April 2, 2025

Dear Staff, Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,

As we enter the final quarter of the school year, there is so much to celebrate! Our district continues to thrive, reflecting meaningful growth, student successes, and impactful learning moments across all grade levels. From high school to middle school, and within our special education programs, our commitment to fostering a positive school culture is evident.

Students have excelled not only in academics but also in athletics and extracurricular activities, and teachers have been refining inclusive practices and differentiated instruction to support all learners. Through increased positive interactions, shared academic strategies, and purposeful WIN (What I Need) time, we are cultivating an environment where students feel supported, engaged, and empowered.

Growth has been particularly evident in special education, where students are advocating for their needs and embracing their accommodations. Learning moments, such as recognizing the root causes of behavior or empowering students to push through fears, have helped reinforce resilience and foster emotional safety.

Our first three quarters have been filled with incredible progress, success, and valuable learning experiences. From students advocating for themselves to overcoming personal obstacles, whether participating in mock trials or tackling fears head-on, our students have shown remarkable growth. Together, we are celebrating our successes, embracing challenges, and continuously fostering a culture of improvement.

As we look ahead, our focus remains on preparing every student to be a Contributing Citizen, Discerning Thinker, Honest Individual, Responsible Achiever, Effective Communicator, and Hard Worker—the qualities we aim to nurture in each of our graduates. We are dedicated to ensuring that all students leave Manhattan Public Schools ready to thrive in the world as capable, thoughtful, and compassionate individuals.

Our commitment to supporting our students extends beyond academics. The food service program has been a highlight, with the new Grab & Go breakfast at the high/middle school receiving positive feedback. Manhattan Public Schools is proud to partner with Producer Partnership to bring locally sourced protein to our students. Through this collaboration, producers and ranchers can donate livestock to be processed into high-quality protein, which is then provided to our food service program at no charge. This partnership helps reduce the cost of protein for our school meal program while ensuring our students receive nutritious, locally grown food. Donating an animal is simple and comes with the benefit of a tax contribution letter, detailing the amount of protein processed. Additionally, producers have the opportunity to influence how the donated animal is packaged and processed. By supporting this program, you’re not only providing local protein for our students but also helping to increase meal participation. We encourage local producers to get involved by contacting Superintendent Ayers or the Producer Partnership directly via phone or email to make a donation. Your contribution will have a lasting impact on our school community and students’ well-being.

We’d also like to update you on important district news. There will be no trustee or general fund operating levy elections in May, as Trustees Rob Brownell and Brand Robinson will be elected by acclamation. While we anticipate budget challenges for the 2025-2026 school year, we are exploring options to address them without raising property taxes. This includes using one-time funds and preparing for increased enrollment from out-of-district students.

As we plan for the upcoming school year, I want to inform you that the District may need to limit the use of our facilities by outside groups, especially on weekends. This decision stems from challenges we have faced in securing adequate staff to supervise weekend events. Without sufficient staffing, we are unable to ensure proper supervision and maintenance, which is crucial to maintaining the condition of our facilities and ensuring the safety of all involved.

The Board of Trustees reserves the right to refuse the rental of District facilities and equipment, and all use must be approved by the Superintendent. Any organization requesting to use our facilities will be required to assume responsibility for cleanup, damages, and any issues that may arise during their use. In addition, adequate supervision must be provided by the requesting group to ensure the proper care of our facilities, and students cannot be in the building unsupervised. If the required supervision is not in place, the agreement may be terminated.

We understand the importance of community use of our facilities, and we will continue to do our best to accommodate all requests. However, due to staffing limitations, particularly for weekend events, we may need to adjust our policy and availability. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work to maintain the quality and safety of our school facilities.

Thank you for your continued support of our students and our school community. Together, we’ll finish the year strong!

Sincerely,

Superintendent Ayers
Manhattan School District