Gilmer County Schools will be paid a visit by Georgia’s leaders in education, nutrition and agriculture. At the board of education’s work session last Monday, nutrition director Linda Waters announced Gilmer Schools will be recognized for its efforts in achieving the Georgia Department of Education’s “Vision 2020.”
Part of the initiative includes “at least 20 percent of the meal requirements for student lunches to be comprised of Georgia-grown products.”
“This effort boosts the state’s economy, forms stronger partnerships between schools and communities, increases student excitement over foods that have a local connection and increases access to healthy meals,” according to the Georgia Department of Education.
Georgia State Superintendent of Schools Richard Woods, Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black and State School Nutrition Director Dr. Linette Dodson will enjoy a Thanksgiving meal at Gilmer High School Thursday, Nov. 12.
“We are the only system that is being visited for this state recognition,” Waters said. “I feel so honored that they have selected us.”
Free school meals extended through June 2021
The U.S. Department of Agriculture extended benefits for free school meals through June 2021. All lunches, breakfasts and snacks served at Gilmer County Schools will be reimbursed at the free rate.
The school system receives $3.60 for each free lunch and $2.26 for each free breakfast served. As more students returned to schools for in-person instruction last month, the system saw its reimbursement climb to $183,000 in September compared to $136,000 in August.
“That’s really going to be helpful for us for the rest of the school year,” Waters said. “We’re seeing our in-person numbers improve, and our participation is going up daily at breakfast and lunch. We’re encouraging that because we want our students and our parents to take advantage of these meals at no cost to them that will help to generate additional revenue for us.”
While meals are currently free, the school system is encouraging eligible families to be proactive in regard to filling out applications for future free and reduced lunches. Forms should be completed immediately so those who qualify will receive their benefits after June.
Applications are currently lagging, which could impact federal funding, according to superindentent Dr. Shanna Downs.
“Because everybody is currently (eating for) free, it reduces the urgency parents feel to fill out those free and reduced forms,” Downs said. “A lot of our other funding is based on the percentage of students that qualify for free and reduced lunch. For example, all of our federal funding uses a formula based on free and reduced. We’ve fallen to about 10 percent fewer students that have turned in those forms.”
She added, “When we look at our funding for next year outside of nutrition for our federal programs, we could lose money. We’re doing everything we can to get parents to fill it out.”