Oral Health Grant to benefit children in Boone County By JOANIE NEWMAN EDITOR The Boone County Board of Education voted to approve Valley Health Westmoreland to conduct and administer a dental program to school aged children in Boone County during its Oct. 6 meeting. Valley Heath received an oral health grant from Logan Healthcare Foundation, that included services to children in Boone County. “ I am awaiting all the detail myself, but Dr. Kelly, who is in charge of their dental services, contacted me and said that they have been awarded a grant that will send a dental hygienist into Boone County Schools,” said Sue Peros, Director of Boone County Schools’ Nurses. “We already have a dental hygienist who comes from the state oral health program. Her name is Julie Jackson, and she has been coming for a couple years or more now, and she coordinates with elementary groups,” Peros said. “Now, they are going to be using the same individual, to schedule with all of the schools in Boone County. This program is voluntary and is for the children who have no family dentist. Anyone can participate, as it is a screening program that will refer “The importance of reaching out to the high school groups, is to screen students who could have signs of oral cancers,” Peros said. Peros said the program would then target not only good oral hygiene, but also educate students on the harmful effects of using tobacco products. n n n In other Boone County Schools news, the Board of Education approved out-of-state travel for Bryan Jarrell, Energy Manager, to attend the Energy Education Fall 2009 Seminar in Atlanta on Oct. 18-21, for a total estimated cost of $1,182.96 to Boone County Schools. Cheryl Judy, art teacher at Sherman Junior/Senior high school, was approved to attend the Marine Corps Annual Educator Workshop, in Parris Island, S.C., from Jan. 12-15. Richard Miller, Calvin Roberts and Edward Sutphin, all maintenance workers with the Boone County school board, have been approved out-of-state travel to attend the Innovation Workshop in Pendleton, S.C. on Sept. 8-11. The Madison Middle School seventh and eighth grade students were approved travel to Pocahontas County, Oct. 8-9, at a cost of $83.84. The Board accepted the lowest bid submitted for a Phase I Building Addition to Brookview Elementary School. The bid amount was for $10,549.10, by Byrnside Hardware. Byrnside beat out Barker’s Hardware’s bid of $11,232.83, Danville Lumber’s bid of $11,182.50, and a bid by Mark’s Plumbing of $13,088.50. The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is set for Nov. 3, at 7 p.m., at the Operations Complex at Foster.