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Literacy on the go!

submitted by Nick Steinmetz, Superintendent, Manchester Community Schools

The Manchester Community Schools have district bus routes that cover 50+ miles. I don’t know about you, but that can be a long car ride for me at times! Recently, MCS parent, Lori Preis, came to the district with an idea. What if we put book bins on every bus? Preis stated, “Students could get a book from the book bin and read it, either to themselves or to a friend. Older kiddos could even be designated ‘Leader Readers’ and read to the Kindergarteners and 1st graders.”

MCS transportation director, Deb Heskett, jumped at the opportunity to collaborate. “Sounds like a great idea! It is very thoughtful,” commented Heskett. Mrs. Preis advertised within the community and held book collections at Klager Elementary. As a result of those collections, each bin now includes notepads, coloring books, sudoku/puzzle books, beginner reading level through chapter books, Highlights and High Five magazines, crayons, and a few pencils.

“My hope is that the kids will read the books, take them home to finish them if they would like, and then return them for someone else to enjoy. If in a few months the books have slowly disappeared, that’s ok! Hopefully, that means they are being read at home. I can always do another collection and try to obtain more books,” stated Preis.

It is partnerships like these that make Manchester such a special community to be part of. Go Dutch!

by Sara Swanson

Sara Swanson is an editor, writer and a founder of the Manchester Mirror.