By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Details on the upcoming USD 112 Central Plains disorganization vote are still scarce. That's largely because a school district disorganization is unprecedented in Kansas. Monday night, the board of education held another special meeting with disorganization talk on the agenda. Superintendent Bill Lowry laid out what the vote could mean for the district.
"Once a vote of disorganization occurs, and an order is issued by the state board, the disorganized district no longer exists," he said. "My interpretation of that, and what I can see of the statute, all buildings will be closed. Once you disorganize, all buildings will be closed. The state board will determine how the disorganized school district property will be attached to another district or districts. As I looked at our map, it appears to me that we have a possibility of 10 school districts that touch our borders."
The petition to disorganize the district was filed May 9 in Ellsworth County. The matter will hit ballots on Aug. 1. If the measure passes with a "yes" vote, the effective date would be July 1, 2024. If the measure fails with a "no" vote, another election could not be held on the matter for two years.
"The board of education cannot approve a position for or against the question, nor can district funds be spent anyway for one way or the other on this question," Lowry explained.
Lowry further explained that with a "no" vote, USD 112 would exist as is, keeping local control under the board of education and not losing any rights or privileges. With a "yes" vote, the state board of education would hold its own hearings, listen to patrons, but ultimately make its own decision about the fate of the buildings in the district.
Board President Tamara Dody asked Lowry if he, in his own opinion, believed the district could remain intact with a "yes" vote to disorganize.
"No, I don't think they would at all," he said. "In fact, the whole term of disorganization is disorganization. You disorganize the whole district. 112 will cease to exist completely."
Public comments are now allowed at special meetings so the discussion was between school board officials only. The next regular-scheduled meeting is June 12.
CLICK HERE for more information and polling locations for the Aug. 1 vote.