Free student meals coming this fall to 3 schools in the Kiski Area School District

Who says there’s no such thing as a free lunch?

More than 1,000 students in three of the six schools in the Kiski Area School District will receive free breakfast and lunch during the 2023-24 school year.

The meals are being provided to all students at Kiski Area Intermediate School in Allegheny Township, Kiski Area Upper Elementary School in Washington Township and Kiski Area East Primary School in Vandergrift.

“It’s a great way for our kids to kick-start their day,” said intermediate school Principal Michael Cardamone. “It gives them time to socialize with their friends and get the school day started on a positive note.”

The intermediate school is new to the program this school year.

The meals are paid for with federal funds provided by the Community Eligibility Provision program, which is administered by the state Department of Education’s Division of Food and Nutrition.

The program allows schools and districts in low-income areas to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to every student, without obtaining household applications. Parents and guardians don’t need to take any action, Kiski Area officials said.

All meals will meet federal and state guidelines.

Benefits of the program include eliminating the stigma of free and reduced-price meal programs, no paperwork for parents, a streamlined meal service for school staff, increased meal times for students, and reduced paperwork and costs associated with tracking for administrators.

Schools with a minimum of 40% of students certified for free or reduced-price school meals in the prior school year are eligible, meaning their households receive SNAP or other government benefits.

“Sometimes kids coming into our schools that are hungry aren’t performing at their highest level,” Cardamone said.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 20% of children in the country skip breakfast.

At Kiski Area Intermediate, breakfast begins at 7:20 a.m., and Cardamone said breakfast participation numbers have increased over the past several years.

“We used to have less than 100 students, but now more kids eat and have more time to see their buddies when they get off the bus. Kids can come in here stressed because they didn’t eat, and it’s no problem — they can go eat now,” Cardamone said.

Parents and guardians were notified via email.

CEP election is valid for four years, and participating schools don’t have to reapply annually.

Upper elementary school Principal Brian Swartzlander said he hopes most of the student body population will take advantage of the free meals.

Superintendent Misty Slavic stressed the program’s benefits.

“This service to our students removes all barriers to accessing food. If our students are hungry, they cannot focus on learning,” Slavic said.

Kiski Area School District food services staff includes Jaclyn Walker, director of food services, and administrative assistant Joy Spagnola.

Spagnola praised the program as one that alleviates financial burdens for families.

“Hopefully, this program will increase participation at the intermediate building to allow this program to carry out for many years to come,” Spagnola said.

Leechburg Area School District sent a letter to parents Thursday informing them that all students in the district will receive free breakfast and lunch each school day through the CEP program.

The New Kensington-Arnold School District qualifies under the Direct Certification Program for all students to receive free breakfast and lunch, according to Valley Jr-Sr High School Principal Jon Banko. Students at the high school also can get a meal (similar to lunch) at the end of the school day.