8 takeaways from Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 school board meeting
November 19 2025
Board reaffirms policy limiting third-party access to schools
Superintendent voices concern over state school finance uncertainty
Manhattan High reports spike in fights, substance use
New high school courses, including AI and drones, approved
Manhattan High School launches on-site nursing assistant program
Manhattan High graduation rate climbs to nearly 89 percent
Eisenhower Middle School to add third counselor
Anthony Middle School 'house system' boosts positive behavior
Board reaffirms policy limiting third-party access to schools
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The USD 383 Board of Education on Wednesday reaffirmed its guest visitor policy, which limits access for third-party service providers in schools, after hearing a final report from a special advisory committee. The committee, formed in August to study the policy's impact, particularly on students who receive outside Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, presented its findings without making a formal recommendation. Board members who served on the committee cited insurmountable legal and liability insurance issues as primary obstacles to allowing external therapists, who are not district employees, to work with students during the school day. Board members expressed hope that the district could expand its own internal behavior support services and noted the policy does not prevent the district from directly contracting for such services if an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team deems it necessary.
Superintendent voices concern over state school finance uncertainty
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Superintendent Eric Reed warned the Board of Education that the upcoming expiration of the state's school finance formula in 2027 is creating uncertainty that could hinder long-term planning. During his report, Reed explained that without knowing what the new formula will be, the district must be more conservative in its financial commitments. The current formula is set to sunset on June 30, 2027, and must be reviewed and acted upon by the state legislature. Reed said the uncertainty makes it difficult to plan for future programs and staffing. “I know what happens when uncertainty happens, and that’s you pull back and you’re a little conservative and you’re a little careful,” Reed said.
Manhattan High reports spike in fights, substance use
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Manhattan High School has seen a recent spike in student altercations and substance abuse incidents after a relatively calm start to the school year, Principal Michael Dorst reported to the board. While out-of-school suspensions were down compared to the same period last year, Dorst noted the increase in these two specific areas of concern. He said the altercations often involve a small number of students with multiple offenses. In response, the school is working to educate students, parents and staff, including hosting a presentation on substance abuse resources and response for parents and providing professional development for educators.
New high school courses, including AI and drones, approved
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The Board of Education gave its initial approval for a slate of new course offerings for the 2026-27 school year, including classes focused on artificial intelligence (AI), drone technology and sports officiating. The new courses aim to align with modern career pathways and student interests. Among the proposals are "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence," "Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)," and "Officiating," a class designed to address a regional shortage of sports officials. Other new classes focus on advanced welding, digital media and animal science. The course proposals passed on a first reading and will return for final approval at a future meeting.
Manhattan High School launches on-site nursing assistant program
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Manhattan High School (MHS) has launched a new Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) program on its campus this year through a partnership with Manhattan Area Technical College (MATC). The program, which addresses a significant local workforce need, allows MHS students to take CNA courses during the school day, with an MATC instructor teaching at the high school. Principal Michael Dorst reported that nine students are enrolled in the first-semester class. The initiative was supported by funding from the Greater Manhattan Community Foundation and the Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce to help secure an instructor.
Manhattan High graduation rate climbs to nearly 89 percent
MANHATTAN, Kan. – The state graduation rate for Manhattan High School’s most recent graduating class was 88.9 percent, Principal Michael Dorst announced Wednesday. He explained that this state-calculated rate allows for the removal of students who were significantly credit-deficient upon enrolling late in their high school careers, providing a more accurate picture of the school’s success with its four-year cohort. Dorst credited the school's graduation team for its intensive work tracking and supporting every student, stating that there is a "story behind each kid" who did not graduate on time.
Eisenhower Middle School to add third counselor
MANHATTAN, Kan. – Eisenhower Middle School will add a third full-time school counselor beginning in the second semester to better serve its students. Principal David Martinez announced that the new position will allow for one dedicated counselor for each grade level. Previously, the school’s two counselors split the sixth-grade class in addition to serving the seventh and eighth grades. Martinez said the move was made possible by reallocating funds within his at-risk and Title I budgets and is part of a larger effort to address the mental and social-emotional health needs of students.
Anthony Middle School 'house system' boosts positive behavior
MANHATTAN, Kan. – A new school-wide "house system" at Anthony Middle School is showing early signs of success in promoting positive student behavior, Principal Vickie Kline told the board. Modeled after the Ron Clark Academy, the system sorts all students and staff into different houses to build community and recognize positive actions. Kline reported that since the start of the second quarter alone, staff have logged over 10,000 electronic "points" recognizing students for positive contributions. The initiative is part of the school’s effort to change the staff’s lens to focus on celebrating successes and building a stronger sense of belonging for all students.
Greg Loving
Found a mistake? Have a news tip or feedback to share? Contact our newsroom using the button below:
citizen journal offers three flagship products: a daily national news summary, a daily Kansas news summary, and local news and school board summaries from 15 cities across Kansas. Each issue contains 5 paragraph-length stories that are made to be read in 5 minutes. Use the links in the header to navigate to national, kansas, and local coverage. Subscribe to each, some, or all to get an email when new issues are published for FREE!
