NEW MARTINSVILLE, W.Va. — Free meals will be provided to all Wetzel County students beginning this school year.
The announcement was made last week to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students regardless of their economic eligibility.
“This not only benefits the low-income students. It also benefits the working family,” said Amanda McPherson, the director of child nutrition at Wetzel County Schools.
That means nearly 2,800 students will have the opportunity to eat these meals at school.
“It’s important because students need that nutrition and they need that energy in order to be ready to learn,” McPherson told MetroNews on Friday, regarding the decision.
The Wetzel County Board of Education voted to implement the Community Eligibility Provision for the upcoming school year, which allows qualifying high-need school districts to provide these free meals.
The CEP is a federal provision, but it’s the local school district’s decision whether to use it. The CEP also elminates the need for families to fill out the School Meals Household Application.
McPherson said the funding to implement the program came from their excess levy and the oil and gas business in Wetzel County.