The COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on the number of meals served to students during the Greenwood Leflore Consolidated School District’s summer feeding program, according to the district’s head of food services.
The district superintendent, Dr. Mary Brown, said at a recent school board work session that more than 26,600 meals were handed out between March and July, covering the shutdown implemented because of the pandemic as well as summer break.
Jacqueline Howard, head of food services, said that number was lower than she expected.
“Meal participation was low at each school that participated in the summer feeding program due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” Howard said. “Meal participation would have been better under normal circumstances.”
The 4,700-student school district will continue to provide meals as school begins the 2020-2021 year. All students will start school virtually on Tuesday, with a hybrid virtual and in-person option tentatively scheduled to begin Sept. 8.
Howard said each student will be provided full breakfasts and lunches for the week, with meals delivered by the district transportation department on Mondays and Thursdays.
Meals for Monday through Wednesday will be delivered on Mondays; Thursday’s and Friday’s meals will be delivered on Thursdays.
All of the district’s meals follow nutritional rules set up by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
“A meal must consist of all five food components along with the vegetable subgroups, grain, meat, fruit and milk requirements,” Howard said. “The meals must also meet the calorie range based on age groups.”
Despite the change in procedure, Howard said the cafeteria staff is remaining optimistic and doing everything possible to provide quality service.
“Food-service employees have remained positive during the challenge of providing meals for our students,” she said.
•Contact Adam Bakst at 581-7233 or abakst@gwcommonwealth.com. Twitter: @AdamBakst_GWCW
