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Resident urges USD 383 to survey families before finalizing school start times
Summary
At the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board meeting, resident Anton Kucherov asked the district to send a simple follow-up survey to measure whether families would leave the district if proposed start-time changes proceed, warning of potential enrollment and funding loss.
MANHATTAN, Kan.
A resident urged the Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 board on Monday to ask one simple question before changing school start times: how many families might leave the district. Anton Kucherov of Brookhurst Drive told the board he supports a three-tier system in principle but said he was concerned by how district leaders interpreted earlier survey results and suggested a short follow-up survey to get a clearer estimate. "Send out a survey and see where we stand," he said. "It could be something as low as 2 percent, which will bring it to 60 children and about half $1,000,000 gap in funding."
Why it matters: Board members repeatedly tied start-time decisions to potential operational impacts such as bus scheduling, after-school partnerships and district revenue. District staff confirmed communications materials and survey results are posted online and said a one-page FAQ was distributed at parent-teacher conferences. The board and administrators emphasized the need to provide accessible, redacted survey data and to solicit clearer community feedback before making final changes.
What was said: Kucherov framed his ask as a test of how many families might actively transfer their children out of USD 383 if start times change, arguing the district should quantify the risk before adopting policy that affects families and partner organizations. District staff present said the start/end time committee and communications team have prepared parent-facing materials and an FAQ and that all non-identifying survey data and background are available on the district website.
Board response and next steps: Board members encouraged public engagement and noted the district will continue outreach. Several trustees said they intend to keep working with partners such as Boys & Girls Club to assess childcare and staffing implications. The communications team asked parents to submit questions for the FAQ and watch ParentSquare notices; administrators said they will consider additional targeted surveys to better estimate potential enrollment shifts. The item remains in the discussion phase; no formal board action on start times was taken at this meeting.
