(KMZA)--The Nemaha Central USD 115 Board of Education has requested a meeting with the Prairie Hills USD 113 Board of Education to discuss a potential land transfer.

USD 115 is seeking to renew efforts to transfer a portion of the former Bern school area, which lies in USD 113, into the Nemaha Central district.

The USD 115 Board was told at their April meeting that most of the students living there--nearly 80 this year-- attend Nemaha Central after the Bern school closed in 2012.

USD 115 Board President Owen Zinke informed his board when they meet May 8 that a letter was sent last month to USD 113 requesting the meeting.

USD 113 Board President Leslie Scoby sent a letter to Zinke in response to their request. You can find that letter posted below.

Nemaha Central's board was turned down in its attempts to negotiate the issue with Prairie Hills in 2012.

Dear President Zinke,

Thank you for your letter dated April 17, 2023. The USD #113 Board of Education is interested in learning more about your request to discuss land in the Bern area. Unfortunately, we have several board members with conflicts that would prevent them from meeting on April 26th.

In addition to learning more about the intentions of USD #115 regarding the Bern area, USD #113 would be interested in discussing land in the Baileyville area that includes families attending USD #113. A complication that USD #113 faces as we discuss a potential land transfer/trade is the potential for a dissolution petition. A successful vote on a petition for dissolution would negate the time and effort that would be exerted in a land transfer/trade agreement between our boards. A successful petition and subsequent election of dissolution of USD #113 would also present some less than desirable implications for USD #115. If this petition is filed it would likely be on the ballot for the primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023. If not at this time, it could be on the general election ballot on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023. Our board is inclined to wait until we know the outcome of that petition before moving forward with any finalization of a territory transfer/trade.

In order to move this process forward in the absence of a meeting, USD #113 requests a document that articulates the specific items that USD #115 wishes to discuss, including supporting information. This would allow USD #113 personnel time to research and provide relevant data. It would also allow a forewarning of information that would help to reduce emotions and promote objectivity. USD #113 could then provide a written response that would communicate ideas, perceptions and supporting information to the USD #115 board allowing for the same circumstance. Considering that the Kansas State Board of Education's established timeline to submit a trade/transfer is February 15, 2024, we have time to take this process step by step.

Thank you again for reaching out to us. We look forward to learning more about your intentions and working together to improve our school districts.

Respectfully, Leslie Scoby USD #113 Board of Education President