NIOBRARA COUNTY – Niobrara County School District #1 (NCSD #1) board met on October 14. During the meeting, NCSD #1 honored students of the month and listened to two brief presentations from students and the FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) club.

The FBLA team spoke about their trip during the FBLA National Competition in Orlando, Florida. A few things that the students touched upon was how much they enjoyed spending time at Coco Beach, Universal Studios, Disney World and the FBLA National Competition. A theme underpinning the students’ trip was how it impacted their future lives. Many of the students spoke how their desire to travel had been strengthened by the trip. Several of the students expressed a desire to see the world. The FBLA team thanked the school board for their help with funding. They explained that without the school board’s help, they couldn’t have made the trip that had given them so many new memories.

Another board discussion focused on the “Kindness Cart” after-school snack program at LEMS (Lusk Elementary/Middle School). According to food service director LeAnn Fulmer, LEMS isn’t the “provider” per se.

“It all started when I was approached by a member of the Legend of Rawhide committee. They asked me what the school lunch program could use if the Legend donated to the lunch program,” Fulmer said. “As I thought about it, I had been putting out fruit that needed to be eaten before it went bad in the kitchen. I would place it out at the kitchen window after school. The kids were loving it and always wanted more, but I couldn’t always do it.”

Fulmer told the Herald that she had asked the Legend committee if it would be okay to donate to the after-school snack program. The Legend agreed to donate to the snack cart and, with the approval of LEMS principal Fulmer, began to purchase healthy snacks like beef, cheese snacks, and fruit, etc.

“This is the third year for the cart. I also ordered some microwave meals like little raviolis you get in a can for the kiddos because they might need a meal over the weekend or that night,” Fulmer said. “I try to have it available every day after school, but sometimes my delivery truck is late and I am busy with that or in a meeting. But it has grown now to where I can’t use the little cart we originally were using because our funds are limited.”

According to Fulmer, she has received word that there was a donation of $2,300 from the Niobrara County Trap team and the Tee and Toss Club.

Fulmer told the Herald that this donation was a huge blessing since their funds were running low from the last donation.

“I would love to be able to keep the cart going all year and hope that this donation will last, but with the cost of food we never know,” Fulmer said. “We would love to add to our donor list. So, if anyone or group would like to donate to this program, they can get ahold of me or Katie at the NCSD #1 office and let us know. We are very blessed to live in the community we do and that they do so much for the kiddos.”

Those who might want to donate to the snack cart can call Fulmer at (307) 334-2224 or Business Manager Katie Caffee at the NCSD #1 at (307)334-3793.