NORTH?MANCHESTER – Several donations were provided to Manchester Community Schools in August and September. The local Dollar General provided school supplies for MCS classrooms to start the school year off well. M.A. Hire provided the annual nurse report for 2015-16. Immunizations have been carried out for all students, including those who had arrived from foreign countries. The North Manchester Lion’s club bought the school a vision screener. “I am absolutely in love with this screener,” said Hire. It makes the results much more accurate and objective to determine, she said. Flu vaccinations were not available last school year due to issues in the health department, but will be offered this school year. Dr. Bill Reichhart asked if the nasal spray for flu vaccination would be used at all. He heard it was not effective. Hire stated that though it is an option, the flu shots are the best method. Their annual blood drives went well last year as well. The amount of blood collected goes toward scholarships for a student. Last year, MCS was awarded $500 that they chose to award to Michaela Darrell, who had been a regular blood donor for two years. Next year the two blood drives will be condensed to one event and will be held later in the day so that students may stop by after school. Type 1 and type 2 diabetic students are receiving the help they need, the board heard. Many of the older students manage well. Last year the nurse arranged for a younger boy to go to diabetic camp, by raising $873 for his fee. This allowed the boy to learn more about his health and better maintain it. Hire is a member of Indiana Association of School nurses, the National Association of School Nurses and Wabash Tobacco Free Coalition. When letters go out to parents in the future, she would like to see more of them return. The health assistance through the schools is there for those who choose to use it. “I’m not only the school nurse, but sometimes I am everyone’s nurse,” she said. Dr. Bill Reinhart, the board and the teachers all thanked her for the work that she does. The summer renovations were revisited in a Powerpoint format created by Reichhart with the assistance of Scott Bumgardener. Many of the projects, such as the bathroom renovations and installation of LED lights, went smoothly. The gutters at Manchester Elementary are posing a problem with heavy rains that was to be addressed at a meeting with Scott Bumgardner this morning. A tile collapsed, most likely during construction. When and how this will be correctly fixed is yet to be determined. The bicentennial celebration and Pioneer Day will both occur Sept. 28. The fourth-grade students get to study the history of Indiana in a special way this year. They will get to take their Pioneer Day project outside of school to Warvel Park. Afterward will be the Bicentennial Celebration and everyone is invited. There will be games, apple cider to make, candle dipping and buggy rides. Two of the board members, Brady Burgess and Sally Krouse, will both be carrying the bicentennial torch. Their scheduled times fall between 5 and 5:30 p.m. Next month the board must still decide what to do with the Maple Park property. Many suggestions have been mentioned, whether it be used by a different branch of government or sold to a not-for-profit organization. It has not been decided whether bids will be open or closed. The board has much to consider before the board meeting in October.
