By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The fate of a school district hangs on an upcoming vote on Aug. 1. In January, the USD 112 Central Plains Board of Education voted 5-2 to close Wilson High School at the conclusion of the 2022-23 school year. Last month, a Wilson group countered by filing a petition to disorganize the district. Jeremy Liebl, a Claflin High School graduate, says the implications of the Aug. 1 vote are huge.
"With a 'no' vote, they still get to keep a school, that's guaranteed because there's just no room in the Central Plains Elementary School for more kids," he said. "They'd still get to keep a school open, and they could also still seek a land transfer after it's all done. It seems like it'd be the best option for everybody."
Given the unprecedented nature of a disorganization vote, no one is quite sure what will happen if residents in the USD 112 voting district that spans parts of five counties vote for the disorganization. The Wilson contingent hopes it will create the opportunity to keep Wilson High School open. Opponents of a "yes" vote believe disorganization would be just that, resulting in the closure of all three remaining school buildings in the district.
With a "no" vote on Aug. 1, USD 112 would remain intact, as is, with Wilson High School closed. Central Plains High School in Claflin, Central Plains Elementary School in Holyrood, and Wilson Elementary School in Wilson would remain open. With a "yes" vote, the Kansas State Board of Education would enter the fray and make decisions moving forward. Liebl fears outsiders may not fully understand small-town pride.
"We're in a unique spot," he said. "Even if you sent it to the state, I don't know if they would fully understand in Topeka what unique situation we actually have here of young people, having a pride where you grew up, and wanting to raise your family in that small town that you grew up in."
Liebl graduated from the now-defunct Claflin High School. The Wildcats joined rival Quivira Heights for what became Central Plains High School. The CPHS Class of 2023 was the last class that had ties to either of the previous schools.
"Now everybody else, this is all they've known," Liebl said. "All the friendships we've developed over the last 12-13 years, would almost be thrown out the window."
According to the Facebook page United USD 112, the closure of all three remaining buildings in the district would eliminate 107 full-time education jobs in Barton, Ellsworth, Russell, and Rice counties. Liebl understands the frustration of losing a high school but said a "yes" vote would mean even bigger losses.
"We've all lost little parts of our schools," he said. "Claflin lost a K-6. Bushton lost a K-12. Holyrood lost a 7-12. Lorraine lost a school. I'm sure Dorrance had a school. Everybody has lost something but we've been able to keep a piece of something to where you still have something. That would be what would happen here with a 'no' vote. It's very, very stressful."