During the current school year, children across the Bradford Area School District have been eating more meals in their cafeterias and classes thanks to the Community Eligibility Program which has provided free meals to all students.

That was the report from Melissa Kingen, regional manager of The Nutrition Group, and Dana Mollander, director of the district’s food service department, during Monday’s school board meeting.

“We are excited to update you on how it’s going,” Kingen told the school board. She said in addition to more children receiving free, nutritious breakfasts and lunches, the youngsters are no longer stigmatized for having no money for food. Much of the revenue for the program comes from reimbursements from the state, federal government and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Kingen stated that through Jan. 31, 57,000 more breakfasts and 24,000 more lunches have been served in the district than last year.

She said breakfasts at the high school increased from 10 percent to 24 percent participation; at the middle school from 16 percent to 24 percent participation; and more than doubled at both elementary schools. She said a 10 percent increase was seen overall in the district for lunch consumption.

Kingen said advantages to the program are that good nutrition is expected to help the students achieve better test scores, and their parents will have more money to spend on other items for their children.

Kingen said the disadvantages with the program are that the a la carte sales of snack type foods that are nutritious are down $10,000 compared to last year. She said they will continue to monitor both programs at all the schools, but she doesn’t expect to see a decrease in participation.

Board member Paul Ridley said he was surprised at the lower participation for breakfast at the high school, given the choices of breakfast sandwiches and other items to eat.

To that, Mollander said she has been thinking of ways to set out kiosks in the halls where students can grab something to eat when entering the school. Mollander was praised at the meeting for working “countless hours” to ensure the meals are accessible to students and the program has been successful.

In other business, the board approved the American Refining Group tax assessment formal agreement and accepted bids for two 72-passenger buses from the Wolfington Body Company and a Blue Bird Bus Sales of Pittsburgh. The cost for each bus is $88,275 with rebates.

Under students and curriculum matters, Ken Coffman, dean of students, presented changes in the high school registration guide that will add courses such as an advanced chemistry program; a computer science engineering program; a cooking 3 class for culinary arts students; a STEM lab with a focus on engineering; and a math for financial literacy class.

Kelly Compton, director of curriculum and instruction, also gave a presentation on the new Imagine Math program from students in grades three through eight. The program is described as an innovative digital program that builds real-life math skills and encourages innovative problem solving.

Compton said Bradford is a pilot program for the project and 12 students in those grades have completed over 100 lessons. She noted a few youngsters have completed over 200 lessons.

On another topic, the board approved the 2018-19 school year calendar which will have an early dismissal day almost every month for professional development of teachers, said Superintendent Katharine Pude.

In personnel matters, the board accepted the resignation for purpose of retirement of David Fuhrman, business teacher at the high school, after 32 years of service, effective June 7.

The board also approved the resignation for purpose of retirement of Susan MacFarlane, life skills teacher at School Street Elementary School, after 15 years of service.

In addition, the board approved the hiring of Thomas Shallop, substitute discipline coordinator, at a rate of $19.03 per hour on an as-needed basis.

In her report, Pude said a school-wide spelling bee will be held at 2 p.m. today at School Street, with the winner of the competition to travel to state competition. In addition, author Eliot Schrefer, who wrote the book “Endangered” will visit School Street Feb. 28 at part of the school’s “One School, One Book” initiative.

Pude said the African American Student Union from the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will also visit George G. Blaisdell School on Feb. 23 and 27 to read a book and do a short activity with students, to round out this month’s student activities.