Letter to the Editor
USD 112’s school consolidation story is a sad story. On May 19, Wilson Elementary celebrated a great year, without the physical or emotional support from prominent district leaders. Dismay & disappointment reverberated through the halls. Thank goodness, other supportive souls filled the gym, stood by the students, and sympathetically accompanied them as they journeyed through the emotional day.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Go often to the house of thy friend, for weeds choke the unused path.” What weeds you ask? (2020 to present).
1. Community Accessibility & Engagement Issues:
Meeting location rotations & walkthroughs (accessibility impeded)
2. Closures over Alternative Solutions Exploration (6:1 vote not carried out)
3. Closures over Restructuring to minimize disruptions
4. Closures without sufficient Financial Analysis (2022-2024, Supt. Lowry)
5. News coverage (efforts to cut completely or minimize reporting)
6. Ineffective Transition or Closure Master Plan(s)
7. Operational Efficiency Reporting (Insufficient segregation of Expenses, Revenue by facility)
8. At-Risk Student(s) Services delayed or denied
9. Health & Safety O&M Plan(s), Recording, & Reporting (not on file @ District office as required by statute)
10. Promises made to maintain WES; CPES & CPJSHS but, not kept.
“Weeds” planted by the BOE, choked out productive conversations, prevented implementation of less traumatic options, and missed opportunities to produce positive problem solve processes.
Many regret entering this ill-fated, 16-year-consolidation. Two beneficial ingredients were missing: Openly sharing and honoring others wishes (compromising), at least occasionally.
Was this a hostile takeover; predatory practices; slashing & dashing of 7th-8th grade along with “one high school” politics; a failed/forced sports recruitment or just “business as usual”?
Whatever it was, it grabbed the attention of legislators. Wilson activists have inspired change in Topeka. In reality and totality of circumstances, K.S.A. 1431(e) the Administrative Review by the KSBOE was needed in 2023.
Wilson knows their legal rights. If the board plans to keep “poking the bear”, maybe a refresher on Kansas law would be in order.
Is it time to return to the Land Transfer discussions? That decision is mainly up to the 112 BOE, leaving patrons in a void. I live in the USD 299 school district, which has their own paths to pave, “weeding” to work to out and facilities management plans to develop; Ones that utilize present resources, present and potential facilities.
Let’s not have a repeat of 2023, when the USD 112 ignored a bridge closure, which about derailed the whole district. Instead can we work on “building bridges” in new ways. With teacher shortages raging, USD 112 has lost 386 years of solid, experienced staff. Surrounding districts have secured staff for their future by turning this into a plus for them. Sure, it’s worthy to save for the Central Plains kids, but don’t get greedy. Wilson students have brought in “ expense-free” (lookback averaging) money to 112 for multiple years. Pay it forward please! The next BOE’s actions will cause reactions, consequences.
Here’s the Math. USD 112 was born in 2010. The consolidation incentive money evaporated in 2015; “unhappily-ever-after” flourished during the next eleven years, as the closure cloud dropped on multiple communities. Lorraine lost. Bushton was banished. Wilson was waylaid, all largely due to self-preservation tactics and efforts to extend sports traditions in the southern region. In retrospect, all these communities wanted the same things, so don’t think you’re so deservingly special .
A 10% investment by the latest arriving partners, ethically shouldn’t produce 90%-100% losses for others!
I feel KSA 1431(e) Administrative Review should be heeded as a warning.
Settle this dispute with Wilson’s “dreamers” at the negotiation table. The nostalgic ones and the young families who want more, or at least be entitled to as any respectful divorce court settlement. Encourage conversations from the communities who have been most affected. Help open new pathways. For God’s sake, please wrap up this story on a happier note!
Roberta Meier,
Sylvan