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

Manhattan School District 114 Meeting | March 11, 2026

The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education held a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. at the Manhattan District Office. President John Burke called the meeting to order. Vice President Emily Wesel, Secretary Barb Steffen, and board members Brian Anderson, Erica Aultz, and Chris Boswell were present. Member Barbara Epps was absent. The board celebrated a highly successful student-led food drive, approved a $5.75 million fund transfer to leverage bond interest, and reorganized several key administrative roles. The board entered a closed session at 6:50 p.m. and adjourned the regular meeting at 8:09 p.m.

Brief Title: MJHS Students Raise $2,750 for Manhattan Food Pantry
The board recognized several Manhattan Junior High School students—Gavin, Aaron, Nathan, and Fa—for their outstanding efforts in leading the school’s recent food drive. Staff members reported that the students hyped the event by organizing a “pie in the face” incentive for teachers and administrators, successfully raising $2,750 for the Manhattan Food Pantry. The students were responsible for collecting, tallying, and sorting the donations. They also took a field trip to purchase the pantry’s most-needed items, physically delivered the massive haul to the facility, and received a tour to learn how their efforts directly impact the local community.

Brief Title: Will Be Ready Mutual Aid Agreement Approved
The board voted 6-0 to approve the “Will Be Ready” Memorandum of Understanding for a School Mutual Aid Network Agreement. The agreement officially establishes a cooperative emergency framework between Manhattan District 114 and the Will County Regional Office of Education, ensuring shared resources and support during potential crisis scenarios.

Brief Title: LWSRA Hawks Qualify for State Basketball Tournaments
During the board reports, it was announced that two Manhattan students are heading to state competitions representing the Lincoln-Way Special Recreation Association (LWSRA) Hawks. Bay Rossi, a seventh grader at MJHS, will travel to the Bloomington State Basketball Tournament to compete. Additionally, Joey Rovsky, a fifth grader, qualified for the state basketball skills competition.

Brief Title: 5Essentials Survey Nears Conclusion, Registration Opens
Superintendent Dr. Damien Aherne reported that the district has officially surpassed the 20% parent response threshold required by the state for the mandated 5Essentials Survey, with MJHS currently leading parent participation at 29%. The survey closes at the end of the week. Additionally, Aherne announced that student registration opened for returning families on March 1, and will open for new families on March 16. Aherne praised district staff for refining the registration systems to “make registration more streamlined and accessible to our families while also ensuring we have everything we require to verify residency.”

Brief Title: Manhattan Students Excel in Music and Wrestling
Manhattan District 114 students are finding success in extracurricular state competitions. It was reported that district choirs and orchestras competed recently, with all programs receiving Division 1 (the highest) ratings. Both choir programs received the highest rating of the entire competition day. In athletics, nine district wrestlers qualified for the state series. The district planned a special state send-off on Thursday afternoon, featuring the wrestlers walking the school hallways led by the marching band.