School Committee Hears Wellness Report; Approves Lunch Policy

The Coventry School Committee began it's May 22 meeting by recognizing counselor Lori LeBrun who was recently .

LeBrun is a 24 year educator; twenty years as an elementary teacher at Western Elementary School with her last four years as a school counselor at Alan Shawn Feinstein Middle School.

While teaching at the elementary level, Lori assumed several leadership positions including District Teacher Mentor Program Coordinator, Literacy & Numeracy Coach and Assistant Director of Professional Development. In 2005, she was recognized as Coventry Public School’s Teacher of the Year. She was also awarded the .

LeBrun, who was joined by two of her sons, her goddaughter (and fiance') and her parents, was congratulated by committee members for her dedication to the students and what she has accomplished.

"You're the best of the best," said Vice-Chairperson Nancy Sprengelmeyer.

"This has been so overwhelming. The whole process was a compete surprise, I didn't even know I was nominated" she said. "Leaving Western (Coventry School) after 20 years was really hard for me, but I took the opportunity to have something different and it's been amazing. I love what I do every day."

Wellness Report

CHS Asst. Principal Joe Lucian presented the strides that the district's Wellness Committee has made in recent months, which include creating and distributing a monthly wellness newsletter this is sent to parents through the school listserv system and designing an interactive wellness website.

The committee is made up of nurses, PE teachers, CHS chefs, Aramark Director John McGrath and other administrators who meet to create the newsletters and discuss other wellness options for the district.

"The newsletter shows where we are and also where we're going," said Lucian. "This is where the group effort really shines."

Another large undertaking by the committee has been implementing the district-wide Wellness Week (May 21-25) that incorporates healthy snack and meal ideas, creative activities and "color days" at the elementary level, nutrition information for teachers and students as well as special presentations and events like muscle sculpting and cardio classes for CHS teachers, blood pressure screenings and healthy snack samplings during lunch periods.

Lucian explained that he hopes to get more student involvement in after school health and wellness programs as well as input for the school lunch menu.

Lunch Policy Second Reading

The committee unanimously approved the and posting it on the school department's website for two weeks. Superintendent Michael Convery and Finance Director Robin Pelletier explained that they had each received several positive comments about the policy.

"I was recently pulled aside by several superintendents who said they thought the policy was comprehensive, well written and will be used in other districts," said Pelletier.

SRP Pension Board of Trustees

Director of Physical Plant Brian Steverman was appointed to a vacancy in the SRP Pension Board of Trustees - a committee that is made up of two union members and two school members who manage any changes regarding pensions.

Building Committee

The Committee appointed Nancy Sprengelmeyer and District 1 member Tom Hetherman to a new School Construction Building Committee to address the upcoming bond referendum in November. The Committee, made up of five at-large members, will meet well before the election with Rhode Island Department of Education officials to discuss construction guidelines and establish a campaign to inform the public about and the schools' needs.

If the bonds are successful, additional meetings will be held to establish bids, select vendors and comply with RIDE regulations.

The next School Committee meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on June 19 at the School Administration Offices (1675 Flat River Rd.).