This year alone, thousands of students will be saved the pain of getting their lunch money. The corporation has promised students through a federally funded program, free breakfast and lunch. Not only will food services be free of charge, but there are also many other plans to enhance quality and variety.
The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a program that enables schools in high-poverty areas to receive the necessary funding.
“We hope to provide a more inclusive environment where every student has the same choices” Director of Nutritional Services, Josh Skinner, said. “By going CEP, students don’t have to worry about when or where their next meal will be and can focus on their education.”
LHS Principal Michael Miller is excited for this endeavor.
“Providing free breakfast and lunch for all students helps ensure food accessibility, equity and opportunity for all students at LHS” Miller said. “We are thankful to Superintendent Starkey and our corporation’s Food Service Department, Mr. Skinner and Mrs. Miller for pursuing this opportunity.”
Not only will the food be free, but many new options will also be available.
“Many of the officers advocated for better lunch options for the purpose of healthier meals that are also tasty” Senior Class President Marilyn Macias said. “Also, many kids go through their day without eating breakfast, so we helped out with planning meals that are energizing to finish off their day. The process behind it was very simple: we put our ideas out there, and our peers helped us and the school community decide on which meals were best for everyone.”
After the meeting at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, it was decided to take a step into the future.
“We believe that student voice and feedback are important to improving our menu items at LHS” Miller said. “In collaboration, we discussed the possibility of new menu items for this year to include items such as a salad bar, build your own sub sandwich, potato bar, seasonal offerings like soups, more fresh fruit options and a Ramen bar. We are excited to explore new menu options and meet the requests of our students.”
