Grand Island Public Schools, Courtesy
GRAND ISLAND – A free vision clinic in Grand Island Public Schools Oct. 24-25 was very successful, with 108 out of 110 students getting glasses.
The event was a partnership involving the school district, VSP, the Nebraska Foundation for Children’s Vision, and five local vision professionals who volunteered their time, Dr. Summer Stephens, associate superintendent, reported to the Board of Education Nov. 14.
The clinic was held at the Islander Annex. School social workers and school counselors drove students to their appointments. The Nebraska Foundation for Children’s Vision provided funding for the event and a van with equipment on board to make glasses.
The event involved registration, a pretest, the exam, and frame selection, Stephens said. The students were from elementary, middle and high school. One staff member also participated. At the mobile vision unit in the van, 53 pairs of glasses were made. The rest of the glasses were made offsite and delivered in two to three weeks.
The event had an “extremely favorable response all around,” Stephens said. “It was a great program.”
Superintendent Matt Fisher said he had the opportunity to visit the vision clinic. He reported that the people who did the eye exams were local eye doctors.
Board member Lisa Albers said, “This is a super neat program. We had students from every school.”
Board member Josh Hawley wanted to give a shout out to VSP for its participation.
“What a rewarding experience,” Hawley said.
In action items, board members reviewed Policies 4419 General Fund Cash Reserve; 8350 Permission to Leave School; 8360 Boundaries and Boundary Changes; and 8360 Accommodating Students with Special Dietary Needs. Board members approved changes to each policy by an 8-0 vote. Board member Lindsay Jurgens was absent Nov. 14.
