Manson schools seek public input on long-range facilities planning

MANSON — Manson School District’s Community Facilities Task Force is asking residents to help shape the future of local schools through a new online survey focused on long-range facility planning.

The district announced May 13 that it has launched a community-wide ThoughtExchange survey inviting parents, students, staff and community members to share priorities and ideas related to future capital projects and campus needs.

The survey will remain open through June 14.

Convened earlier in 2026, the Community Facilities Task Force includes approximately 20 community volunteers working to develop recommendations for a long-range capital programming plan for the district. The group’s final recommendation is due Feb. 22, 2027 and is expected to address topics including safety, educational standards, prioritized capital needs and broader community priorities.

Unlike a traditional survey, the ThoughtExchange platform allows participants not only to submit their own ideas, but also to read and assign “stars” to thoughts shared by others.

“We want this to feel like a conversation, not a checklist,” task force chair Robin Bloch said in a release from the district. “Our schools serve every corner of our community, and the decisions ahead will shape Manson for decades.”

Bloch said broad participation will help strengthen the final recommendation.

“ThoughtExchange gives every voice a chance to be heard — and just as importantly, it lets neighbors see and lift up the ideas that matter most to one another,” Bloch said. “We need parents, students, staff, and community members to weigh in.”

District officials said participation is anonymous, takes about 10 minutes to complete and can be done on a phone, tablet or computer. Participants are also encouraged to revisit the survey before it closes to review and rate additional responses.

The survey is available at https://tejoin.com/scroll/423361003.

Additional information about the district’s long-range facilities planning process is available at https://www.manson.org/page/facilities-planning.

Andrew Simpson: 509-433-7626 or andrew@ward.media