Schools are closed, NREVSD meal service continues
When Governor Mike DeWine announced in early March an “extended break” from school for students to help suppress the spread of COVID-19, New Richmond Exempted Village School District was already poised to make a big switch.
Many students left school on March 13 with Chromebooks, some with learning packets. When classes resumed that following Monday morning, students and teachers connected remotely.
Not every important service provided at schools can be delivered remotely, however. One of these areas is food service.
When ordering the school-building closure period, Gov. DeWine also emphasized that one of Ohio’s highest priorities during the ordered school-building closure period was to ensure that students receive nutritious meals.
So when Monday, March 16 rolled around, NREVSD’s cafeteria workers and bus drivers teamed up. Meals were made and delivered Monday through Friday to over 10 locations. Community partner Project Lunchbox provided the meals the following two weeks, including spring break, giving the district the needed time to regroup and appropriately order items for breakfast/lunch packs to be delivered.
Project Lunchbox was a tremendous help for us and even more importantly for our students, Food Service Director Brenda Young said. They gave us time to really plan for the weeks ahead. No one knows how long the school-building closure period will last, but we are now positioned to maintain the program throughout the rest of this school year (if needed) before transitioning to the summer meals program.
With a district poverty rate of about 40 percent, there are many students who rely on schools for meals. For some children, school-provided breakfast and lunch might be their only meals for the day. About 2,000 meals were served in week four of the program. State and federal funds are paying for the cost of the meals.
“Making sure these children are fed is the motivation behind the women who work in foodservice and the bus drivers from transportation,” Young said. “They are in the position of being essential personnel. They are on the frontlines delivering food during this pandemic. I can’t thank them enough. I’m so privileged to work with such committed and caring men and women.
“And the community has been equally amazing. They stepped up and filled the need when Project Lunchbox asked for help. This is what community is about.”
The commitment goes beyond what the community sees. On more than one occasion, individuals from foodservice and transportation have made personal deliveries to families who were unable to pick up their meals at a designated stop.
To minimize possible exposure to COVID-19, on April 6 the district moved to a once-per-week dropoff schedule. Students receive approximately 5-days of breakfasts/lunches every Monday around 11:30 a.m at designated dropoff sites. For a complete listing of these sites, visit the district’s website at nrschools.org. Superintendent Tracey Miller’s April 5 message found on the COVID-19 page has a complete listing of the dropoff sites.