Parents, Mayor Raise Concerns Over Special Education Services at Manhattan 114 Board Meeting

Manhattan School District 114 Board Meeting | October 8, 2025

Article Summary: Parents of a special needs student, supported by a statement from Manhattan’s mayor, addressed the Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education with detailed and emotional accounts of what they described as a lack of collaboration, respect, and professionalism from district staff, particularly at Anna McDonald Junior High. The family, whose son is now placed out of district, called for systemic change in how the district partners with families of its most vulnerable students.

Special Education Public Comment Key Points:

• Three community members spoke during public comment, including one reading a statement from Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen, to express deep dissatisfaction with the district’s special education services.

• Speakers detailed a multi-year struggle involving a student with special needs, alleging a breakdown in communication and a lack of empathy from administrators.

• The family’s experience ultimately led to their son being placed in an out-of-district school, where they say he is now thriving.

• The speakers issued a “call to action,” asking the board to reflect on their experience and improve collaboration with families of special needs students.

The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, listened to extensive and critical public comment from parents and an advocate who detailed a painful, multi-year journey navigating the district’s special education system. The speakers, backed by a statement from Mayor Mike Adrieansen, described a breakdown in professional collaboration that they said ultimately failed their son and forced them to seek an out-of-district placement.

Melissa Ballard began the public comment section by reading a statement from Mayor Adrieansen, who expressed appreciation for the district’s quality education but highlighted an area of concern. “One area I’ve heard concerns about from several families is the need for improvement in the supporting of our special needs children,” the mayor’s statement read. He respectfully asked the board to “listen to the parents, learn from their perspectives, and explore ways to strengthen the programs of the special needs in our schools.”

Parent and advocate Julia Barkzac then shared her family’s story. With professional experience in therapeutic recreation and early intervention, she contrasted positive, collaborative experiences in other districts—and even within Manhattan 114’s early childhood program—with what she described as a turbulent and damaging experience at Anna McDonald Junior High.

She stated that while her son’s early education at Wilson Creek was positive, the transition to Anna McDonald in 2019 marked a turning point. “From this point moving forward, my actions to advocate for my son became very difficult,” Barkzac said. “I felt my concerns were sometimes acknowledged but lack appropriate intervention or action.”

She attributed the escalation of her son’s negative behaviors to a “lack of consistency” and the direct involvement of an administrator “that has little to no qualifications for working with interacting with children who have special needs.”

When Barkzac’s allotted five minutes expired, her husband, Paul Barkzac, continued reading her prepared statement. He detailed how the family felt their privacy was violated and that they experienced a “gross lack of professionalism.” The family followed the chain of command from teachers to the superintendent and board members, but felt the implementation of any agreed-upon solutions was “significantly lacking.”

Their struggle culminated in dealing with the district’s attorney, who they felt “unilaterally made decisions without consideration of what outside specialists were providing.” The statement recounted feelings of being lost, abandoned, and resentful.

Their son, Bryce, who has Trisomy 21, was eventually placed at Elim Christian Services 14 months ago, where the family said he has shown numerous areas of growth.

“Our family life is making a comeback because Bryce is getting the support we began advocating so many years ago in fourth grade while attending Manhattan,” the statement read.

Concluding with a quote from Maya Angelou—”Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”—the family framed their story as a call to action. They urged the board and administration to improve communication and professionalism to ensure future families do not endure similar struggles.