A new Jennings County School Corp. meal program will provide one free breakfast to every student in all the district’s schools each day of the upcoming school year, which begins Aug. 7.
Previously, free breakfasts were limited to those who qualified based on guidelines regarding their family’s income.
“We want every single student to start their school day with a good nutritional breakfast, and everyone in the whole system is working together to make this happen,” said Susan Harding, the school corporation’s food service director.
The one-year pilot program for the district’s eight schools was created by school district staff and will be paid for with district funds.
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“This is all about taking care of the whole student. We want a level playing field for all of our students,” Jennings County School Corp. Superintendent Teresa Brown said.
“We don’t want there to be a division between the do-haves and the don’t haves. We want equity across the board and we think all of our students sitting down together for breakfast will bring our students together and make our community stronger,” Brown added.
The federal government will reimburse Jennings County School Corp. for the breakfasts consumed by students who qualify to receive a free breakfast under federal income guidelines, Harding said.
Based on household incomes, at the end of the 2017-2018 school year, 61 percent of Jennings County School Corp. students qualify to receive a free breakfast and lunch.
“We are hoping, that there will be such increased interest in having breakfast, the reimbursements will help keep the program going for everybody,” said Harding, who explained she and others have also explored other food allocation programs to help fund breakfast for every student regardless of income.
Free or not, all school breakfast and lunch programs must adhere to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) guidelines.
Some of the USDA guidelines include the mandates that all bread must contain at least 51 percent whole wheat. There cannot be more than 31 percent fat in meat products and no trans fats in anything. There can only be certain levels of salt, sugars and calories in the food served to students depending on age levels. There must also be fresh fruits and vegetables served at every meal.
Also, all foods served to students must be produced in the United States.
The free breakfast menus will include eggs, bacon and sausage. While all flour products must contain whole wheat flour, there will be plenty of pancakes, muffins, donuts and biscuits to choose from. There will also be fresh fruit, vegetable and fruit juices, cereals and yogurt.
Harding said while Jennings County School Corp. does not have a farm-to-school program, it does receive fresh fruits and vegetables from the U.S. Department of Defense in Kentucky, and high quality canned goods through the government’s “Brown Box” program. Meats and some other fresh food are procured from a variety of regional businesses through bids.
“We all take pride in providing the best food possible for our students,” Harding said. “This program is going to make more work for everyone. Even the custodians will have more work because more students eating breakfast means more mess for the custodians to clean. But, everyone seems to be ready to work to make this happen.”
Breakfasts will be served at slightly different times depending on which school a student is in. The times and procedures for a free breakfast will be announced at each school.
If a student wants a second breakfast, the cost for the second breakfast will be $1.50, and 50 cents for extra milk.
Lunches for students who do not qualify for free lunches will be $2.75 this year. That’s a 25-cent increase from last year.
Adults visiting the school for breakfast or lunch will pay $2.10 for breakfast and $3.50 for lunch.
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Jennings County School Corp. Food Service Department price list for the 2018-19 school year:
First student breakfast: Free
Second student breakfast: $1.50
Student lunch or salad: $2.75
Student milk: 50 cents
Adult breakfast: $2.10
Adult lunch or salad: $3.50
Adult milk: 50 cents
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