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USD 383 accepts clean audit; board approves contracts including speech therapy, Red Rover and WAN fiber
Summary
The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board accepted a clean audit from Varney & Associates and approved multiple contracts Dec. 7: Safe & Civil Schools professional learning, Bluebird Speech Therapy ($60/hr), Red Rover absence management, WAN fiber upgrades with Cox, and a BG Consultants design contract, among other items.
The Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board accepted a clean audit from Varney & Associates and approved several contracts and purchases at its Dec. 7 meeting.
April Swartz, partner at Varney & Associates, told the board the district received a clean auditor's opinion with no proposed audit adjustments and no federal findings in the programs tested (the IDEA special-education cluster and child nutrition). The audit presentation summarized key figures reported in the financial statements: an opening unencumbered cash balance reported at roughly $51,458,000; receipts of about $158,000,000; and expenditures near $161,000,000, with the audit reporting the reconciled ending cash balances. The auditor also noted adherence to Kansas budget requirements and discussed outstanding bonds and amortization schedules.
On new business the board approved multiple items by voice vote, most unanimously:
- Item 12.1: Moved to accept on first reading the annual report and financial statements (motion carried 7-0).
- Item 12.2: Approved Safe & Civil Schools professional learning contracts not to exceed $41,050 (motion passed 7-0). District staff said the work will combine leadership training across buildings and coaching for district leadership teams.
- Item 12.3: Approved a contract with Bluebird Speech Therapy LLC to provide speech-language pathology services to meet IEP minutes for the 2025–26 school year at a rate of $60 per hour (motion passed 7-0).
- Item 12.4: Approved final purchase of absence and substitute management software from Red Rover Technologies LLC (Exton, Pennsylvania) at $25,500 per year plus a one-time $4,450 implementation fee (motion passed 7-0).
- Item 12.5: Approved construction upgrades to the wide area network (WAN) fiber ($215,850) and a data transmission services contract with Cox Kansas Telecom LLC of Wichita for $172,800 for the first 60 months (motion passed 7-0).
- Item 12.6: Approved BG Consultants (Manhattan) for design services for a Manhattan High School Industrial Arts finishing-room addition for $50,065 (motion passed 7-0).
- Item 12.7: Revised policy BH (school board member ethics) on first reading as modified in the meeting; motion passed 5-2 on first reading.
Board members and staff said the audit and contracts were the result of regular finance and facilities planning processes. The administration indicated staff will continue routine follow-up and provide additional detail to the board where required by policy or contract terms.
