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 Midwest Central Primary and Middle Schools were
recently informed they’ve been approved to implement the Community
Eligibility Provision (CEP) of the National school lunch program.
This allows all students to each breakfast and lunch free of charge.
Each student is eligible for one breakfast and one lunch. Students
who wish to eat extra lunches still have to pay for those.
The district’s only disappointment in the CEP program is that the
high school didn’t qualify. Unfortunately they still have to pay for
breakfast and lunch; however, the district hopes that the high
school may qualify in a year or two.
District superintendent, Todd Hellrigel, said he was excited about
the program and was thankful the board was so supportive. The
district says participation has been very high and expects more
students will choose to eat breakfast and lunch as word spreads to
parents that they don’t have to pay.
The district applied for the program in June. Mary Hill, the
district’s food service director, completed much of the paper work.
The board of education had to approve the submission to the state
board of education.
Hill works for Arbor Food Service which was awarded the food service
contract after the former food service contract expired. Hill is
first a parent in the district and has a strong desire to improve
cafeteria conditions for all students in the district.
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With the new food requirements implemented over the last several
years it’s been challenging for schools to find foods that students
like. Hill claims the secret to having successful operations at all
3 Midwest Central schools lies in her staff. “We have a great staff,
many of whom have children in the district. It’s a tough job and our
food service workers care about the students in this district”, said
Hill.
Hill was also recently awarded a $3500 grant from the St. Louis Dairy Council.
She’s used the money to buy supplies to serve breakfast in the classrooms at the
primary and middle schools. At the high school she bought a smoothie machine to
serve smoothies at breakfast.
The district says the cafeteria is just another area of the district that’s
being improved. “Our students deserve the very best, and we’re continually
looking at how we can improve. We’re not perfect, trust me we have plenty of
people that tell us”, joked Hellrigel. “But on a serious note if we see an area
of the district that needs some work, we’re going to do our best to make it
better. All our people care about the students and that’s what makes improvement
happen.”
[Superintendent Todd Hellrigel]
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