Beginning this school year, every student attending Pearl River County’s lower and upper elementary and endeavor schools will join Picayune’s School District in receiving free breakfast and lunch.
This is the first year the Pearl River County School District has qualified for the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision program, Food Service Director Sheila Amacker said.
If more than 40 percent of enrolled students are receiving some type of supplemental food assistance at home, the district can participate in the CEP, Amacker said. This includes those receiving benefits from Temporary Aid To Needy Families, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and those students in the custody of the Department of Human Resources or foster care.
The middle and high school percentages are not high enough to qualify for CEP, Amacker said.
“Every student has the opportunity to get two healthy meals provided to them a day,” she said.
Amacker said they keep tedious records and if a child’s situation changes, they track it.
The program is federally funded and the district is reimbursed for every 80 out of 100 students, Amacker said. The annual cost to the district is $50,000, she added.
“We are going to add additional fundraisers to alleviate some of the costs,” Amacker said. “I’ve encouraged my staff to help with PTOs and organizing. I don’t like taking one dollar from a child’s education.”
Every day, 1,550 students are provided meals, for a total of 3,100 meals, all free of charge to students, Amacker said.
Last year, Amacker implemented a salad bar at the middle and high schools. It was a big success and once word got out, students and staff at the elementary school requested it, she said.
This year, students at the upper elementary will have access to fresh salads and proceed to the salad bar where they add fresh toppings such as tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, cucumbers, broccoli, carrots, red onions and bell peppers.
Amacker is also responsible for tracking students’ caloric intake. For elementary students, breakfast must have a value of 350 to 500 calories and lunch is 550-650, Amacker said.
“No more than ten percent of calories must come from fat,” she said. “Guidelines also require low sodium and whole grain offerings.”
Amacker said the CEP program benefits kids and parents.
“The way I look at it, it’s about giving back,” she said. “Us being here and providing nutritious meals is a vital part of a child’s education process. We have a lot of kids who are thankful and appreciative when they get their meal. It’s my job to make sure no child goes hungry whether they have money or not. This program is an answered prayer. They are receiving a public education and meals should be free.”
Picayune School District Food Service Director Debbie Byrd said the district has had CEP for the past two years. Both breakfast and lunch are served at no cost to students. All schools meet the requirements, she said. This year, there are 3,500 students enrolled in the district.
“So far, there’s been no cost to the school district,” Byrd said.
The Poplarville School District doesn’t have this program, Food Service Director Gwen Seal said, because the percentage of students receiving free and reduced meals is too low.
Learn more about CIP at www.fns.usda.gov/school-meals/community-eligibility-provision.