SYLACAUGA — While children are out of school for the summer, parents won’t have to worry if they’re getting a nutritious meal. The Board of Education voted Monday morning to continue the Summer Café program, which provides free meals to children in the city.Kelley Wasserman, Child Nutrition Program director for city schools, said the program allows anyone 18 years old and younger to get breakfast and lunch at no charge Monday through Friday.
“It’s a wonderful benefit to the children in this community,” Wasserman said. “We say it is food that’s in when school is out. Just because children are out of school for the summer that doesn’t mean they don’t get hungry.”
The program, which is part of the United States Department of Agriculture’s summer food service program, will be held at Nichols-Lawson Middle School from June 2 to July 25, except July 4.
Wasserman said the School System is partnered with the Parks and Recreation Department’s day camp, the BRIDGES program at Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement and the Housing Authority, which runs vans throughout its residential area.
Wasserman said almost 3,000 children were served breakfast and more than 7,000 children were served lunch through the program last year.
“There’s no criteria to qualify and no paperwork to fill out,” she said. “Kids can just come in to eat.”
In other business Tuesday, the board:
o Approved personnel changes, including the resignation of Jo Anna Shealey as a child nutrition worker for Indian Valley Elementary School as of April 30, Sarah Cowart as a first-grade teacher at Indian Valley Elementary School to be effective May 24, and Lena Taylor as a special education teacher to be effective May 24; the employment of Jamie Johnson as a kindergarten teacher at Indian Valley for the next school calendar year, Alicia Walker as a kindergarten teacher at Indian Valley for the next school year, Gay Coley as a summer school math and science teacher at Nichols-Lawson effective May 27-June 16, Chad Littleton as a summer school English teacher at Nichols-Lawson effective May 27-June 16, and Cheri Cole as a summer school social studies teacher at Nichols-Lawson effective May 27-June 16; voluntary transfers of Sally Hebson from kindergarten teacher to title one teacher at Indian Valley effective with the 2008-2009 school year, Wendy Arnold as a guidance counselor from Indian Valley to Nichols-Lawson effective next school calendar year, Deebie Wade as a science teacher from Nichols-Lawson to Sylacauga High for the next school year, Patrick Harris as a history teacher from Nichols-Lawson to Sylacauga High for the next school year, Nancy Lamberth from computer lab to test prep lab at Sylacauga High effective the next school calendar year; and supplement eliminations of special education bus rider supervision and Sylacauga High parking lot supervisor, both effective with the 2008-2009 school year and to be paid as an hourly position.
o Approved a summer school program at Sylacauga High May 26-July 25. The individual cost for summer school will be $100 per student per semester.
o Approved three bids, including a low bid of $32,557 from Engineered Cooling Services for the purchase of one Laars/Pennant Boiler to be installed at Indian Valley; a low bid of $25,800 from Birmingham Restaurant Supply Company for the purchase, using Child Nutrition Program funds, of one Rational Self-Cooking Center Combi oven for Sylacauga High; and a low bid of $3,498 from BRESCO for the purchase, using Child Nutrition Program funds, of two Southbend P12C-B two burner gas rangers for Nichols-Lawson and Sylacauga High.
The board’s next scheduled meeting is Tuesday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m.
