By Jon A. Brake
Does the Manhattan School District have Budget problems? Yes, they don't what the public to know how much money they have and where it is being spent.
The Board has been meeting at 5:00 and subjects which should be on the regular agenda are discussed.
Last week the Staff gave a report on the USD 383 - KSU Partnership but the public could not see it.
This is the Student Teacher Program with the University. The District uses experienced teachers to over see the program in each school. That means that fourteen are taken from the classroom. The District pays this group of teachers more that $1.2 million to run the program.
Records show that the District did not bill the University the correct amounts. In 1999-2000 the amount should have been $206,795 but the University was billed and paid $168,622. In 2001-2002 the amount should have been $363,365 but the University was billed and paid $306,760.
Look for the District to continue the 5:00 meetings and watch the agenda
be used for items that could be an embarrassment. The best thing the Board
could do is turn on the TV camera and the start of the meeting.