SPARTANBURG, S.C. (WSPA) – Spartanburg school district 3’s school board unanimously approved for all students in their district to receive 2 free meals a day beginning in August.
Providing 2 free meals a day to all students in district 3 is what the school board said will remove the current stigma that comes with receiving free lunches.
“We don’t bill parents, there’s no stigma with free and reduced anymore, it’s just easy and it’s the right thing to do for kids,” said Greg Mack, assistant superintendent for finance and operations with Spartanburg district 3.
It’s all a part of a US Department of Agriculture program that recently expanded on who can be eligible. It comes at a good time, as the district said they’re seeing numbers go up in who needs free and reduced lunches at their schools.
The board said it not only helps kids in the cafeteria, but in the classroom as well.
“At the same time a well-fed child is a child who, that helps their learning environment,” said Mack. “It enhances their ability to pay attention and learn.”
The district said the program provides security to families at no cost to anyone else.
“There will be no cost impact on the school district, we ran the numbers we’ll make as much money in the food service program as we have been making in the past under the old rules and it won’t cost taxpayers any additional money at all at the local level,” said Mack.
District 3 said the program will last for at least 4 years. They also said they’re not the only district in Spartanburg County doing this, others will soon announce they’re taking part in the program as well.
