Free lunch site expansion includes Eunice school

Central Middle School in Eunice is to be added to the schools where all school meals are free to students.
There will be 15 schools in St. Landry Parish serving free lunches to all students in the next school year, according to a Lucretia Chancler, supervisor of child nutrition for the St. Landry Parish School System.
Chancler spoke at a meeting of the St. Landry Parish School Board’s executive committee Monday.
“There is a link between nutrition and education,” she said. “When a child’s nutritional needs are met, the child is more attentive, ready to learn — less discipline problems.”
Seven schools are being added to eight that served free lunches this year.
Other schools in the free lunch program are Highland Elementary, Grand Coteau Elementary, North Central, Palmetto Elementary, North Elementary, Northeast Elementary, Opelousas Junior High, Arnaudville Elementary, Park Vista Elementary, Port Barre Elementary, South Street Elementary, Southwest Elementary and Washington Elementary.
There two sites described as “programs” where all student meals are free. They are Center for Academic Programs at Northeast Elementary and St. Landry Accelerated Transition School.
Chancler said the school district pays 10 percent of the meal cost.
About $10 million is spent for the school lunch program with $6 million reimbursed, $1.2 million from the Minimum Foundation Program and the reminder from local sources.