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Date: 7/1/2022
MONSON – The Monson School Committee provided a safety and school lunch update during their June 23 meeting.
Superintendent Cheryl Clarke said they have ordered numbers to be placed on the exterior of all school windows. This allows for the rooms to be identified from the outside of the school. Clarke shared that maintenance and facilities will be putting the numbers up this summer.
She went on to say that they are researching the best door blockers.
Additionally, Clarke said they have been in contact with the appropriate people to host ALICE training, which stands for “alert, lockdown, inform, counter, evacuate.” As of now, Clarke said they are looking at the month of August, although there is no specific date.
School Lunch Update
Leah Zippin, director of business and operations, said they have finalized the plan for summer feeding. She shared that it has been approved to have a site at Quarry Hill School in the cafeteria. This will cover breakfast and lunch for anyone 18 and under, from July 5 through Aug. 12.
Zippin said children do not need to be a Monson resident to participate. “There are some communities around us that have chosen not to have a program, like Wales, Hampden, Wilbraham… their children can even come here,” said Zippin.
She added they will be advertising on Facebook, putting flyers up around town and so on, in hopes of getting the word out.
Zippin explained that this is not a grab and go style lunch, but instead the children will come in and eat.
She noted that they will also be providing lunches to the Monson Parks and Recreation summer camps.
“As far as the school year goes, the waiver for free lunches ends June 30. They have not given word whether that will continue or not,” said Zippin. “A lot of states have already taken that on and there’s a real push for Massachusetts to do the same thing, so we’re anxiously waiting and hoping that that continues.”
Appointments
The School Committee nominated Colleen Flynn, current chair of the School Committee, to continue serving in this position. Members unanimously approved Flynn’s reappointment.
Flynn then nominated Alison Morgan to serve as vice-chair, to which the School Committee unanimously approved.
Lastly, Emily Graves-Harrison was nominated and unanimously approved by members to serve as the secretary.