Construction for Bearden’s first school shop is underway.
The federal government granted schools $500,000 to create a site-based learning experience on campus, due to the learning loss from COVID-19. The idea was to encourage projects where students could participate in work-based learning programs on campus.
Bearden principal Mrs. Debbie Sayers was in charge of deciding what would be the most beneficial way to use the money.
“I wanted to choose something where the largest number of students would be impacted,” Mrs. Sayers said. “I thought a school store would probably be the best way to do that.”
Students will run the shop under the direction of the business and marketing teachers along with help from the PTSO. The shop will allow students to get real world job experience during their time at Bearden. Finance and accounting students will get a chance to run the books, while general business students get to work in the store.
PTSO president Megan Reichhert said that students will get to create different ways to “personalize merchandise via embroidery or vinyl heat press, etc.” This will allow already made Bearden merch to become more personalized to the student.
Since the store is on-site, students who want to participate in work-based learning, but do not have transportation can work in the store.
Shirts, sweatshirts, posters, pencils, and hats will also be sold in the shop. Clubs, sports teams, the academies, and other school organizations will be able to sell their own merchandise in the shop as well.
The store will likely be open during lunch making it easy for students to purchase items.
The store does not yet have a firm opening date, but it should be finished prior to the spring semester.
