Bement adds ‘grab and go’ breakfast alternative, No in-house testing available

Interim School Superintendent Sheila Greenwood told the board on January 12 that Bement kicked-off a new piloting program option with the high school students on January 10. School officials hope the “grab and go” bags given to them upon their arrival will increase in participation with plans to roll it out to other grade levels in the near future.

While students can still continue eating breakfast in the cafeteria, Greenwood thought the grab and go would lead to more students eating breakfast.

As soon as the kids come in the door, we have it set up to grab a clear bag so they can see what’s in it which is a muffin, a fruit and a milk, or a breakfast sandwich, fruit, and a milk. The students can eat the breakfast prior to classes starting.

Greenwood believes the grab and go method is getting food into more students’ hands as we know many students do not eat a proper breakfast. Hopefully this will help them have a better start to their day.

In-house COVID-19 testing has not started in Bement as tests have not been made available.

Greenwood told the board she wasn’t sure they will get any tests and noted 75 parents had signed consent forms to take part in the testing.

The district thought they would receive around 100 tests to start the second semester, but that they have not arrived.

Bement is one of several Piatt County districts trying to replace testing previously done by Kirby Medical Center for symptomatic students but Kirby ended that program at the end of the first semester.

In other action, the board:

• Hired Amy Davenport as middle school scholastic bowl sponsor

• High school window replacement will probably begin when the weather warms. Cost for the two-year project is approximately $300,000 and will come from a $50,000 state maintenance grant, another $137,000 secured by the district, and school facilities sales tax revenue

• Approved a large packet of Press Plus board policy recommendations.