The USD 383 Manhattan-Ogden Board of Education gathered for the first time in 2016 on Wednesday night at the Robinson Education Center to prime themselves for what appears to be a busy next few weeks ahead. With the retirement of Bob Shannon just over the horizon, candidates for the Superintendent position will be in Manhattan next week for interviews. While in Manhattan, the candidates will be available to the public at meet-and-greet sessions at the Manhattan High West Commons Area and Little Theatre on Wednesday from 3:45 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
In new business, the district voted to approve the renaming of a district building to memorialize the life of a former employee. The district maintenance building on Casement Road will now be known as USD 383 Keith Noll District Maintenance Building, thanks to a proposal by Maintenance Director Matt Davis. Noll began his tenure with the district in 1994, and Davis gave a glowing description on Noll’s personality and contributions to the community. Board member Leah Fliter tearfully made the motion to approve the renaming, and it passed unanimously. A new sign will be installed near the building that will be paid for by private donation.
Special educators in the district have faced adversity this school year, and it will not be getting much easier. The district has one unfilled Speech Language Pathologist position, and another SLP will be taking maternity leave in the coming months. Special Education Executive Director Deborah Howser made a proposal that the board enter into a contract with Presence Learning in order to better serve the special needs children in the district. Howser likened the Presence Learning model to the Facetime software on iPhones, saying a SLP will be able to work with students face-to-face from any location in the nation. The Presence Learning representative would also be able to sign off on forms such as doctor referrals and IEPs. The board approved the proposal. In order to facilitate the technology to students, the board will hire an extra paraprofessional. More than 40 students will be using the service.
In reports, NEA President James Neff shared Manhattan-Ogden students are starting off the new year in excellent fashion. This weekend, 20 thespians from Manhattan High will be representing the community at a theatre conference in Wichita. Eisenhower Middle School recently received a $2,000 grant from Frontier Farm Credit in order to jumpstart the agriculture club that will be lovingly dubbed Ike’s Aggies. This spring, middle school students will also continue their mock U.N. project that caught attention from Governor Brownback last year. Superintendent Bob Shannon reported the district has sold four defunct school buses for a total of $28,000.
In recognitions, Stephanie Chitwood was recognized as the district’s nominee for Master Teacher. Chitwood has been with the district since 1999 and currently teaches second grade at Bluemont Elementary.
The board also declared the week of January 18th as Martin Luther King, Jr. Week. In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, students will be out of class on Monday the 18th. Board member Pat Hudgins encouraged students and families to participate in volunteer opportunities throughout Manhattan on their day off from class.
