(KMZA)---The Nemaha Central USD 115 Board of Education approved a resolution Monday evening authorizing the filing of a petition with the Kansas State Board of Education for the transfer of land in the former Bern school area from Prairie Hills USD 113 to USD 115.

The board took the action following an executive session, which comes after failed mediation efforts between the two sides.

The resolution states the USD 115 board has determined that its in the best interest of its students, including the at least 78 students attending USD 115 who live in the petitioned area, to seek the land transfer.

The resolution notes the burden placed on USD 115 taxpayers as a result of the district educating students in the petitioned area, while receiving none of the property tax revenue from the area.

The resolution further states that USD 115 voters in November 2022 passed a bond issue to support district infrastructure and facilities that are functioning at capacity as a result of the influx in students.

Two other neighboring school districts, Jackson Heights USD 335 and Vermillion USD 380, reached agreements in December with USD 113 in a dispute over school district boundaries.