More students in Hernando County will receive free meals this fall.

  • 66 percent of students current receive subsidized meals
  • District's federal reimbursement for food services increasing
  • Officials hope to expand program to high schools

Sixty-six percent of students receive subsidized meals, but starting in the fall nearly all elementary and middle school students will have the choice to receive free breakfast and lunch.

"It's one less thing that our households have to worry about," said Food Services Director Lori Drenth. "That the school district is here to provide nutritious quality meals at no cost to households."

Parents said it's a good thing. "I think it will help a lot because some parents, sometimes they don't have the money that week, and it's always a problem, so the kids will benefit from (the program)," said parent Jairam Samaroo.

The program called Community Eligibility Program is expected to increase the district's federal reimbursement for food services from about $6 million to more than $8 million.

"The increases in federal reimbursement will cover all costs to ensure that staff was paid, for food, and all of those kinds of things," Drenth said.

High schools, Chocochatti Elementary and Challenger K-8 are not currently a part of the program, but the district hopes to change that eventually.

"We're taking a conservative approach, just at beginning this program and then we hope to expand it as we move on in subsequent school years," Drenth said.

Adoption of the program guarantees the district will receive funds for the next four years.

In the Tampa area, Manatee, Pinellas and Polk county school districts also participate in the program.