District officials say the dinner program will improve student nutrition, encourage more participation in after-school academic programs and eventually lead to community dinners that will welcome more parents into the schools.
“What’s kind of unique about it is these are creative ways to help districts close the achievement gap,” food services director Steve Youngbauer said.
Unlike the lunch program, eligibility for a free dinner is based on whether the school qualifies for the program based on school poverty rates, rather than the income level of an individual student. So any student participating in an eligible after-school program can eat the dinner meal for free.
The program, starting at Falk, Black Hawk Middle School and Memorial High School this year, will eventually include hot meals and a salad bar. It’s projected to cost $65,000 for the three schools this year, with the cost covered by a $2.86 per-meal federal subsidy.