstin Crites was approved as the school district’s representative on the Claflin Recreation Commission. She succeeds Melissa Hubbard.

• Approval was given to a donation by the Central Plains Parent-Teacher Organization of a mascot uniform to CPJSHS.

• One-day trips for the senior classes at Wilson and Claflin were approved.

• Approval was given to purchase a new (either 2023 or 2024) school bus at a cost of $142,491. A $35,623 grant would be used to defray some of that cost, making the final cost $106,868.

• Approval was given to renew the district’s membership in the Kansas Association of School Boards for one year at a cost of $9,008.20, as well as the board’s membership in the KASB legal defense fund for one year at a cost of $2,750.

The next meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, May 8, at the district office in Claflin.