Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan School District 114 for February 11, 2026

Manhattan School District 114 Meeting | February 11, 2026

The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education held its regular meeting on Wednesday, February 11, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Manhattan District Office. President John Burke called the meeting to order, with Vice President Emily Wesel, Secretary Barb Steffen, and Board Members Brian Anderson, Erica Aultz, Barbara Epps, and Chris Boswell all present. The board advanced a robust agenda, reviewing highly positive winter benchmark testing data, approving complex financial fund transfers and tax abatements, and reaching a consensus to issue a Request for Proposals for alternative bus transportation providers. The board entered a closed executive session at 7:04 p.m. to discuss personnel matters.

Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee Established
The board voted 7-0 to officially establish a Parent-Teacher Advisory Committee pursuant to Board Policy 2:150. The purpose of the committee is to advise the Board of Education on student discipline policies and related procedures. According to the approved motion, the committee will serve in an advisory capacity only and will formulate recommendations to present to the board.

Policy Manual Overhaul Advances
During the Policy and Curriculum Committee report, Board Member Chris Boswell updated the board on the ongoing overhaul of the district’s policy manual. The committee recently received the first draft of the new manual, which condenses the current 900-page document down to approximately 350 pages using PRESS best practices. The committee is actively comparing the draft against existing local policies to determine which localized rules should be retained before presenting a final draft to the full board.

Band Boosters Commission Danny Bayles Memorial
During the administrator reports, the board was informed that the district’s Band Boosters have officially contracted a music composer to create a new original piece in memory of Danny Bayles. The composer recently visited the junior high to meet with students, staff, and the Bayles family to gather inspiration. According to the report, the composer noted that “how he made others feel seems to be a common theme” and will work to incorporate Danny’s spirit into the new musical composition.

2026-2027 District Calendar Approved
Looking ahead to the next academic cycle, the board unanimously approved the 2026-2027 District Calendar. The motion was made by Barbara Epps, seconded by Barb Steffen, and carried via a 7-0 roll call vote.

Upcoming Facility Walkthroughs with Pepper Construction
The Building and Development/Growth Committee is preparing for its next major assessment step. Secretary Barb Steffen reported that Dr. Damien Aherne recently met with architectural firm STR and Pepper Construction. The committee and the contractors are scheduled to conduct physical walkthroughs of the district’s school buildings, beginning at MIS, moving to Anna Mac, and finishing at Wilson Creek, to determine specific infrastructure and developmental needs.