001Okay, I'm going to go ahead and call this meeting to order. First item on the agenda is approval of the agenda. >> I'll make a motion. >> Motion by Chad, second by Kayla. All those in favor say I. >> I >> Josh Josh and Alison. >> Okay. Any oppose? Same sign. Motion passes 6. >> [snorts] >> Um, and I was just going to say before we start tonight, I was going to clarify that any possible action taken tonight will only be action regarding USC 1112 and no action will be taken regarding any possible agreement with any other school district. Just to clarify that. And just a reminder, um, recognition of visitors, you will have five minutes to address the board. And Jeff Keith, >> I'm Jeff Keith. from Wilson. Um I help Mr. Murphy with
002the surveys today to get those completed and get them down here so you guys could have accurate information from [snorts] most of the community because there's the I don't know if you guys are getting hit with the plague down here, but there's a flu plague going through right now and some people weren't able to make the community meeting last night. So we tried to make it available for them today as a last to see what everybody wants. As you guys can see on there, the majority is looking at the land transfer and the majority is wanting to go to Silven Lucas. Um, I want the board to remember that when all this started three years ago, um, with our high school closing, Silven Lucas was the one that was at the forefront. They wanted our
003students and didn't put a cap on them and wanted us and was willing to take all of us, not just partial bits and pieces. So, please do what the community has spoken with the surveys and and look at continuing forward with that. I would also ask that instead of when the when it's discussed and when it's looked at the building inventory should be completed and what's what's in the building should remain in the building versus trying to pillage and bring things and and everything like that because I think what's what's attached to the building and with the building should remain with the building going to the new district whether they use it or not. Um, I just ask that you guys, like I said, look at those surveys and and understand that the community has
004has said what we're wanting. Um, and take that into consideration. That's all I got. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> And thank you for your time. >> You're welcome. [clears throat] >> The next item is going to be discussion of the board. >> Okay. So, I wanted to spend a little time going over the community meeting last night and going over some notes again. And a lot of this is the same information that we've talked about in the past. Um, but I just want to make sure clear and precise on some of these points. Um, and some of this is going to be just going over it again, but I want to make sure that it's heard and everybody kind of knows the situation. So, um, we have had two districts communicate with us that
005they could potentially be interested in the land transfer. Um, one of them was Silvin Lucas, USD299. The other is 407 Russell. Um, recently Superintendent Hillbig Ellsworth has communicated that she is going to have some conversations surrounding land transfer talks at their next board of education meeting. They did ask to be included on the survey just as a data point. So, we added them on there as well. So, these districts are interested in land transfer, but only under the understanding that USD112 Board of Education would shut the Wilson Elementary School down before the land transfer would happen. These districts have run the numbers uh with the population of students that are there and cannot [clears throat] financially support the elementary Wilson. And just to be clear, with the population we have uh decreasing, we can't guarantee
006as a district how long we will be able to support having a school financially up there as well. Um just wanted to share some of the data points as well. Uh 2022 2023 we had 87 students. K through 6 2023 2024 we had 75 students. 24 25 69 25 26 we had 66 students. When we came back after Christmas break K through 6 right now we are at 58 students. We did absorb a few positions last year at Wilson um to try to cut down on some of the expenses, but we have not had our audit complete yet from KSD and we're still looking in the range probably between $250 to $300,000 more in expenses and we have revenue coming in. Speaking with the surrounding superintendent, they are transporting, they're estimating 28 to 35 elementary
007school students that they're already transporting from Wilson and Dorance to their elementary school. And you know, we spent a little bit of time talking about our ISSA report and how that is breaking broken down between each building. Um, and Wilson Elementary Schools just over $28,000 last year per student. And and that number is really high. But when you take even the payroll over there and spread it only the number of students they have, it it becomes a big number really really quick. not not necessarily anybody's fault, but whenever you're only able to spread that number over 50 or 60 kids, um it makes it really really tough to look like that it's close to the average on what's spent per pupil in the state of Kansas. So, um KSD is coming out with their new
008financial formula that's scheduled to be released in the summer of 2027. However, there is a bill right now that's getting some support to push that back to 2028. Um, but guys, that brings a lot of unknowns to what that's going to look like if that does come down the pipe next year. So, that is concerning, especially our format with having three buildings right now in our district. Um, so I wanted to visit a little bit about those and and talk a little bit about why Silvin and Russell and Ellsworth would be interested in the land transfer part of our supplemental general budget and capital outlay budgets calculated using our total land evaluation. So discussed in the past before Mr. Murphy arrived here um if the line was drawn for a land transfer at road M
