MSC News

MSC News National Headlines Sports Top Headlines CBS US News CBS Technology

Printer Friendly

Email to a Friend

State board denies USD 115 land transfer petition

By Greg Bebermeyer

06/12/2024

(KMZA)--The Kansas State Board of Education has denied a school district transfer petition initiated by Nemaha Central USD 115.

The Board voted 6 to 3 Wednesday to deny the petition, which sought the transfer of about 81 square miles of land in the former Bern school area from Prairie Hills USD 113 to USD 115.

Kansas Department of Education General Counsel Scott Gordon presented a 13-page report to the State Board Tuesday recommending denial of the petition. The Board also heard oral presentations from both sides.

Gordon served as the administrative officer at a 4-hour public hearing held in March at the Bern Community Center where testimony was provided by representatives of both districts, along with patrons.

The USD 115 Board of Education voted in February to file the petition with the State Board of Education after failed mediation efforts between the two sides.

Prairie Hills USD 113, in a release, commended the State Board's decision to deny the land transfer petition.

A response to the decision was not immediately available from USD 115.

Editors note: Full statement issued by USD113 following Wednesday's State Board of Education decision on land transfer petition

TOPEKA - Prairie Hills USD 113 commends the Kansas State Board of Education (KSBOE) decision to deny a school district transfer petition initiated by Nemaha-Central USD 115 after a long, thorough and fair process. Following KSBOE General Counsel Scott Gordon's thirteen-page recommendation, and demonstrating a preference for local control, the Board voted 6 to 3 to deny the petition after months of legal wrangling.

“The Board and Mr. Gordon have taken their responsibility very seriously,” said USD 113 Prairie Hills Superintendent Todd Evans. “It has been an exceedingly fair and democratic process. They evaluated the facts, studied the law, took public input, debated the issues in open session and have ultimately ruled in the best interests of Kansas school children.”

“I’ve practiced law for over two decades and been party to more litigated matters than I care to count. This process has been meticulous and thorough,” said David Cooper with Fisher Patterson Sayler & Smith who litigated the action on behalf of the Prairie Hills school district. “I commend the board for applying the facts to the law.”

“This has been a long and exhausting process. It has created great stress in the community, but we are happy with the decision. We appreciate and respect the input and comments from the State Board of Education,” Evans concluded.

You will need to be logged in to leave a comment.

Please Login

The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited.

Click here to review our Terms of Use.

Comments

Carley (06/13/2024 8:58 AM)

If USD 115 would have taken the original offer by USD 113 and not listened to the county trouble maker Annalyssa Noe, the land transfer would have been taken care of. Noe cost 115 big time!!