For the Riverside Local School District, feeding students outside the lunchroom has a name — Pirate Power Packs — and a table.
At Tuesday’s monthly board of education meeting, Kelly Kauffman, middle and high school principal, updated the district on two programs they’ve implemented to make sure the kids they serve are well-fed during the school year.
Pirate Power Packs provides weekend meals for any student who needs it, without an income requirement. Parents can sign off for it when filling out their Final Forms on the website. The packs are provided by G.R.A.C.E.—the Greater Riverside Area Community Encouragers, which is a compilation of seven churches.
“Volunteers come in for packing night on Tuesdays,” Kauffman said. “They put the food in backpacks for the elementary students. For seventh- through 12th-graders it’s left in a lab room, and they can pick it up at their convenience.”
Kauffman estimates about 150 students benefit from the program, districtwide.
She also spoke briefly about the Share Table where kids can leave what they don’t want. They’re watching what items are most popular through the week to see what’s needed and adjust accordingly.
In the elementary school report, Principal Mason Bryan spoke about their efforts to give back to the community by offering a free lunch to senior citizens. This luncheon — complete with entertainment — takes place on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:40 a.m. The next one will be Oct. 11 and all are welcome.
Dr. Scott Mann, school superintendent, provided several updates, including an overview of the second annual men’s retreat Sept. 14 at the Winner Harvest Barn, with 38 junior and senior boys and about 10 staff members in attendance.
Seen as a chance to teach values to these young men, Mann described it as a “great day.” The girls will have their own retreat later in the year.
The superintendent also noted that students will head to the Logan County Fairgrounds early Friday morning, arriving at 5:45 a.m., to participate in the Vets to DC send off.
Their involvement will include putting up flags, helping with parking and loading luggage.
Mann also noted that the area is looking to add 4G broadband to the tower, which will provide better service to more people.
In other action, the board:
• accepted the retirement resignation of Rita Day, custodial staff, effective Feb. 1;
• approved the employment of Jonathan McGill, custodial staff, level 1, effective Sept. 19;
• extended the following supplemental contracts: Jaime Yelton, head girls bowling; Todd Guthrie, head baseball; Tim Walls, assistant baseball; Andy Phelps, head softball; Kylee Purtee, assistant softball; Helena Faulder, Abigail Proffitt, co-JV softball; Tim McGill, head boys track; Maelinn Myers, head girls track; Megan Graves, junior high football coverage, junior varsity football coverage; Tim McGill, junior high volleyball coverage; Jan Knight, high school volleyball coverage;
• approved the following volunteer coaches: Ryan Robinson, John Godwin, assistant baseball; and Erin Krisher, assistant softball;
• approved the following staff as mentors for the RESA program for the 2022-23 school year: Stacey Fauley, Nancy Dunham and Lindsay Wyan;
• approved two out-of-state trips for the 2022-23 school year: an FFA trip to Indianapolis for the National Conference from Oct. 26–29; and the Business Professionals of America trip to Anaheim, Calif., for their BPA National Conference on April 25–30;
• accepted a $300 donation from the Bellefontaine Rotary Club to help with the costs associated with the Veterans Day program at Riverside;
• approved severance payments for retirees Brenda Vondenhuevel and Pam Pope; and
• approved student activity, budget statements and fundraisers for 2022-2023 for the following clubs: junior high student council, National Honor Society, yearbook, Interact, the classes of 2023 – 2026, the high school student council, the eighth grade trip, the elementary school council, the elementary office, OMUN, Family School Partnership and the Ag department.
The next meeting is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, in the school library.