(Posted March 3, 2017)
By Kristy Zurbrick, Madison Editor
As of Feb. 21, breakfast is free for all Miami View Elementary students. In a couple of weeks, the same will be true for Southeastern Local Schools’ middle school and high school students.
AVI Foodsystems, the school district’s foodservice provider, recently received a federal grant to offer breakfast to all students, regardless of family income.
“If you’re hungry, you can’t really focus,” said Superintendent David Shea. “This allows us to offer something to every student.”
According to the American Dietetic Association, children who eat breakfast perform better in the classroom and on the playground, with better concentration, problem-solving skills, and eye-hand coordination.
Participation is voluntary. Students can take advantage of the free breakfasts every day, occasionally, or not at all. The grant does require that at 75 percent of the student body participate for AVI to continue offering the program.
Miami View students in kindergarten through third grade eat breakfast in the cafeteria. Students in grades 4-6 grab breakfast and eat it in the classroom, or they can save non-perishable parts of the breakfast to eat later.
“Even if they ate breakfast at home, we encourage students (in grades 4-6) to take (a school breakfast) to eat at another time in the day, like during extra-curriculars after school,” Shea said.
Another new program at Southeastern will put Chromebooks in the hands of all high school students starting next year. On Feb. 21, the school board approved the purchase of 200 Chromebooks at a cost of $38,500. Eighty of the laptops will go to next year’s freshmen. Students in grades 10-12 will receive Chromebooks the district already has on hand. The other 120 new laptops will outfit labs at Miami View.
The 1-to-1 program assigns a laptop to each high school student. The student can use the device at school and at home throughout their high school careers, then take it with them upon graduation. The district plans to supply each new incoming freshman class with new Chromebooks.
In other action, the board voted 4-1 to purchase a small piece of land for $1,000 from Journey of Faith Fellowship. The land sits between the church and the Miami View school property. Board member Kim Owens cast the lone “no” vote.
The board accepted the resignation of Greg Bonifay, head football coach at the high school. Bonifay has accepted a position at another school.
The board approved supplemental coaching contracts as follows: Craig Isaac, head varsity baseball; Darron Routzahn, assistant varsity baseball; Chris Kitchen, reserve baseball; Randy Delaney, girls’ softball; Amber Price, assistant girls’ softball; Nicole Clem, head varsity boys’ track; Tracy Lau, head varsity girls’ track; Stephanie Weaver, junior high boys’ track; Mandi Wroblewski, junior high girls’ track; Sandi Mosier, junior cheerleading advisor.
Also approved was tentative list of 59 students for graduation. Commencement is slated for May 27.
