by Kaela Williams, Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Schools
Bonner Springs-Edwardsville students will receive the high-tech treatment when it comes time for vision screenings.
Starting this week, the district is sharing a Welch Allyn Spot Vision Screener, a device that produces optical images that can help detect errors associated with poor vision.
Jennifer Comer, nurse at Clark Middle School, said the device will be more efficient and effective.
“We will be able to get to more kids in less time and catch more issues,” Comer said.” Students will also be provided with a printout with detailed information their parents can share with an eye care specialist.”
While the new device will help students district-wide Bonner Springs-Edwardsville nurses say the most exciting thing is the support from the community, which made purchasing the device possible.
The Bonner Springs Lions Club spearheaded the fundraising, bringing together rlocal organizations, businesses and patrons. The Lions Club, known for its efforts surrounding sight issues, has worked with the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville schools to make sure studnets who could not afford glasses or eye specialist appointments wouldn’t miss out. Now, the club has made it easier for school nurses to spot sight issues quickly and correctly.
“This small community really rallied behind the schools to make this happen, we wouldn’t have been able to do it on our own,” said Kristi Flack, nurse at Delaware Ridge Elementary.
In addition to the donation from the Bonner Springs Lions Club, the purchase was made possible with additional funding from Union Bank and Trust, USD 204, John Harrington, U.S. Bank, the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Education Foundation and the Connie Harrington Memorial Fund.
Kaela Williams is the communications coordinator for the Bonner Springs-Edwardsville Public Schools.