CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Children need to be well-fed in order to pay attention and learn in school. So many kids rely on school for their meals. From when CMS closed in March to June, the district distributed over 1 million meals to students who otherwise may not have had access to food.
This school year is already going to be stressful and different, the district laying out a new plan to keep children full while they're learning virtually.
Starting September 1, students will get meal bundles, boxes full of 5 healthy breakfasts and lunches, free for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. Families who don't qualify can buy them for $15 a box. They can be picked up at the meal sites or the district will deliver them to students’ bus stops.
This is also a way to keep some cafeteria staff and bus drivers working while students are staying home.
The Board of Education discussed “CMS Eats” Tuesday night at the last meeting before the start of the school year.
“It’s about helping our kids and helping our staff and those are the two top priorities,” CMS Board Member Rhonda Cheek said.
At Tuesday night’s school board meeting several other CMS leaders praised the quality and the convenience of the district's newest at-home meal plan.
“I can’t think of a better example of adapting to students' needs and meeting them when they need to be met at a time like this, “ CMS Student Representative Gabe Schuhl said.
