A Wells resident is spearheading an effort to draft former state representative Henry Kalis for an opening on the school board in the troubled United South Central School District.

Clinton Meyer has been sending out e-mails and hanging flyers trying to organize a rally at Kalis’s farm yard at noon Saturday to try to convince Kalis to serve on the board.

&uot;Henry Kalis has years of public service serving many communities,&uot; Meyer wrote in one of his e-mails. &uot;He is seriously considering being a part of the school board to fill the open term. Henry would bring common-sense to the table and has the courage to state the truth.&uot;

The district has endured a tumultuous 2002 that included the dismal failure of a school bond referendum to pay for an expensive new school, contract disputes that nearly led to a teacher strike, and the investigation of former Superintendent Frank Lorentz’s personal conduct. Lorentz eventually resigned.

Meyer said the Lorentz situation is still having a hangover effect on the district, which still has not hired a replacement. And the referendum issue still haunts the district.

&uot;Currently, the leadership-less, short-handed board has the same referendum on the table again,&uot; Meyer wrote. &uot;The last school board meeting had them heading down the same exact path. A common-sense saying defines insanity as ‘doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results.’&uot;

Meyer said Kalis could bring needed leadership to the board.

Kalis lives 1.5 miles north of Walters at 10043-600th Ave. Meyer said the demonstration will last 15 minutes.