Board Policy BCBI – Participation at Board Meetings

Open Forum
The president or presiding officer may ask patrons attending if they would like to speak during the open forum. Rules for the public forum will be
available from the clerk prior to the board meeting and at the meeting itself. The board president may impose a limit on the time a visitor may address the board. The board president may ask groups with the same interest to appoint a spokesperson to deliver the group’s message. Except to ask clarifying questions, board members shall not interact with speakers at the open forum.

Patron - Requested Agenda Items
Any patron may request addition of a specific agenda item and shall notify the superintendent ten days prior to the meeting and state the reason(s) for the request. The superintendent shall determine whether the request can be solved by staff without the patron’s appearance before the board. If not, the superintendent shall consult with the board president, and the patron’s request may be placed  on the next regular board meeting agenda.

Handling Complaints (See KN)
The superintendent may refer complaints to the board only if a satisfactory adjustment cannot be made by a principal, the superintendent, or other appropriate staff members.
Approved: 5/05

Citizen Comment Guidelines

1. Any individual wishing to address the Board must complete the Citizen Comment Form. The completed form may be submitted at any time prior to speaking at the meeting. You may fill out the form online or in-person. Filling it out online will automatically send the form to the Board Clerk - you may also print off your completed form and bring it to the meeting. After clicking "submit," a screen will show that has a three-dot button in the upper right corner. Click the three-dot button and select "print response." The form will be available at the board meetings as well.
2. Citizens wishing to address the Board should come to the front of the room, be seated at the microphone, and state their name and address.
3. Approximately 15 minutes is provided at the beginning of each Board meeting for comments from citizens on topics NOT included on the evening’s agenda.
4. For citizens wishing to speak on items included on the agenda, a time will be provided after administrative presentation/recommendation or reports and before Board discussion begins and subsequent action. The amount of time allowed for citizen input in connection with specific agenda items will be at the discretion of the Board President.
5. Each speaker will be limited to no more than three minutes with the expectation that no one individual will speak more than once on any given agenda item or topic. If there are several individuals wishing to speak on any one topic, speakers should avoid duplicating what has been said previously. Speakers may speak on more than one agenda item and should indicate the topics to be addressed on the form handed to the Clerk. Individuals who have not spoken previously are given the opportunity to speak first.
6. Participants are expected to respect each speaker’s opinion. Speakers will only address issues; comments about personalities will not be permitted.
7. Board members will listen carefully to the speakers’ comments and concerns, but will not engage in any discussion/debate with the speakers. Board members may ask questions for clarification purposes. Should the topic warrant further discussion, the Board may, by consensus, suggest that the topic be considered at a future Board meeting.
8. Should there be more citizens wishing to speak than can be accommodated in the amount of time available, those individuals will be invited to attend a future Board meeting or may share their concerns/comments with the Board in writing. Depending upon the topic and number of individuals wishing to speak on a particular issue, the Board may elect to schedule a work/discussion session on the particular topic at hand

If you have concerns about a specific person, please utilize the Concerns Matrix.

All regular board meetings are held at Lincoln Education Center unless otherwise notified. All Meetings are on Wednesdays starting at 6:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. The secondary schools listed by the meeting dates are when student representatives from the Student Councils will speak at the meeting.

• January 8 – MHS
• January 22 – EMS
• February 5 – MHS
• February 19 – AMS
• March 5 – MHS
• March 26 – EMS
• April 2 – MHS
• April 16 – AMS
• May 7 – MHS
• May 21
• June 4
• June 25
• July 2
• July 16
• August 6
• August 20
• September 3 – MHS
• September 17
• October 1 – MHS
• October 15 – AMS/EMS
• November 5 – MHS
• November 19 – AMS
• December 3 – MHS
• December 17 – EMS
• January 7, 2026 – MHS
• January 21, 2026 – AMS

2025 special meetings for Board Retreat

• February 26 at 5:30 p.m. – location TBD
• October 22 at 5:30 p.m. – location TBD

