CLAFLIN — By a unanimous 7-0 vote Monday, the Central Plains USD 112 board of education agreed to sell the former Central Plains Middle School building at Bushton to the City of Bushton for $26,460.

The vote was met with jeers from several patrons in attendance.

“I hope they’re happy,” one patron was heard saying.

As part of the sale resolution, USD 112 will be allowed to store equipment for free at the former CPMS building until Sept. 14, 2021.

The sale vote came after a motion by board vice president Tamara Dody to reject all bids and sell the building to the City of Bushton for $1 was defeated by a vote of 3-4.

Dody preceded her motion by addressing her fellow board members.

“I would like to challenge all of us to truly listen to each other,” she said. “We all come together with unique perspectives and knowledge. Let us learn from each other, educate each other and grow and become stronger together as a board of education and as a Unified School District 112.”

Dody said she fears the best of intentions has only divided the district’s patrons instead of unifying them.

“And we continue to do so,” she added.

Dody said the closing of any building or business in a small town creates challenges.

“Especially when that place is a large cornerstone of that town — such as a school,” she said. “Understandably, when Central Plains Middle School was closed, the community of Bushton rallied to try with all their might to convince the board to retain the use of the building as an education center. I know without a doubt, that we would all do the same for our education centers.”

Dody said when district school buildings were sold back to their communities in the past, they were done so for $1.

“I am not speaking to you to point fingers, place blame or try to undo what has been done,” she said. “But merely to try to increase empathy for the members of our district that are grieving for the loss of a large part of the community.”

In addition to the City of Bushton, which was the high bid, four others submitted bids to purchase the building.

After Dody spoke, Brad Schiermeyer, board president, said he was torn over how to proceed. He questioned whether selling the building to the City of Bushton for $1 was in the best interest of the district.

In other business: • After returning from a 16- minute executive session to discuss teacher negotiations, the board approved the 2020-21 negotiated agreement.

• By consensus, the board asked Superintendent Greg Clark to arrange a meeting with Irv Mitchell of Wilson State Bank to discuss lease-purchase options and which equipment in the Bushton building can be moved or left in the building in order to satisfy the lease agreement the bank has with the district on that equipment. Schiermeyer and Dody will also be at the meeting.

Discussions of moving the gym lights, the four Modine air conditioning units and the bleachers were tabled. However, Clark will double check if the bleachers would fit at Central Plains Junior Senior High School. He will also get bids on new bleachers.

• By consensus, the board asked Clark to give an update at each board meeting on the status of face mask wearing. That decision was made after Dody asked Clark if the district’s mask wearing policy could be amended.

Clark said both the Ellsworth County Health Department and the Barton County Health Department recommend the wearing of face masks in schools. He noted the students get breaks from wearing the masks during the school day.

“The way I’ve approached this is what the health department tells me is what I have done,” he added.

• A three-and-one-half percent raise across the board in the salaries of classified staff and administrators was approved.

• Substitute teacher pay was increased from $90 per day to $95 per day and from $100 to $105 per day for long term substitutes. Clark said that would put USD 112 more in line with other school districts in the area.

• Yearbook payments in the amount of $3,000 each for Wilson High School and CPJSHS were approved. Clark said the 2019 yearbook is still being produced. Production has greatly slowed due to COVID-19.

• The resignation of Susan Parker as a custodian at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood was approved.

• Stephanie Peterman was approved as head junior high volleyball coach at CPJSHS, Brichelle Davis was approved as assistant junior high volleyball coach at CPJSHS, and Rocky Summers was approved as a substitute teacher district-wide.

• Clark gave a briefing on the updated board goals and asked the board to provide feedback after examining them.

“These will continually grow as they are worked on,” he said.

• A set of five additions to the district’s continuous learning plan were adopted. These include the KSHSAA guidelines for students returning to sports after contacting COVID-19, remote learning plans for Wilson School, CPJSHS, CPES and Fall Activity Guidelines for Wilson School and CPJSHS.

• Clark said the first meeting of the configuration study is Thursday, Oct. 8. The study, led by the Kansas Association of School Boards, will examine the possible configuration of schools in the district. The study will generate a report for the board to consider. Clark said he is forming a new, updated Futures Committee for the study and is wanting community members, teachers and parents to be involved.

• Clark said the Graduation Alliance, which is an on-line learning plan for students across Kansas, has earned students 132 credits so far. That has meant an additional $10,000 for USD 112.

• Schiermeyer said he received a letter from Feeding Children of Central Kansas. This summer, 8,097 children in USD 112 were provided meals under that program.

“That’s a positive for children and parents,” Clark said.

The next meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 12, at the Wilson School Commons.

“The way I’ve approached this is what the health department tells me is what I have done.”

Greg Clark

Central Plains superintendent