Takeaways from Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 School Board Meeting
Week of June 4, 2026
Board reluctantly passes state-mandated cell phone policy
TIF district proposed for Edge 3.0 development
Preliminary budget projects enrollment drop, relies on three-year average
Annual health report shows rise in student ADHD, emotional issues
Board approves $446,250 for high school CTE construction projects
Board reluctantly passes state-mandated cell phone policy
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education approved the first reading of a new student personal device policy in a 6-1 vote, with some members expressing frustration over state legislative overreach. The policy, mandated by a recent state law, bans student cell phone use from bell to bell. Board members argued the district's existing, locally developed policy was already successful, calling the state mandate an erosion of local control. Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Superintendent Eric Reid advised the board to adopt the policy to protect staff and comply with state law, leading to a 6-1 vote in favor under protest. The policy package also included new guidelines for the use of artificial intelligence in schools.
TIF district proposed for Edge 3.0 development
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Trent Armbrust, a consultant to the Kansas State University Foundation, presented a proposed 15-acre Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district at the corner of Kimball and College avenues. The district is part of the $297 million Edge 3.0 project, which will include a hotel, residential condos, restaurants and research facilities. Armbrust noted that 28 mills of Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 property taxes are protected by state statute and cannot be captured by the TIF, meaning the school district will see immediate revenue growth as the previously tax-exempt property is developed.
Preliminary budget projects enrollment drop, relies on three-year average
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 administration presented initial budget projections for the upcoming fiscal year, noting an anticipated decrease in student enrollment. To mitigate the financial impact, the district will utilize a three-year enrollment average, a method permitted because of the district's population of military-dependent students and federal impact aid. While the base state aid per pupil will increase by 2.9%, administrators also presented the option of adopting a cost-of-living weighting factor, which would require a board resolution and rely on local property taxes.
Annual health report shows rise in student ADHD, emotional issues
MANHATTAN, Kan. — Manhattan-Ogden USD 383's annual health services report revealed nearly 90,000 student visits to school nurses over the past year. Board members highlighted a concerning trend in the data: the percentage of students diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder increased from 9.7% to 10.9% over two years, while emotional issues such as anxiety and depression rose from 7.8% to 9.8%. The board discussed the potential link between these increases and student screen time and technology use.
Board approves $446,250 for high school CTE construction projects
MANHATTAN, Kan. — The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education unanimously approved two construction bids from Riley Construction, a Wamego-based contractor, for additions to the Manhattan High School Career and Technical Education (CTE) facilities. A $114,450 contract will fund a new video production control room, which will allow CTE students to produce live events. A separate $331,800 contract was approved for an industrial arts finishing room, providing a dedicated and safe space for students completing woodworking and manufacturing projects.
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