• District Site Council (2)
  • Provides input/feedback on the work of the District Leadership Team. Meets 4:00 via Teams. Contact: Andrea Tiede
  • Allen
  • Hoyt
• District Finance Committee (2)
  • Review financial audit and special finance topics (meets after Fall Audit) Contact: Andy Hutchinson
  • Brighton
  • Morris-Hardeman
• District Wellness Committee (1)
  • State regulations require a Board member on this committee (meets three times/year) Contact: Stephanie Smith and Abby Bowen
  • Herrman
• Facilities and Growth (3)
  • Work with administration on capital projects and construction projects. Contact: Nathan Downs
  • Hagemeister
  • Weixelman
  • Brighton
• Early Learning Policy Council (1)
  • Advisory committee required by federal regulations (College Hill/Eugene Field Early Learning Centers). Contact: Elisabeth Nelson
  • Hoyt
• Intergovernmental (2)
  • Discuss issues among the City, County, KSU and USD 383. Contact: Grant Hill
  • Herrman
  • Hagemeister
  • Anyone
• KASB Advocacy Network (2)
  • Represent the Board on KASB Advocacy Network (Access to special briefings and trainings). Contact: Leah Fliter
  • Brighton
  • Morris-Hardeman
• Negotiations (2 + Alternate)
  • Contract Negotiations between BOE and NEA (4 p.m. Thurs starting in April as scheduled - Lincoln Education Center - TBD). Contact: Nathan Downs
  • Allen
  • Brighton
  • Herrman (alt)
• Parks & Recreation Advisory Board (2)
  • Advise City Commission on Manhattan Parks & Recreation issues. Contact: Aaron Stewart
  • Hoyt
  • Weixelman
• Professional Development Council (1)
  • Oversees professional development and reviews IDP proposals. Contact: Kristal Kleiner-Neff
  • Morris-Hardeman
• District Technology Committee (2)
  • Evaluates and shares ideas of technology use. Contact: Mike Ribble
  • Allen
  • Herrman
• Board Policy (3)
  • Review KASB recommended policy and current policy. Contact: Diane Denison
  • Allen
  • Hagemeister
  • Weixelman

School Assignments

• Allen
  • Lee
  • Anthony Middle
• Brighton
  • Bluemont
  • Woodrow Wilson
  • Eugene Field
• Hagemeister
  • Bergman
  • Northview
• Herrman
  • Amanda Arnold
  • Ogden
• Hoyt
  • Marlatt
  • Eisenhower Middle
• Morris-Hardeman
  • Theodore Roosevelt
  • Manhattan High
• Weixelman
  • Oliver Brown
  • College Hill

How to Address the Board

The Board of Education serves the citizens of Manhattan-Ogden USD 383, so community input is always welcome. Ideas and suggestions can
help meet the challenge of becoming the best school district possible.

There are two ways a citizen can express their thoughts at a board meeting. First, there is a specific section of the agenda permitting people
to address the Board. This is the best time to speak about something that does not appear on the agenda.

Secondly, citizens may speak during the public time and any listed agenda item when recognized by the president. This the time to make views
known about the item(s) being discussed previous to any action taken by the Board. Speakers are asked to give their name, address, and to limit comments to three minutes.

Duties and Responsibilities

Board members are responsible for developing and adopting policies that will guide the superintendent and staff as they provide for the educational needs of the students, parents, and citizens of the district. Other duties include:

• Setting goals for the district;
• Establishing operating policies for local schools;
• Hiring and evaluating the superintendent;
• Authorizing the appointment of district staff;
• Authorizing curriculum development and revision;
• Establishing the operating budget for the district.

All policies established by the Board must be consistent with the laws covering public education in the State of Kansas and must follow regulations established by the Kansas State Board of Education.

Role of the Superintendent

The superintendent is a professional educator employed by the Board to administer all district operations and carry out policies. In addition to advising the Board of matters relating to the management of the district, the superintendent is responsible for giving direction to the staff. The president of the Board and the superintendent prepare an agenda for each meeting that outlines the formal order of business.

Open Meetings/Executive Sessions

The public is invited to attend all open meetings of the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 Board of Education. Occasionally, executive sessions may be held. A majority vote of the Board is necessary to discuss items in executive session such as:

• Personnel matters for non-elected personnel;
• Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in attorney-client relationship;
• Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency;
• Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secret of corporations, partnerships, trusts, and individual proprietorship;
• Matters relating to actions adversely or favorably affecting a person as a student, patient, or resident of a public institution, except that any such person shall have the right to a public hearing if requested by that person;
• Preliminary discussion relating to the acquisition of real property;
• Matters relating to the security of the Board and the school district.

Board action on any item discussed in executive must be taken in public session.

Meeting Times and How to Watch

Board of Education meetings are held the first and third Wednesdays of every month at 6:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Education Center. When a special meeting is called or there is a change in a meeting date or location, the updated information will be published on USD 383 social media and website. Regular meetings are live-streamed on a USD 383 social media outlet.

News Coverage

The Board may provide accommodations for members of the news media present at board meetings. At an appropriate time, the board or superintendent may explain board action.

Use of cameras, photographic lights, and recording devices at any board meeting shall be allowed subject to reasonable rules, which are designed to ensure orderly conduct. All recording devices, including microphones, shall be kept in an area designated for the media. Use of recording devices shall not interfere with or disrupt the meeting. No cameras or recording devices are allowed at executive sessions.

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