Schools see a jump in meal participation

BOWLING GREEN Ky.- Through the Community Eligibility Provision students enrolled in the Bowling Green Independent School System will eat breakfast and lunch for free during the 2019-2020 school year.

This year, the district began offering free meals at all city schools.

According to the district’s director of food service, Dalla Emerson, meal participation is up 9% compared to this time last year.

Emerson says the increase also comes from the fact that the district listens to the desires of the students.

“We’ve included a couple of different menu items from feedback from the students. We have seen an increase because of the engagement we’ve had with our students. I was expecting a jump because we’re including them in our decision-making process with our menu going forward,” Emerson said.

The Community Eligibility Provision is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas.

Under the program, families with students in the district’s schools will no longer be required to complete a free or reduced priced meal application.