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Board considers free breakfast for studentsSep 27, 2011 (The Anson Record - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- School board members discussed a possible expansion of the free breakfast program during their regular monthly meeting Monday night. Child Nutrition director Angela Griffin said alternative breakfast programs, including the possibility of universal free breakfast, were being considered. She said studies have shown that students who eat breakfast perform better academically. Currently, 42 percent of students participate in free or reduced breakfast in Anson and 70 percent of students participate in free or reduced lunch. Superintendent Greg Firn said the program would offer some flexibility on serving breakfast in case students arrived late by bus, for example. Some options being considered would be food available in the hallways or food served between first and second period in addition to vending options. Montgomery County currently offers universal free breakfast, according to Griffin. "I think that is a wonderful thing," she said. Griffin said the program costs $1.72 per plate. For every free breakfast served to a student, the child nutrition program receives $1.80 from the United States Department of Agriculture. The same goes for students on a reduced lunch, except some of the refund comes from the state of North Carolina. However, for every meal served to a paying student, only $0.27 is received from the USDA. After the $1 paid by the student, $0.45 must be made up with income from refunds from free and reduced breakfast students. Griffin said 60 percent or more of the students are eligible to receive free breakfast and the USDA offers provisions to make it universal. School board member Daniel Wilson was critical of this. He said these sort of "tricks" were the reason the country was $14 trillion in debt. "The more we add to the program, adds to a worsening situation for all," he said. Firn said breakfast has also been shown to improve all aspects of student behavior and performance. This fall, universal free breakfast will be available at elementary schools in Anson and the program will be evaluated for the possibility of expansion later. ___ (c)2011 The Anson Record (Wadesboro, N.C.) Visit The Anson Record (Wadesboro, N.C.) at www.ansonrecord.com Distributed by MCT Information Services |