WILSON — District bus drivers were recognized Monday by the Central Plains USD 112 board of education for their efforts throughout the school year in honor of Bus Drivers Appreciation Week.

“Our bus drivers, both men and women, do an outstanding job,” said Superintendent Greg Clark said at the district’s board meeting at Wilson School. “Who is the first person a lot of kids see every morning — our bus drivers. Who is the last person they see every day — the bus drivers. Our bus drivers are something special. They care for kids and they want to do the right thing for them.”

Clark said while he is proud of all district employees, but he is especially proud of the bus drivers.

“We could not do school without them,” he said.

The USD 112 bus drivers are Jaime Zink, DeAnna Moran, Joy Hertach, Brian Zink, Jan Shaw, Jerry Zelenka, Pat Crenshaw, Gayla Short, Charlene Zelenka, and Brooklyn Hekele.

In other business:

• Clark said he plans to work with a group of junior high and high school teachers and administrators in the district to form a steering committee to work on a strategic plan. Clark said the group’s first meeting is Oct. 22.

“This is just a start,” he added. The group will look at such things as facilities and physical plant improvements, the possibility of sharing teachers, block scheduling, teacher retention and recruitment, and expanded educational opportunities for students, such as job shadowing out in the local communities.

Clark hopes to have a final draft report of the strategic plan ready for the board to review by December.

• USD 112 Hall of Fame nominees Betty Dohrman and Rita Stephens were approved.

• Approval was given to participate in the Barton County and Rice County Neighborhood Revitalization Programs

• A suggestion by Allen Hurley, junior high boys basketball coach at Central Plains Junior-Senior High School, to conduct practice at the former Central Plains Middle School building in Bushton, which is now owned by the City of Bushton, will be considered by the board.

“That would allow us to have one place we’d go to practice,” he said.

The cost would be $245 for the season. However, Hurley said he would donate $100 off of his salary to practice in Bushton.

• Approval was given to have CPJSHS students tour the Auschwitz Museum in Kansas City, Mo. Clark said admission is free due to a grant and H&B Communications is taking care of the transportation costs, so there is no cost to the district.

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