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Two Butte elementary schools get free meals for next four years

May 23, 2014 /

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The MDT Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) Program encourages and supports the participation of companies owned and controlled by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals in transportation contracts.

For the next four years, two Butte schools will qualify for free meals to all students in a food services program launched by partners Montana Office of Public Instruction and the Department of Agriculture.

West Elementary will receive $18,312 in additional revenue per month and Kennedy Elementary will receive $13,395 per month for 2014-2015 in the Community Eligibility Provision for School Meals program.

"Everybody — it doesn’t matter — the whole school qualifies," Central Services Director Mark Harrison told The Montana Standard. "There’s no stigma or difference between the kids who can pay and those who can’t."

The CEP program aims to reduce administrative costs and paperwork related to collecting and processing applications and tracking students based on meal-eligibility status and it reduces the stigma of low-income students eating meals at no cost.

By Renata Birkenbuel

Full Story: http://mtstandard.com/news/local/two-butte-elementary-schools-get-free-meals-for-next-four/article_9175ee56-e232-11e3-abde-0019bb2963f4.html