Parents, staff petition board to rescind new start times

Superintendent affirms busing schedule will proceed

Hagemeister and Weixelman attend final meeting

Morris-Hardeman nominated for board presidency

Ewy named 2026 District Master Teacher

Two district educators win state Horizon Awards

Power and phone outages plague first week of classes

Parents, staff petition board to rescind new start times

MANHATTAN, Kan. - More than a dozen community members, including parents and district staff, addressed the board to oppose the recently approved three-tier busing schedule, which shifts elementary school start times to 7:30 a.m. Speakers presented a petition with over 900 signatures asking the board to reconsider the decision, citing safety concerns regarding children walking in the dark, the financial burden of increased childcare costs and the developmental sleep needs of young children. Several teachers and coaches also testified that the new schedule, which pushes secondary dismissals later, would negatively impact staff retention and student participation in extracurricular activities.

Superintendent affirms busing schedule will proceed

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Following extensive public comment opposing the new start times, Superintendent Eric Reid stated that the administration does not plan to place the issue back on the agenda for a re-vote. Reid acknowledged the difficulty of the change and the mixed feedback from the district survey but emphasized that the board had already taken official action. He noted that while patrons can request items be added to the agenda, he believes it is the board's purview to decide if a settled matter should be reopened, and absent that direction, the district is moving forward with implementation.

Hagemeister and Weixelman attend final meeting

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The board recognized outgoing members Karla Hagemeister and Christine Weixelman, who are concluding their terms of service. Board President Kristin Brighton and other members praised Hagemeister for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic and her calm demeanor, while Weixelman was lauded for her attention to policy detail and willingness to challenge the status quo. Both members received plaques and offered parting advice to the incoming board members, who will be seated at the Jan. 21 meeting.

Morris-Hardeman nominated for board presidency

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Board member Greg Hoyt nominated Jayme Morris-Hardeman to serve as the Board of Education president for the upcoming year. During a discussion on board officer interests, Hoyt also volunteered to serve as vice president. Incoming board members Courtney Hochman and Lew Faust, who were in the audience, declined to seek officer positions for their first year. The board is scheduled to hold official officer elections at the beginning of the next meeting.

Ewy named 2026 District Master Teacher

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The board honored Casey Ewy as the USD 383 Master Teacher of the Year. Ewy, an eighth-grade social studies teacher at Anthony Middle School, was selected by the Manhattan-Ogden NEA Master Teacher Committee from nominees across the district. In her nomination materials, Ewy emphasized active learning, debate and real-world problem solving in her classroom. She will now represent the district as a candidate for the Kansas Master Teacher awards, which will be announced in the spring.

Two district educators win state Horizon Awards

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Superintendent Eric Reid announced that two USD 383 teachers, Tristyn Tow of Theodore Roosevelt Elementary and Alyssa Higbie of Manhattan High School, were named Kansas Horizon Award winners. The award recognizes exemplary first-year teachers. Reid noted that USD 383 was the only district in the state to have two representatives selected for the honor this year. The teachers will be formally recognized at a conference in February.

Power and phone outages plague first week of classes

MANHATTAN, Kan. - Superintendent Eric Reid reported that the first week of the spring semester was disrupted by infrastructure failures at two schools. Marlatt Elementary experienced power issues at the start of the school day on Tuesday, and Ogden Elementary lost power for a significant time on Wednesday. Additionally, a cut communication line severed phone service for district elementary schools. Reid praised district technology staff for managing the crisis and maintaining communications despite the outages.

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