District to continue free breakfast and lunch for those in need

MATTAPOISETT — Through the final semester of the 2019-2020 school year, parents were able to pick up free meals for their students while staying in their cars to help out those who needed assistance for food.

With students returning to school in a hybrid format, the district will continue the program for those coming into the building for class and those staying remote. 

Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Howie Barber said at a Sept. 14 Mattapoisett School Committee meeting that he is working with food services to create a program that meets the needs of all students.

Parents of students who are going to be learning fully at home can pick up five breakfasts and five lunches for the week on Mondays.

Hybrid students will pick up breakfast as they come into school from a cart, eat it in classrooms before learning starts and dispose of trash in bins throughout the school. For lunch, meals will be passed out in cafeterias for those that need it.

When not in school, parents will pick up the three breakfasts and three lunches for students. 

Committee Vice Chair Carly Lavin asked if taking the breakfasts and lunches will be up to the kids.

Mattapoisett schools Principal Rose Bowman said the district is asking parents to have a family conversation on the subject.

For lunch, Barber said lunches are coded within a database in the school’s system.

This system will also help track students with food allergies to avoid cross contamination. 

He said the database is helping out with “crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s” in the district’s reopening plan.