As the 2026-2027 school year quickly approaches, USD 239 crews are putting the finishing touches on school facilities to ensure students and staff return to welcoming, well-maintained buildings. While many assume schools sit empty during the summer, district facilities remain busy with youth camps, Parks and Recreation programs, class reunion tours, and numerous community events.
Between activities, maintenance and grounds crews deep-cleaned every classroom, completed routine painting, replaced HVAC filters and belts, and addressed normal wear and tear. Over the summer, the district prioritized exterior painting at Minneapolis Grade School and Minneapolis Junior Senior High, employing several students to assist with this project. The following are some before and after photographs of this progress:
When asked what the community can do to help, Dr. Stevens, USD 239 Superintendent, said, "Everyone can help support our maintenance staff by taking pride in our schools, by preventing litter, and by reporting damage when they see it. It is an ongoing goal of our district to ensure that our facilities are well-maintained.”
In addition to annual cleaning, Ryan Roofing, a local contractor, recently replaced Minneapolis Grade School’s west wing roof. The roof was last replaced in 2004.
The high school’s industrial arts roof was replaced last fall by Wray and Sons Roofing.
As part of the strategic plan, the district is making strides toward a more balanced roof-replacement schedule. Two years ago, about 70% of the district's roofs were more than 20 years old. Now that figure is closer to 55%. By 2029, the district hopes to get that number to less than 20%.
In addition to painting and roof maintenance, Stoney Runnion, USD 239’s District Transportation Coordinator, continues to work diligently to ensure the district gets all 25 years of service out of each bus. A school bus can only be used for 25 years under Kansas law. The district recently replaced its activity bus due to the law. Rather than purchasing an expensive coach bus that can easily cost $420,000 or more, the Board of Education elected to purchase a regular yellow activity bus for $161,000 so that capital outlay funds can be leveraged for roofing and HVAC replacement.
Like many school districts across Kansas, HVAC replacement continues to contribute to rising costs. This past year, the USD 239 Board of Education took steps to boost efficiency by upgrading the district’s HVAC software. Last year alone, this helped save an estimated $20,000 in energy. Moving forward in 26-27, the board will work with a company in Wichita that supports small rural districts in achieving greater savings through energy optimization efforts. As the district saves on energy costs, those savings will be reinvested in replacing older HVAC systems with more energy-efficient models.
While USD 239 is making progress, there is still more work to be done. With less than a month to go before the start of the 26-27 school year, district staff are working every day to get ready for another great year! #LionPride!