Manton Education Council

It's often said that when a community's elementary school closes, it sets off a chain reaction.

Out-migration, population decline, and neighborhood deterioration—making it nearly impossible to reverse. But what if that isn’t the whole story? What if a small rural town of 300 people came together for their children and created a space where they could explore, express themselves, feel safe, eat organic food, and even nap when needed? That’s exactly what's happening in Manton.

In 2017, when local educators and parents learned that Manton’s 100-year-old school was about to close, they formed the Manton Education Council (MEC). The mission of this 501(c)(3) was simple yet urgent: to reclaim and preserve what was being taken from us. We aimed to provide a safe afterschool program, restore educational opportunities in Manton, and keep the community's spirit alive through hands-on learning experiences that reflected the unique character of our town.

This amazing non-profit created a space where children can feel safe, where they have a place to go after school so they don't have to walk 2 miles home by themselves, where they can learn and grow and just be with friends.

The Manton Education Council has become a pillar of our community. Our students do not pay any money for our programs, and we are only able to provide these services because of the generosity of foundations and private donors.