On Sunday, October 19, the Ottawa County Republican Party participated in a Walk and Talk event at Minneapolis Grade School (MGS), where about 15 community members gathered to learn about USD 239’s reading intervention efforts and facility needs throughout the district. Attendees heard from Title 1 Reading Teacher Tarin Hauck, MGS Principal Pat Anderson, and USD 239 Superintendent Dr. Curtis Stevens.
Participants visited the MGS Office Conference Room to view the intense intervention schedule organized for struggling readers and learned how MGS supports students through explicit phonics instruction. 
They also had the opportunity to visit Mrs. Hauck’s reading intervention classroom and see examples of explicit phonics instruction using the Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) program. This literacy initiative is being promoted throughout Kansas by the Kansas State Legislature.
USD 239 Superintendent Dr. Curtis Stevens also informed the group about the district’s 5-year strategic plan to address aging infrastructure—particularly roofs and HVAC units. Dr. Stevens noted, “Approximately seventy percent of USD 239 roofs and HVAC units are 20 years old. We have a plan to get roofs and HVAC on a better rotation. We are using a patch and replace strategy…with efforts to get us off of a bond cycle where all our roofs are completed at one time.” Participants visited a classroom with an ongoing roof leak despite multiple attempts to patch it—showcasing the urgency for replacing the roof. The MGS west wing roof is slated for replacement in 2026-2027, pending capital outlay funding.
The 5-year strategic plan also includes replacing HVAC units with higher-quality ones and leveraging energy savings over time. “We cannot afford to replace all of our HVAC units with higher quality units at one time—so we will have to purchase some for short-term use to help us get a more balanced rotation,” Stevens said.
Dr. Stevens appreciated those who could attend and engage with the staff by asking questions. He stressed that it is the district’s vision to build a premier community that inspires all to learn, work, and thrive, and it takes everyone to engage in ongoing conversations to make that happen. The Walk and Talk was the first of a series of community engagement sessions this fall. An informal Coffee Chat will occur on Tuesday, October 21, at 9:00 a.m. at the Minneapolis Public Library. The public is invited to attend.