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Value meal a hit with students [UPDATED]
Published 9:46am Thursday, September 13, 2012 Updated 11:48am Thursday, September 13, 2012Wellness Program
Last spring, the School Board adopted a new Wellness Policy that addressed both nutrition and activity. With the adoption of this policy, the Kennedy Secondary School added the Otter Value Meal to be served at lunch, along with a sack lunch option for students attending away activities.
So far, the Otter Value Meal is a big hit in the ala carte line. Students can get a full meal — including an entree, fruit, vegetable and milk for the regular meal price — so all students, even if they qualify for free or reduced lunches, can now eat in this line.
Starting this week, we are beginning a sack lunch program for students attending away activities. A special thanks to Becky Shearer, food service manager, who has done a great job delivering these new options to our students.
Outdoor facility bond referendum
Over the next two months, I will be providing information to the public on the upcoming bond referendum proposed by the School District at the Nov. 6, 2012, election.
Last winter, an Outdoor Facility Task Force met over a period of five weeks to review the District’s outdoor facility needs. The group included parents, community members, staff and school board members.
Based on the task force’s recommendation, the School District will seek voter approval during the Nov. 6 general election and, if approved, issue General Obligation School Building Bonds.
What did the task
force discover?
Due to the School District being land locked, it was vitally important to carefully review the district’s existing green space and create a plan to effectively utilize every inch.
The task force determined that our district has a shortage of quality green space for physical education classes and practices. An important component to quality green space is that it needs proper drainage during wet seasons, along with an irrigation sprinkler system in order to grow turf that will withstand the heavy use by physical education classes and co-curricular activities.
The district currently does not have these capabilities. During our current prolonged dry spell, our fields are very hard and cracking even though we are making effort to water the fields.
Citing student safety related to young people traveling to practices and events, the task force encouraged the District to have as many activities on site as possible. With this plan, tennis, soccer, football, track and field, softball activities, along with a science environmental center would all be located at the Kennedy/Cleveland sites. The football bleachers are in dire need of replacement. The general condition of the bleachers is poor and lacks handicapped accessibility.
Over the next weeks, I will answer frequently asked questions including tax implications. Please contact my office if you have questions you need answered.
Congratulations to …
Gary Schuler for being selected for the Minnesota High School Coaches Association Hall of Fame. It is an honor well deserved for his excellence in coaching in Warren and Fergus Falls. He will be honored at a banquet on Saturday, Oct. 13, in St. Paul.
John Demuth, second-grade teacher and Amy Beske, eighth-grade science teacher, along with their students, who have been instrumental in the development and care of the Otter Garden.
John was named the “Featured Teacher” in the MN Ag in the Classroom e-newsletter.
Amy spent a week at “Green Boot Camp” this summer sponsored by the Honeywell Corporation. She will be sharing energy conservation and green ideas for the classroom with our students and staff.
