Free breakfasts planned for students

By JUDY UNDERWOOD

Morgan County News Editor

Peggy Hamby, director of Food Services for Morgan County Schools, is going to try out a special breakfast promotion during the first month of school.

Hamby said that during the month of August any child eating breakfast at school will not be charged. Breakfast at school will be free for all children. All your child has to do is show up in the school cafeteria and get in line.

Hamby said that if the program is successful it may actually continue beyond August.

She hopes to accomplish a couple of things with the free breakfast promotion. First, she said it is proven that eating breakfast gets children off to a good start and better prepares them to do well in the classroom.

She added that it stands to reason that a child who is hungry won’t be able to concentrate as well.

Second, she hopes that students who try breakfast at school during August will continue to take advantage of the program. Ironically, the more kids who eat, the better the chance is that free breakfasts will continue, Hamby said.

She said that some school systems offer free breakfasts all the time but she will have to judge participation to determine if it will offset the expense.

Hamby made the announcement following Monday night’s school board meeting.

Director of Schools Mike Davis said he is thrilled to be going into a new school year with working air conditioning in all the schools.

The school system has just completed a $6 million project that replaced its outdated heating and cooling systems as well as lighting and some other energy hogging items.

He also reported to the Board that the county should hear from the state soon about whether its application for a distance learning grant has been approved.