Severance board awards $2,500 to launch Severance High student store

The Severance Town Board approved a $2,500 community grant on a roll-call vote Tuesday to help Severance High School launch a school-based enterprise, a campus store run by students that organizers said will provide hands-on learning and generate revenue for student programs. The board voted in favor after a presentation from the school’s business teacher and remarks from students who helped design the plan.

The request asked for $2,000; the board voted to increase the award to $2,500. The store’s advisor, Lee Oldenburg, said the funding will cover start‑up costs including a point‑of‑sale system, racks and initial inventory. “We need a point of sale system for the store,” Oldenburg said, adding that the project is intended as a work‑based learning lab as well as a retail outlet.

Board members said the grant comes from the town’s community grant pool; staff…