The Nutrition Group updated Tamaqua Area School Board members on its food service program in the school, keeping its offerings healthy and interesting for students.

Amy Hehn, director of food and nutrition, highlighted some of the programs, such as Snack Attack, which encourages students to make healthy choices when they’re snacking.

The Nutrition Group adds options such as dried cranberries, marshmallows or chocolate to the mix to appeal to the students, and get them to buy into healthy snacking, Hehn said.

They also offer Wellness Wednesdays, when they feature items like a black bean and corn salad, and other bean salads, or fruits and vegetables, such as roasted butternut squash or roasted sweet potatoes, she said.

Fruit options may not always be appealing to students, so they try different things, such as putting fruit on skewers, she said.

“We’re just putting it in a different format and kids gravitate toward that,” she said.

The Nutrition Group also takes advantage of designated days, such as National Popcorn Day or Grilled Cheese Day, to highlight different foods, Hehn said.

The Nutrition Group is hitting its projected participation numbers for breakfast and lunch, she said, and but cost has been an ongoing issue.

Hehn said that canned fruit, such as diced pears, peaches or mandarin oranges, were the most economical option, but cases of fruit that used to sell for $18 to $24 each are now running $40 to $50.

“I spend a lot of time shopping,” she said, but noted that even fresh produce suppliers don’t want to commit to price lists, because their costs keep fluctuating, too.

Business manager Connie Ligenza said that the photographs of the options presented don’t do the actual food she sees in the cafeteria justice.

“It’s visually appealing,” she said, noting that they say people eat with their eyes, a statement she believes is mostly true.

Superintendent Ray Kinder agreed, as administrators have to do inspections and observations, and said the Nutrition Group’s employees do an excellent job and work really well with the students, especially the youngest.

Easter/eclipse

Students will be dismissed early next Thursday to start Easter break, which runs from March 29 through April 1, Kinder said. Classes resume April 2.

Kinder pointed out that some school districts are discussing dismissing early or having virtual days during the eclipse on April 8. The region is not going to be in full coverage, but 90% and concern has been raised about students, especially elementary students, who normally don’t walk home in the dark as well as buses on their routes, Kinder said.

The elementary schools’ dismissal is during the eclipse, which is why there has been discussion throughout the county about dismissing early and getting them home, he said. Tamaqua’s school nurses are also going to meet because of concerns about safely viewing the eclipse and instructing students about viewing the eclipse safely.

In other business, the board:

• Accepted the resignation of Kylie Huegel, full-time custodian, separation date of Feb. 28.

• Approved the first reading of policies on graduation and transportation.

• Approved the 2024-25 Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21 Student Driver Education Program agreement.

• Approved the affiliation agreement with Lebanon Valley College.

• Approved the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29’s Induction Plan.

• Approved early graduation for one 10th grade student.

• Approved substitute teachers Anne Groff of New Ringgold and Jessica Enge, Pine Grove.

• Approved the tax report, tax exemptions, tax refunds and payment of bills, totaling $1.13 million and interim bills of $207,869.

• Approved the CSIU Accounting, Human Resources and Payroll Software agreement at an estimate cost of $22,000.

• Accepted the resignation of Heather Metric, occupational therapist, with a separation date of Aug. 18.