Fort Mill families with two children stand to save more than $600 a year now that every student in the district eats breakfast at no cost.
The Fort Mill School District launched its universal free breakfast program Monday, Sept. 21, eliminating charges for all students regardless of household income. South Carolina state lawmakers provided $2.9 million to fund the initiative, WSOC-TV first reported Tuesday, Sept. 22.
Before the change, families who did not qualify for free or reduced-price meals under federal income guidelines paid out of pocket. At the elementary level, a standard breakfast cost $1.90 per meal, according to WSOC-TV.
Over a 32-week school year, that adds up to more than $600 for a household with two children eating breakfast five days a week.
No application or payment is required. Students pick up breakfast when they arrive at school, the district said in a message to parents.
Each meal includes an entrée, fresh fruit and a choice of milk. Items on the rotating menu include chicken biscuits, French toast sticks, smoothies and parfaits. All meals meet U.S. Department of Agriculture nutrition standards.
The program covers students at every grade level across the district. The district said the change is meant to help students focus and perform better in school, and that its Student Nutrition team designed the menus to meet federal guidelines.
Joe Burke, the district's chief communications officer, said many Fort Mill families hover near the federal eligibility line even though the district's free-and-reduced-price population is small.
"This helps out for everybody, especially in times when things are getting more expensive," Burke said. "This is one less thing parents have to focus on."
School leaders observed more students eating breakfast since the program started, according to WSOC-TV.
Breakfast menus for each school are posted on the Fort Mill School District Student Nutrition website.