009that land valuation that would be included or could be included in a land transfer at the time I believe was 13 to $15 million. I would estimate it more right now between 18 and $20 million. Um, so if another district gets to add that amount of money towards their gen their evaluation cost, it makes one mill worth a lot more for. So, um, putting in pretty simple terms moving forward with the transfer. Uh, we could be losing the price of the building, the building itself, and also $20 million in land valuation. I do want to spend a little bit of time talking about that though. Okay. So, looking at it from a different perspective and what the district could be losing, does that necessarily mean that taxes would go up in this part of the
010district in the central or the south? Not necessarily. You know, if we don't have the price of what a building is going to run us, we might not necessarily have to raise the mill level mill the mill rate to exceed revenue neutral to bring in more tax dollars. and all that would just be, you know, breaking down the numbers to see what that would look like once we have the actual land valuation survey that could be included. So, I want to talk about a little bit about KSD, their recommendation with the timeline visiting with them, and I I got some feedback from the Wilson community yesterday that they feel like this is moving really fast and and I can definitely see where they feel like that. I do want to talk about a little bit
011this timeline though. Um, if the board decides to move this direction and they do move forward with shutting the building down, we have a window that we have to meet for the publication before we can have the hearing. After that, normally there's a little bit of a wait before the board of education meeting to officially do a roll call vote to close down a building. After that, there is a new 45day waiting period though that if it need if it was going to be contested, somebody could contest the closing of a building. If they got 5% of the voting population in the district to sign a petition that would then go back to the state of Kansas, they would open it up. They would look at why the building was closed and um potentially um
012looking at the scenario of why it was closed and if it was closed for a valid reason or not. So that 45day waiting period was not something that this board or the communities went through on the last closing. So, you know, that just pushes our dates back even further. So, if we decided to go this way and the board went that way, I mean, we're looking at right now the possibility of of having to wait till April or May to to um basically close the book on a closing if it if it got to that point. Um, if we did look at a land transfer, we would start having discussions once it was closed with the uh community or district or districts that would be interested in the land transfer. And guys, that there's a
013lot of work that goes into that, whether it would be late summer or middle summer or early fall when we started on that. Whenever you're working on the paperwork, the legal description of the land, the survey of the land, um you're going to have to include board of education survey lines if they're going to redistrict the board of education, too. And that doesn't, you know, even start having the conversation about how long it's going to take to negotiate um the situation on where lines are drawn or what goes with a land transfer. So if we move this direction, we would I would like to have that done and on the state board's desk before Christmas break next year so they had time to look at it, discuss it, and then we had plenty of time
014to fix anything if there was something not right in it before that February date. Um and then actually July 1 of 2027 is when the land or the building would land building wherever it was drawn would officially be transferred to another district. Um, you guys know as well as I do that we've had constituents asking for a land transfer. Uh, to be very clear, uh, my opinion is I don't think there's another district in the state of Kansas that's going to accept the land transfer with the building operational financially, guys. They can't just they can't put themselves in that situation. So, um, prior to me being here, it was mentioned that we would need to consider closing the Wilson Elementary School if the K through six number dropped below 60. And we've already discussed, we
015don't really know where that number came from because that's not a break even mark, but financially currently um we are at 58 students K through six. So I just wanted to go over that again, make that clear, and I wanted to visit with you guys a little bit about some of the communication from the board of educ. So, um, I did attach an email, um, from a constituent that wanted, uh, you guys to kind of know their thought process. So, that email is on there as well for you guys to read. Um, we did have a constituent call me on the phone and say that he owns farm ground in the northern part of the district and would like his taxes to go where the majority of the students are going. um he is for
016a land transfer and this is not included in in any of the numbers on the survey. So I just wanted to put that out there. Yesterday morning we had another constituent come in and reach out stating that they owned uh many acres of farmland close to the Wilson area uh just a few miles south uh south of Wilson. and if we got to the point of talking land transfer conversations, they wanted to make sure that the line was drawn, where their land stayed in USD 1112 Central Plains District. So, a lot of those things we're going to have to work out on where the lines are drawn and who wants to be in what district whenever if we get to the land transfer talks. Um, I do want to give you guys some of the
