Superintendent Greg Clark offered a brief update Tuesday on graduation plans for the Central Plains Junior-Senior High School Class of 2020, during a year-end meeting at Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood.

The ceremony is set for 7 p.m. Sunday, July 5, inside the school gym.

Graduations across the area have been in doubt because of COVID-19. Ellsworth County announced its fourth positive test for the virus Tuesday morning as the board met.

With social distancing in mind, plans call for the 14 members of the CPJSHS Class of 2020 to sit in separate pods with their immediate family members on the gym floor.

Grandparents and others will be seated in the bleachers. Clark also said Gov. Laura Kelly’s executive order requiring masks to be worn will be in effect at that time so masks are strongly encouraged.

Clark said the ceremony will be live streamed on the internet for those who wish to view it from home.

Clark said graduation for the Wilson High School Class of 2020 is set for 10 a.m. Saturday, July 25, outside at the WHS football field. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to the school commons.

In other business:

• After a 15-minute executive session to discuss non-elected personnel, the board hired Adam Niedens as principal at Wilson School.

• No action was taken after a 15-minute executive session with board attorney John Sherman to discuss a potential legal claim under matters pertaining to attorney-client privilege and to protect the attorneyclient privilege under the Kansas Open Meetings Act.

• Davis Jimenez of Great Bend expressed interest in purchasing the former school building in Bushton. His plan would be to use the building for instructional and educational purposes dealing with weapons, including concealed carry classes, and basic and advanced weapons training. He is also considering starting a cafeteria as well.

After some discussion, the board instructed Clark get an update on the cost of moving the HVAC unit from the Bushton building to Holyrood and to meet with officials from Wilson State Bank to discuss the lease agreement the bank has with USD 112 for equipment in the building.

• EMC Insurance was chosen as the district’s property, causality and liability insurance carrier.

• KASB Risk Management was chosen as the district’s workman’s compensation insurance carrier.

• Clark said he and board clerk, Diane Ney, planned to attend the state budget workshop later in the morning in Great Bend.

• Payment of final invoices and bills was approved.

• After review by the board, approval was given to year-end transfers.

The next meeting of the Central Plains USD 112 board of education will be at 6 p.m. Monday, July 13, at CPES in Holyrood.