Meeting Summary and Briefs: Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education for April 8, 2026

Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education Meeting | April 8, 2026

The Manhattan School District 114 Board of Education met on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, at the Manhattan District Office. The meeting was heavily focused on celebrating the extraordinary success of the district’s students, featuring live performances from the Manhattan Junior High School band and a presentation honoring the wrestling team’s second-place finish at the state tournament. The board also advanced significant operational items, including approving an independent contractor agreement for exterior upgrades at the junior high, setting a special meeting for April 29 to approve a multi-school summer roofing contract, and reviewing transportation bids.

In other newsworthy actions, the board approved and discussed the following:

PTO Grants Awarded for Classroom Innovations
The board unanimously approved the acceptance of grant gifts provided by the Manhattan School District PTO. The grants, made possible through the fundraising efforts of family and community members, are designed to fund classroom supplies, books, learning materials, and special projects. Educators Cora Bloom and Emily Ray were recognized as the recent recipients of these PTO gifts to benefit their classrooms.

State Cell Phone Policy and AI Discussed at IASB Meeting
During board reports, it was noted that representatives attended a recent Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) Three Rivers meeting. A significant portion of the meeting focused on Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the classroom, indicating that school districts will likely need to develop new policies to address AI’s growing presence in education. The report also highlighted pending state legislation backed by Governor J.B. Pritzker that would require every school district in Illinois to implement a policy disallowing cell phones in the classroom.

Lincoln-Way Special Education District Prepares for Movement Day Fundraiser
The board received a brief update regarding the Lincoln-Way Special Education District #843. The final transportation billing for the cooperative is expected the week of May 1. Additionally, the Pioneer Grove educational program is preparing for its PSO Movement Day fundraiser on May 8. The event aims to raise funds for school supplies and other goods, and the program is currently seeking sponsorships, which are due by April 24.