Who doesn’t love ice cream!
This week, students studying at home in the Southside Independent School District will hear the Ice Cream Truck Song blaring from 10 of the District’s school buses. The District has installed the music and speakers on its buses making neighborhood lunch deliveries.
“The idea came up after students were logged in to virtual learning and didn’t know the bus was there,” said child nutrition director Ms. Janie Ramirez.
The District estimates about half of its student population will continue with virtual learning through the remainder of the school year. As a result, the District is providing breakfast, lunch, and supper seven days a week to all children younger than 18 years old.
“Students perform better academically when they have a good meal,” Ramirez said.
The District wants to increase the number of students receiving meals. Currently, child nutrition workers are providing every child with 21 meals a week, preparing a total of 37,800 meals weekly, and can prepare thousands more.
The Ice Cream Truck Song is an effort to reach all students in the Southside ISD whether they’re a year old or 18-years old.
If the idea is successful, the District’s child nutrition department has not ruled out providing ice cream to students on rare occasions.
