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Board members share personal cases for public education and consider a joint op-ed
Summary
With a light agenda, board members used the April 1 meeting to tell personal stories and arguments in support of public education — emphasizing opportunity, equity, civic preparation and community — and discussed turning the remarks into a joint op-ed or public outreach.
At the April 1 board meeting, Manhattan-Ogden USD 383 trustees devoted time to explain why public education matters to them, offering recorded remarks and personal stories intended for public outreach.
A recorded video by Kurt framed public education as "a great equalizer," and multiple trustees followed with personal reflections. Kristen recounted family history and data about expanded educational attainment across generations, stressing that education drives economic mobility. Greg and other board members described how schools provided opportunities, mentorship and life skills, and several trustees cited equity — including students with disabilities and families in persistent local poverty — as central to why public funding for schools matters.
Board members agreed the collection of remarks should be packaged for community outreach; one trustee proposed drafting a joint op-ed for local media. Members emphasized the district's mix of academic, vocational and extracurricular opportunities and noted the community's role in supporting schools.
The board used the segment to reinforce support for teachers and staff and to highlight connections between schools and community well-being. The remarks were largely personal, with members urging the public and state policymakers to recognize the role public schools play in fostering opportunity and civic life.
