High school extracurriculars to get food boost

It has already been met with favorable reception and not a single meal has been served.
Monday night, the Acadia Parish School Board unanimously approved the recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee regarding an after-school nutrition program.
“It seems like everyone is excited that there will be a little something to eat in the afternoons,” said Child Nutrition Supervisor Adrianne Vidrine. “It’s designed for any organized, structured enrichment program being held after school.”
The program is funded through the Child and Adult Care Food Program of the USDA, which is separate from the National School Breakfast and School Lunch programs.
As explained to the board members last month, the program would be for high school students staying after school for an enrichment program of some sort.
Whether it is band, FFA or any athletics, if a group is staying after school, they need only alert the cafeteria — roughly a week in advance — with a roster of students that are to be fed that night.
“It’s really up to the sponsor to let us know and provide that roster,” said Vidrine.
If a student is absent from the after-school event, then his or her meal can go to another student, but only another student as the program is to feed children.
Examples of this include an older sibling serving as ride or another student who wishes for seconds.
The district hopes the program can begin as early as next week as several groups have expressed interest throughout all the parish schools.