017questions that came about from the community meeting last night. Um there were questions if the district would leave the split units and such in the building if it was shut down. That way it could be used, you know, whether it was transferred to another district or whether, you know, somebody in the community, um whether it was a community building or whether it was a recreational building if we moved forward with having to shut it down to [clears throat] look for a land transfer. Um, we had another constituent ask if the district would leave the items in the school if they were to move forward with shutting the building down and during the land transfer to those items would go with the district that was taking the land transfer. Ultimately, anything that's in that school that
018was paid for um from our budget is the school district. So, that would be your guys's um determination. However, there have been items that have been purchased by money from from and around the Wilson community that they wanted to make sure that those items stayed in the building if they donated the money. And a lot of those were in the board motion. So, we can go back if we get to that point, look at those things and try to move those to where they were counted. Um, uh, if the building were to shut down, many of the constituents from Wilson and the Dorance area would want to have opportunities to meet with the superintendent from the other districts to ask questions, to see what they had to offer on any final decisions before any final
019decisions were made on land transfers. Um, that was another request that was made as well. So, those were a couple of the items. Um, I do want to address a couple of comments that I did here. One of them last night was about the Claplin daycare that's being built here. I just wanted to clear up any misconception on that, guys. That's being built with ABCC funds from Advancing Barton County and also Kansas Commerce Department funds and tax credit funds. Our district is not put a dollar into that except providing the land for them to build it on. Um, and there were a lot of questions last night about transporting students, student population from Polyroode. um in Claflin back back and forth to Wilson. Um and I'll kind of get into that a little bit more
020here in just a little bit. So those were some thoughts from last night's meeting. Um the meeting went really well. Um we did a the constituents and the community uh came out. They did a good job um being respectful, talking, trying to convey their ideas and their thoughts moving forward. They wanted to have a little bit of community meeting time at the end, so we gave them the opportunity to do that as well. Um I'd like to kind of dig into the survey. Um and you guys have a copy of that, ladies and gentlemen out here. Um I didn't know if you would want them or not, but I did make Oh, no. I'm just going to set them up here. So, I did make copies of kind of everything together, right? And then it
021has the the copies of the community meeting online part. And then it has all of the front pages of the survey. So, you guys can look at those. It has no names on it. I tried my best to get all the names off of it. Um, so there were none there's none of that going. So, that's for you guys. If you I didn't make enough copies and you'd like a copy, uh, send me an email and I will get you guys a copy as well. So, so diving into this just a little bit. Um, question number one was which best describes you and we had we gave the community members multiple opportunities to not just check mark one box. Uh they could check mark multiple whether they were a USD112 employee, USD 305 speciala education
022employee, a parent of a student that currently attends Wilson Elementary, uh Wilson community member, Dorance community member or other. Thinking back and trying to make myself do a better job in the survey next time. One thing I wish I would have added to this is a parent of a student that lives in Wilson or Dorance but takes their kid to another district. I think that could have gave a little more clarity on this as well. So has the breakdown of the totals to the right, what they checked on the online survey, what they checked on the paper pencil survey, and then our totals um are there to the right. 15 USD112 employees, three 305 employees, 27 that marked parent of a student, 98 that marked Wilson community member, seven that marked Dorance community member, and
023then six that marked other. So question number two said, are you in favor of a land transfer? And it says, "Please understand that due to low enrollment numbers at Wilson Elementary School, voting no does not guarantee that Wilson Elementary School will stay operational." [clears throat] So, looking through here, we had yes, I am for a land transfer, 28 online votes, 49 paper pencil votes for a total of 77. Um, we tried our best to get everybody that wanted to take a survey and and Mr. Keith was big in helping out with that. Miss Moore was big in helping out with that. We did get five more surveys turned in just now. Um but those are not included in our totals right now. So we will try to update that and include those. So if you
024guys want those, you guys would have those numbers. So total uh votes that said yes, I am for a land transfer was 77. Not counting the five that we got. There were five there, right guys? Okay. >> And then no, I'm not for a land transfer was 44. Seven online voted it. And then 37 for paper pencil. You can see the breakdown in percentage, 63% to 36. We had nine of them um they voted on there and kind of wrote out to the side they wanted to keep the building open and they wanted a land transfer and that wasn't really an option presented. Um for most of them, so we didn't include those nine in that total. Um so you can do the math on that if you wanted to include those nine in there.
