BATTLE MOUNTAIN - The local breakfast for kids program is still running strong and feeding numerous children throughout the school district, said Program Director Lorrie Sparks, who gave a brief presentation on the program to the Lander County School Board at their Sept. 28 board meeting.
Sparks told board members that from Dec. 6, 2010, through May 31, 2011, Battle Mountain Elementary Schools served a total of 2,900 breakfast meals, averaging 132 meals per week and 33 per day.
During that same time period, there were a total of 1,199 meals served at Eleanor Lemaire Elementary School, averaging 55 meals per week and 14 per day.
For the 2011-12 school year, the program started at Battle Mountain Elementary Schools on Aug. 29, the first day of school. The meals are available each school day in the art room. At Lemaire Elementary School, the program started on Sept. 6 in the after school program room. Breakfasts are served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m. at both schools.
So far, for this school year, in five weeks, Battle Mountain Elementary Schools has served 757 breakfasts meals, an average of 189 a week and 38 per day. Lemaire Elementary School, in four weeks has served 149 meals, averaging 37 a week and roughly 9 per day.
The meals are available at Battle Mountain Junior High School in the library from 7 a.m. to 8 a.m. Battle Mountain High School has meals on hand in case they are needed. High school students can also pick up breakfasts at any of the other schools, said Sparks.
In the program, depending on what the kids qualify for, the breakfasts are either free, offered at a reduced price or can be purchased for $1. The breakfasts consist of milk, juice, cereal and a snack.
"Starting out the day well-fed is important for everyone, kids included," said Sparks.
The breakfast program is being sponsored with $20,000 from John Davis Trucking, owned by John Davis and his brother, Shane. The funds will carry the program through the 2011 - 2012 school year and possibly into the following year, said Sparks.
"I think it's probably one of the best things that we've done and I'd like to thank John Davis and his brother for giving the money to support the program and we know there is data to support the fact that kids who eat those breakfasts certainly have the potential to do better in school and to function more normally on a day when they have something to fill their stomachs," said school board Chair Susan Davis.
School board member Jan Morrison said the program is much needed in the school district and she also wanted to thank John Davis Trucking.
"I feel that the breakfast program is absolutely essential," said Morrison. "Too many kids miss out on a healthy breakfast these days. Whether it's because of parents' schedules, economics or other reasons, the result is the same. Kids can't learn on an empty stomach. The kids aren't responsible. They can't help it but we can."
School board member Anna Penola agreed.
"I think it is a wonderful program," said Penola. "It is nice to know that all kids have the opportunity to have the best start to their day. It is great that it is available to all of our children if they want or need it."
Davis said the district is currently looking into grants to continue to support the program in the future.
Erin Krentz, former program director for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers after school program, and Community Health Nurse Brenda Keller got the idea of the program started before it was handed over to Sparks last year. The program was started in December 2010.
Krentz and Keller came before Lander County School Board members Aug. 25, 2010, to discuss the pilot program. School board members all agreed that the program was sorely needed and that no child should go hungry. At the time, Lander County was the only county in Nevada without such a program.
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