Columbia Board of Education to discuss contract for summer feeding program at Douglass Park

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Columbia Board of Education could approve a contract for a summer feeding program at Monday night's meeting.

Board members are scheduled to meet for an executive session at 5 p.m. at the Aslin Administration Building off of West Worley Street. The school board will move into its regular session at 6:30 p.m.

School board members are expected to bring up the contract between Columbia Public Schools and the Columbia/Boone County Department of Public Health and Humans Services during the regular session.

According to the contract attached to the meeting agenda, the summer meal program at Douglass Park in central Columbia would run from June 6 until August 5. Columbia Public Schools and the health department would provide lunches to 50 children each day. This is the program's 21st year.

Meals won't be provided on June 20 or July 4.

Meals will be served at the pavilion next to Douglass pool. Lunch is served from noon to 1 p.m. Students must be under 18 to get lunch and no registration is required.

"It's a program we look forward to in the summer, to meeting the kids and getting to offer them lunches, and I really feel that the kids we are offering those lunches to would be missing out on that meal," said Erin Harris, nutrition supervisor for the health department.

Under the contract, each meal is expected to cost $3.41 for a total expected cost of $7,331.50.

If approved by board members, the health department would cover the costs of the lunches for the school district.