025Question number three was, if you voted for a land transfer, what district or districts would you like the land being transferred into? We got into a deep conversation on this last night because some of the community members had a hard time voting because they didn't know what transportation would look like, what the school had to offer, and I understand that 110%. So, this was kind of a toughy. Um, but we went ahead and had them check any of them that applied if they wanted to be splitting between two districts. Um so online survey for Russell we had seven eight paper pencil for a total of 15. Silven Lucas we had 24 online 56 paper pencil for a total of 80. Ellsworth had eight online 16 paper pencil 24 was their total and then ones that
026said I'm not for a land transfer um I want to stay in the district or marked central plains at all on there too is 39. So, um, and again, we had roughly 130 surveys taken, 135 if you count those five. And that packet kind of gives you the the breakdown on what that looks like as well. So, I wanted you guys to have that. Board members, as you flip through, the next part of your packet is going to see the original copy that was sent out. Okay? [clears throat] Then the next part of it has the community meeting survey from the online part and also staple to that has the comments on there. So I'd like like you guys to take some time. I'm going to give you a little bit of time right now
027if you'd like to read through the comments. Uh people in the audience didn't give you comments. Some of them were quite colorful. So um we're going to leave that to the board members to look at. And then if you look through the next part, there's a stapled packet that looks just like this. This is the yes votes. So you guys can look through there and the comments are on there too if you want to take some time to look through the comments. The next packet after that are the no votes [laughter] with the comments on there if you'd like to look through those. And then the last one, um, the last packet are those nine that we talked about that kind of had little comments to the side. So, I didn't really know where to
028put those guys at. So, that's what that packet is at the back with comments on it as well. So, want to give you guys some time to look through that. [snorts] you explain to everybody again how the funding, you know, for the high school students is gone. Now, you know, so before this year, we've been able to count three-year averages in our funding calculation. And um if you look at our budget documents, it's going to look like we lost about 30 FTEES this year. And it's not really from student loss per se, but it's because we lost the three-year average capability of counting those high school middle school kids in um when Wilson High School Middle School was still open. This year is the first year of present or prior year on the budget cycle.
029So last year was the last cycle of us being able to count the average of those kids. So you know ultimately depending on how you look at it, you can look at it from a lot of different ways. But in the past before this year, we've been able to count those averages in which has kind of helped with between the expenditures and the revenue coming in because of being able to count the averages in for those those kids that we no longer can count anymore. And again guys, that can change. And what I mean by that, the legislators can go in, I talked to um Frank Harwood some, you know, they can go in and change the look back period this year if they want to. When I say look back period, the previous year
030being able to count the previous year as the highest number enrollment. You know, that could happen potentially moving into next year's budget. With the new formula that's supposed to be coming out in uh next July, it's hard to say what that's going to look like. Is there going to be a look back period? You know, they call them phantom credits is what they call them at the at the state of Kansas. um being able to use that one look back the look back year from prior year or your previous year. So that creates some unknowns with this as well and not knowing what that formula is going to look like moving forward. Dton, does that answer your question? I would, you know, whenever you guys are doing are done looking through those and you have
031a little bit of time, I'd like to discuss some options. options, whether they're good options or bad options. In my head, I just want to kind of go through some options that we have for the situation, but I'll wait till you guys have a chance to read this. [snorts] Josh Allison, can you guys still hear me? Okay. >> Yes, I can hear you. Okay, thank you. [snorts] >> [snorts] >> You guys ready? Okay. So, you know, kind of looking at some options and what has been stated from constituents um in different parts of the district and you heard some of this last night. So option one that somebody brought up is [laughter] trying to visit about moving Hollywood [snorts] Central Plains Elementary School students or [clears throat] middle school students to Wilson. Okay. Whenever we're
032thinking about this option, the things that we need to think about are the transportation. Okay. We still would have all three buildings running. The one thing that we really have to think about if history taught us anything from three or four years ago, if we're trying to move a mass group of kids and tell them and their parents where they're going to go, they're going to leave. If we decide to try to move any of the middle school or any of the Hollywood kids, you're looking at half of them, if not more, either going to Lions that's closer, Ellenwood that's closer, Hoisington that's closer, or Great Ben that's closer. Okay. Is it doable? Can we look at the transportation? Sure. Are we prepared to lose 80 to 90 kids? Financially, that would that would be
