By Martha Reish
A small group of us spent the spring reading together, The Time Is Now: A Call to Uncommon Courage by Joan Chittister, an activist for peace and justice. She challenged us to think beyond ourselves and how we can speak out in our communities and world. Many of us in the group are retired yet have interests in our community and world. We heard that the school board had sent information out to schools that the program that provided free breakfast and lunch for all students in the Broadway area feeder schools (except for BHS) had not been applied to for the 2025-26 school year. We began to ask questions about reasons for deciding to abandon this program. We talked with the superintendent, and three different school board members came to listen to our concerns with a wider group of people at the Linville Creek Church of the Brethren.
Money was given as the factor for this change. After reading articles, talking with teachers, and discussing, we concluded that healthy meals are important for learning. We hire teachers to teach, we provide curriculum to support learning, but children will struggle to learn if they are hungry. We were told that it would cost $1.2 million dollars to feed all children in the county breakfast and lunch (expanding to all schools—beyond the 14 schools in the program last year). That seems like a wise investment of our tax dollars in a $189 million dollar school budget. Can we think outside the box of how that money could be added to the budget? If children are required to go to school, should we not feed them while they are there?
Most of the surrounding counties do provide free meals for all students. Recently WHSV aired a segment about the Waynesboro school system. See the following link to hear Kelly Shomo, School Nutrition Supervisor, talk about the reasons Waynesboro chose to apply. https://www.whsv.com/2025/09/02/waynesboro-public-schools-offers-free-snacks-meals-through-food-program/.
We’ve created a website feedschoolkids.org. Take the time to read some of the articles, discuss with your civic and church group friends, and write your own thoughts to your school board members. The website has a list of articles that are easy to read and draw your own conclusions, a sample letter to change and send to school board members, addresses and phone numbers of school board members, and an area to comment as well.
What are your thoughts about the program that was a part of our feeder schools last year? We’ve heard feedback from teachers and parents since school began this year in the differences observed. We’d love to hear your feedback. We encourage you to give feedback to all school board members.
There will be a conversation with the District 1 candidate, Jackie Lohr to ask questions and learn more about her concerns and thoughts for the future. An invitation was sent to Ernest Calhoun and he declined the conversation. This will be held on October 7, 2025 in the media center at Hillyard MS at 7:00.
