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Trustees criticize state education actions and defend student walkouts as protected speech
Summary
Board members voiced frustration with recent Kansas legislative changes they said underfund schools and impose mandates (cell phone and civics rules); Trustee Courtney defended student walkouts as constitutionally protected under Tinker and warned districts could face financial penalties under the new law.
Trustees at the Manhattan‑Ogden USD 383 meeting sharply criticized recent actions by the Kansas Legislature and defended students’ rights to engage in on‑campus protests.
Trustee Courtney delivered an extended critique of this legislative session, saying it had undercut local control and imposed requirements the district would have to implement without additional funding. "Adequate funding of our public education is critical...and that's a mandate that they haven't fulfilled," Courtney said, adding that the board and district would now have to "navigate, enforce, and fund" new policies such as a cell phone law and changes to civics curriculum.
Courtney also framed recent student walkouts as a free‑speech issue, citing Tinker v. Des Moines and arguing that the fear of disturbance alone is not a sufficient reason to restrict students’ rights. "Our students have the constitutional right to speak out about things they support and things they oppose. Full stop," Courtney said, adding that the district’s walkout in support of immigrant community members produced "minimal disruption." Courtney warned the board that the new law could financially punish districts for such student actions, compounding funding concerns.
Other trustees echoed frustration with what they described as legislative overreach and urged residents to pay attention to candidates’ positions on public education in upcoming elections. Board members said they would ask district administration for details about how state changes will affect local policies and budgets and planned to discuss the implications at future meetings.
The board did not take formal action on state policy at the meeting but asked staff to provide further details in upcoming sessions.