033very tough on us. Okay. Option number two, leave Wilson open, no restructuring, and run it like it is now. The unknown of that is we're going to lose hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. And then also, um, we don't know if we're going to be back in the same position next year with what the budget's going to look like, if if they give us any preview of what the budget look [clears throat] like at all. >> Restructuring was brought up a while back. >> Yeah. And I I got that on the next one. So, next one is is the restructuring side of it. Okay. We can look at restructuring, go to multi-level classrooms, try to reduce our classified staff. That option presents a lot of unknowns. Okay, unknowns. Whether if I try to put
034myself in those positions is a is a physicist is a father or a parent. The unknown from year to year, am I going to take my kid there when I could take him somewhere else that I know from year to year it's going to be a viable, it's going to be open. Okay. from the student side of things from year to year, depending on what the numbers look like, they're going to have that same fear as well. And and when when you're looking down that path, the unknown of teachers, are we going to have teachers and staff that are going to want to fill those roles if there's multi-grade level classrooms? And then the kicker is even if we do try to restructure, there's no guarantee that we're going to have kids show up next
035year. we could do all the restructuring and and the parents could decide to take their kids out of the district somewhere else and have 40 kids at the start of next year or 30 kids at the start of next year or not have faculty and staff. So that's that's some of the challenges with with the option. Okay, if we're talking about closing a building down, you do have the option of closing the building down and not moving forward with a land transfer and busing students to Holly. If we already if there are already students in Wilson that are getting on the bus to Ellsworth, Russell, or Silvin, I don't know exactly what the mileage is, but I wouldn't think that it was over 20 miles to get on a bus to go to Hollywood. Okay.
036Option number five is closing the building down. That's the direction we go. and work on a land transfer and then next year while we're working on a land transfer bust their students down uh that want to continue in the district and go to Holly. Now you guys are the ones that are going to have to make this decision and it's a tough decision. I have kids I go up there and eat lunch with. I have faculty and staff I go up there and visit with. It's hard. But from the survey results and listening to people last night, my recommendation would be the last option. Okay. And when I say last option, that'd be close the building down and look at a land transfer. Now, if we're going to do that though, we need to do
037what we say we're going to do. And what we say we're going to do is we're going to listen to the faculty or sorry, the community. And we're going to try our hardest to try to negotiate a land transfer with where they would want to go. Now, with that being said, if if we're going to commit to that, we need to commit with that and try to work our hardest. Can I guarantee what's going to happen in negotiations? I can't guarantee that. and whatever school can't guarantee what that's going to look like either. But if we say we're going to work towards that, we need to we we need to do it. We need to try our best and and do what we say we're going to do on our side of it. Now, on
038the other side of it still though, too, is talking to other districts. you know, we have got to be careful that we're not doing some of the rumors that I've heard on community members bombarding other board meetings or um you know um sorry I have a few notes on here or you know trying to trying to disorganize school districts. Who's going to want that block and community in a district that's going to look at disorganizing the district? who's going to want that block that's going to look at, you know, bombarding board meetings and and trying to, you know, we've got to try to work together, not only this side of the community, but that side of the community cuz to put them in the best position forward that they've shown that they want on the
039survey. So, that's my recommendation moving forward. Um, I understand this is a tough decision. Mr. Murphy's only been in the district 18 months and and you guys are ultimately going to have to make the decision on what this looks like. So, with that being said, I just want to open it up for you guys for as much time as you guys want to have to have discussions. Um, and if you have questions, I will try my best to answer them. And if I can't answer them, I will try my best to get you the answers at some point. So, go to like the online and the paper ones. my maths right it's like 73% yes for a transfer and then 27% for no so it's three to 75% basically survey >> the five or six
040that were turned in not using the >> I put those in there were I haven't put that yeses or no >> all yeses >> so all five of them were >> that's what those in there okay that puts that one to 65% %. So you're looking at 65. [clears throat] >> Yeah. >> 35. And then with the the online one that is because it's 8020. So it looks like the majority of everybody that took the survey wants a land transfer. I have the same fear like you do on the restructuring and you do all that work and the kids are gone anyways. I think on multiple I mean there's there's multiple ways to look at this and make it make sense financially. also listening to what the community said for years as far as wanting
