BOISE, Idaho — Boise School District (BSD) board members approved a new initiative Tuesday to better serve BSD students and their well-being.
Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, Boise schools will be offering free breakfast for all students within the district. The initiative is part of the district's budget for the upcoming school year, according to a statement from BSD.
"Starting with the 2024-2025 school year, all of our students will have access to a nutritious breakfast at no cost, ensuring that they can start their day off right," said Boise School Board president Dave Wagers.
In a news release, the board came to the decision based on the recommendation from district administration, stating the initiative will bring numerous benefits, including academic performance and improved overall general health.
"Breakfast is often referred to as the most important meal of the day, and this holds especially true for students before they begin their academic day," added Wagers. "By providing free breakfast to all of our students, we are not only promoting health and well-being but also creating a more inclusive and supportive learning environment."
It doesn't stop with just breakfast. In the upcoming school year, a handful of schools can expect to see both free breakfast and free lunch. The following schools are considered Community Eligible Provision (CEP) schools:
- Fairmont
- Frank Church
- Garfield
- Grace Jordan
- Hawthorne
- Hillcrest
- Horizon
- Jefferson
- Koelsh
- Lowell
- Lincoln Early Learning Center
- Monroe
- Morley Nelson
- Mountain View
- Owyhee
- South
- Taft
- Valley View
- Whitney
- Whittier
"Providing free breakfast normalizes school meals, helping to eliminate the stigma that school meals are for low-income students," explained Christy Smith, Boise School District's food and nutrition services supervisor. "This new initiative also aims to reduce food insecurity among students and sends an important message to our students and families that good nutrition is critical to a healthy student and healthy learning environment."
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