By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
The Hays USD 489 school board voted to offer free breakfast to all students at its meeting on Monday. The free breakfasts will start on Monday, Oct. 16.
During the pandemic, breakfast and lunches were provided free to all students thanks to federal funding.
Jessica Younker, director of USD 489 nutrition services, said 700 to 800 students per day were eating school breakfast when the meals were free. That has dropped to 500 meals now that families have to pay again.
The highest utilization of breakfast now is at Hays High School. The district offers a second-chance breakfast after the first period. It serves an additional 100 students off of carts during that seven-minute passing period.
If the number of students eating breakfast goes back to COVID levels, the school district should have enough funds on hand to cover the cost of the free breakfasts, Younker said.
If it increases beyond COVID levels, the nutrition program will need to dip into its reserves, Younker said.
Superintendent Ron Wilson said providing breakfast will provide a quality learning experience for all students.
Providing free breakfast to all students should eliminate the stigma of eating breakfast at school, Younker said.
"It's much easier to teach a kid who is focused on learning and not focused on their tummy growling," Younker said.
She said her department is working to change the breakfast menus to make them more appealing to kids.
"We are adding some new stuff and listening to kids about what they want and what they don't want," she said.
"This eliminates the money factor. If kids don’t eat at home, they can eat at school and not worry about that."
Board members applauded Younker for bringing the plan to the school board. The program was unanimously approved.
"I applaud this focus on kids," Craig Pallister, board member, said. "If a kindergartener or first grader or second grader or junior is sitting in a classroom, it's not their fault they're hungry.
"We can look at the money situation next year and see if we can extend that."
Ken Brooks said, "This is incredible work for kids."
Lincoln Elementary School received a state grant this school year to provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students due to socioeconomic factors of its students.
Kerri Lacy, Lincoln principal, said school meal utilization has increased by 30 to 35 percent since the free meals were offered.
The school board also reviewed two enrollment policies.
Kyzer Fox, HHS senior, spoke during the public comment session of the meeting.
"Obviously, I won't personally go to school in the new high school," he said ..."But I'm very happy that my siblings will be able to learn in an upgraded educational environment."
Ground was broken Wednesday on a new $105-million high school.
He said he is more likely to come back to Hays to raise his family because of the new school.
Three people spoke against private bathrooms planned for the new high school during the public comment session.