041the land transfer. So, I mean it this is how we can make it happen, but kind of like you said too, they trust us to make it happen. We want to make it happen. So, let us make it happen. Let both boards are multiple boards, you know, make it happen. It's going to be a process. So try to be patient too throughout the whole thing because like you said it's there's waiting periods that we have to go through and and lots of hoops and and technicalities and everything else. And it's difficult. It's not an easy decision. Even if the majority does want it. It's not that doesn't make it any easier. Even if the end result does answer, you know, what some people have wanted for a while. [clears throat] That doesn't make it any
042easier. >> I'm nervous about the timeline. I think If I learned anything over the series of events that's happened a few years ago, it was that you don't that these processes or this decision takes time >> and um putting it on a hurry timeline is a recipe for poor decision- making. And I don't want to make the wrong decision. I'm sure you guys don't want to make the wrong decision. Um but the community obviously thinks that we need to separate Personally, in my own opinion, I think there are way too many unknowns to make an informed decision right now. Um, there's a lot of things that I think the receiving districts would need to answer, you know, um, a lot of things I think we as a district need to answer. You know, if we
043do close, what happens to the daycare? Can we answer that right now? I can't. That's I mean those are just questions. The buildings, the contents, all of that to me needs to be addressed before it's even decided on whether we close or not. This needs to be a plan set and then the decision comes. So we see everything laid out in front of us and then we say, "Okay, that's the best decision." Whether it be closing Wilson or working on a different avenue, I just without having a plan, I don't think we can truly do what's in the best interest of everyone involved. And I think I would like to see a um strategic plan on facility management um where we at the board decide what the facilities will look like whether it's two buildings
044whether it's [snorts] three whether our end goal is a one K through 12 facility for this district I think [snorts] we need to decide that as a board and then we take the steps to make that happen. Um, [snorts] I'm not saying keeping Wilson open is the best option for us because it financially right now does not look to be the case and that not only hurts Wilson, but it hurts Claplin, it hurts Hollywood, you know, because we're taking money away from the district and I don't want that to happen. And I want their communities to thrive just like I want Wilson to. Um, but I think we need to do it right and I would really like to see some plans whether it be like especially if we do proceed with the land transfer
045that doesn't take effect until 27. So what's happening to the kids next year? You know, you said busing them. Okay, then we need to decide what happens to the daycare. But, you know, I think there's just a lot of plans that need to be made and decisions that need to be outlined in order for me to make a informed decision. Um, I can't answer what district would be the best, whether it be Silvin Russell or Ellsworth. Um, I think those are plenty of questions that the community would have for those districts and I [snorts] would hate to ask them to choose until they do have those answered. Um, >> I don't think the districts are going to give they're not going to give a list of what they're going to guarantee. Oh, I I don't
046expect them to guarantee, >> but I would expect them to at least say, you know, yes, we plan to um bring a bus in and you know, bring your students or no, you're responsible for transportation. I think those are valid questions that could be answered. >> I don't still don't know if they'd answer anything because I don't think they know what >> then. How can you expect the community to pick one without knowing what they what's what the best benefit for them? >> And I think they're going to have a hard time doing that until they know the building's not going to be open. >> Well, I think they pretty much are coming to that conclusion. I mean, it's pretty obvious. >> Well, and I think that's what we're trying to get to. And as
047far as >> pretty obvious that's the way that we're going. I mean, I don't want >> you to think that I don't have as a superintendent kind of a mindset on that. The daycare is a question. We're going to have to figure out what that looks like. I've had some of the board members reach out to me and they're looking at other opportunities from what it sounds like around Wilson. Um, if everything's going to stay in that building that's there, I mean, it's not really much of a plan. We're going to keep the heat on as enough so we don't have busted pipes. We're going to lock the doors. We're going to take inventory. So whenever it gets to the point that another district wants it, it's theirs to do what they want with it.
048And then as far as taking a bus, you know, we have a bus driver right now that goes to the Doris area that comes to the Wilson Elementary School, picks high school, middle school kids up and goes to Hollywood already, the ones that come here. Um, and then they bust them from Hollywood here. So transportation route's not really that hard because you would have a bus rather than a than a van is what they would use to pick the kids up that would want to come. So you know if we if you guys want me to develop a plan that's fine but I don't know beyond that what I guess I just need some clear expectations of what you >> want. So first thing that we're doing is just the first step in the process.
049It's it's a process. The whole thing is, but tonight's just the first step and we're just worried about our district right now. And then any other steps are going to be conversations between our board and neighboring boards beyond that to see if [clears throat] there's any further conversations, you know, that go on. But tonight is just centered around our district [snorts] in the process or not. >> Could I say something about some of what staff has said? One of the greatest concerns that the staff has is the element of the unknown. You know, we've all lived in a job, I'm sure, situations where the unknown is there. And I think we're at all all of us are at a point of, you know, either push the coins off and let it go or pull the
050coins back and keep keep trying to adjust. And what I get from staff is the general consensus is please just push off unless we let's go go forward, whatever that's going to look like. And you know, while plans are great and all of that, we live in such an unsteady situation in education, I can't tell you as a teacher, it's scary. You don't know one day to the next what's going to happen both federally and at the state level. And so I think I don't envy you as board members. I don't envy any of us in this, but I do think that um for the stability of of the children that we're talking about, for the stability of staff who rely on the paychecks every month, that this isn't something that we wait until we
051have a plan that we think we can go with. That that needs to be put forward. that we need to see where you're seeking to go and then allowing us as staff to make the necessary decision decisions for the betterment of our families and for our children and and you know and the rest of the people that rely on us daily. um you know it staff members crying you know it's hard it's a hard thing to watch but they know they know that it's it's got to come to an end and so I think if you tried to reorganize or do some of those things the teachers that make Wilson Wilson won't be there to make Wilson Wilson anymore and then where do you come up with other teachers to replace those teachers that do
052such a phenomenal job every day that I brag brag about at every meeting. [snorts] You know, that's that's the hard thing. And with a teacher shortage already, I don't I don't know what's going to happen. So, >> that was kind of the the point of moving ahead with this special meeting, too, was to try and avoid the unknown and and not drag this out any further. What was your recommendation? >> My recommendation is is to listen to the community up there and to move forward with closing the building under the understanding that we're going to do what we say we're going to do and we're going to try our hardest to work with the land transfer once the building's closed and everything's done to try to get them in the community that they want to
053get to. Um, you know, with that being said though, [snorts] both sides have got to try to do their part in trying to help this and make this a reality for the community that, you know, wants to go a different direction than um, being in our district. So, that would be my recommendation. I'll have recommendation and I'll make a motion to schedule a public hearing for February 16th regarding the potential closing of the Wilson Elementary School attendance center at the end of the 2526 school year to be held in the gym of Central Plains Elementary School in Hall area. >> Okay, there is a motion by Dalton. I'll second >> and a second by Chad, Allison, and Josh. Are you Are you guys still there? Do you hear that? >> Yeah. I'll have I'll have
054Diane read the motion as it was. Did you get it? >> Yeah. Well, I'm just reading. >> Okay. Okay. Uh, I move the board of education to direct the clerk of the board to provide notice of a public hearing to be held on February 16, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Central Plains Elementary School Gymnasium in Hollywood regarding the potential closing of the Wilson Elementary School attendance center at the end of the 2025 2026 school year. >> We got a first and a second. >> Y >> Dalton moved. Chad second. [clears throat] >> Are there any further questions or discussion? >> Yeah, I got a question. >> Yeah, >> we move that hearing to there. Um and that is just mainly for public information. >> Yeah. So the hearing is not any closure. It's just
055to hear any public comment that want to be made about the about the potential closure. It's not the closure of the building. It's a hearing for people to be heard. >> No action will be taken at that meeting. is just a hearing for the communities >> because it has to be published in the newspaper. So we'll get the notice of hearing published in the newspaper two consecutive weeks on the same day of each week and then you have 10 days after that last publication but not longer than 20 days after to have the to have the hearing. So there's a timeline here. That's what we're going with. >> Uh I don't have a calendar in front of me. We have a meeting before that or after that? >> Oh, do we? Oh, yeah. We have
056We'll have the February meeting at the >> February 9th. >> Yeah. February 9th. So, February 9th would be a Monday. That would be >> next Monday. >> That'd be the Monday after that. >> Yeah. Yes. >> That'd be the Monday after the normally scheduled board meeting. >> Yeah. And [clears throat] at that time, any other surveys or anything that come in, I can present those to you guys at that time, too, and update everything. Give everybody a little more time if that's what you guys decide to do. Any [clears throat] other questions? Hearing none. All those in favor say I. >> I. >> Any oppose? Same sign. >> I. >> Motion passes 5 to one. Make a motion to adjourn this special meeting. >> Motion by Chad and second by Dalton. All those in favor
057say I. >> I. >> Any opposed? Same [clears throat and cough] sign. The meeting is adjourned. Thank you everybody. Fresh off fresh off the lot.