FPS seek options to feed youth over summer break

Friday, April 15, 2011

With only six weeks left in the 2010-11 school year, and the knowledge that more and more area families are signing up for assistance through SERVE, Inc. — 52 new households in March alone — Fulton Public Schools are looking for a way to make sure area youth don’t go hungry during the upcoming three-month summer vacation.

Superintendent Jacque Cowherd told the school board during its regular meeting Wednesday night that the district is investigating ways to better-utilize the federal grant it uses to fund food services for summer school.

“This year we’re talking with folks at the YMCA about whether we can provide food at some of their programs, we’re talking to SERVE about working on delivery,” Cowherd said. “We’re trying to maximize that grant and see if we can feed more kids.”

Cowherd also gave the board a quick update on several legislative issues that could impact the district in the future, including tenure legislation that would change the system to three-year tenure blocks — which would enable teachers to change districts and earn tenure in three years — and a foundation formula bill that would change funding from $6,300 per student to approximately $5,200 per child.

“It would be a simple way for the legislature to say they are fully funding the formula, but would actually hurt us a lot,” Cowherd said.

Assistant Superintendent Suzanne Hull also had some legislative updates, including the news that both branches “said to get rid of teacher tenure and want 50 percent of teacher evaluation to be based on student performance.”

“Fortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s going anywhere this year, but I think it will be revisited next year,” Hull said.

She also talked about pending changes in the 5th Cycle MSIP (Missouri School Improvement Program) that she called “troubling.”

“MSIP has always been cyclical, now we’ll be evaluated every year,” Hull said, noting she does not believe the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has the personnel to perform those evaluations. “They also expect us, as a district, to make sure our kids that graduate from the high school go on to graduate from college.”

She said a number of educational associations in the state — including the Missouri Association of School Administrators — have spoken out against some of the changes.

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ColeCountyParent 2 years, 1 month ago

I'm not sure why kids are going hungry in the summer. If a person applies for food stamps, isn't it based on the number of kids that are in the household?

Praying 2 years, 1 month ago

Hmmmm...Why are kids are going hungry during the summer...maybe because of the economy, high unemployment rate, high gas prices, higher prices in the grocery stores, and the list could go on and on. If a family is or is not strapped for money, whether they get food stamps or not, summer months can be more of a burden on their grocery costs. A lot of communites with the help of local food banks, Central Missouri food bank, local churches, community organizations, and volunteers offer very successful summer lunch programs to offer lunches to their children. Everyone in Fulton would benefit by having a summer lunch program. The biggest winner is the children! Let's all support Superintendent Cowherd and our community by starting such a program.

workingclass 2 years, 1 month ago

I'm sorry, Graceful, but I have to call you out on this one. I thought "Praying" did a nice job responding to the topic and article at hand, while you only sought to attack a political ideology of which it appears you know very little.

Please tell me, how exactly is socialism responsible for what Wall Street did to our economy. And also please tell me how socialism is responsible for the oil and food speculators who continue to make millions upon millions of dollars when we pay more at the gas pumps and the grocery store. So, when greedy corporations run us into the ground and speculators make millions when I pay more to fill up my car....we call that socialism? Ok, so what exactly is the definition of capitalism then, because I must have the two mixed up.

The facts are simple...Wall Street and huge corporations who have evaded taxes are the ones responsible for running our economy into the ground. That is an irrefutable fact, period. Now, the only question that really matters is what to do about it. Do we make those responsible for the problem fix it, or do we force those of us who had nothing to do with it pay for it? Please think before you respond, everyone, because if you make less than $250k per year the answer is pretty simple.

rock1853 2 years, 1 month ago

Well heck why would anyone want to make more than 250k? So the politicians can take half what you earn a give it to those who they think deserve it? Government is responsible, you can't expect them to fix anything.

Praying 2 years, 1 month ago

This article has brought out some interesting opinions and here is the still the main point.... The children of Fulton deserve a summer lunch program. Regardless of what our facts are, or what type of education an adult has, or what type of political ideology you relate to or what your annual income is and on and on....no child should be hungry. With the summer lunch programs I am familiar with they feed anyone...children and who ever brings them....it could be their parent(s), child-care provider, grandparent, aunt, uncle or neighbor. For each child some very basic information and emergency contact is required. Then at return visits sign in using your first name. Volunteers provide a hot meal or sack lunch depending on the availability to a kitchen and the equipment. The lunch programs are in churches, schools, parks, or even at the swimming pool. Volunteers are from local clubs/organizations, church members, high school/college students, and/or anyone who values feeding our children. All there is to remember...no child should be hungry.

fultonian 2 years, 1 month ago

I wouldn't mind feeding the children, they are not able to work and put food on the table like their parents. But I don't like the idea of feeding whoever brings them.

fultonian 2 years, 1 month ago

I've worked at the local soup kitchen in Fulton before and seen numerous people standing in line... talking on their cell phones... smoking cigarettes... awaiting a free meal since they are so down on their luck they can't afford food.

fultonian 2 years, 1 month ago

Actually charity organizations within the community raise the money to pay for the meals themselves.

listerine4u 2 years, 1 month ago

fultonian 2 hours, 14 minutes ago "I've worked at the local soup kitchen in Fulton before and seen numerous people standing in line... talking on their cell phones... smoking cigarettes... awaiting a free meal since they are so down on their luck they can't afford food."

Although I don't support the government taking on responsibilities of the parent, You, Fultonian, are a liar. And you certainly haven't worked in a Fulton soup kitchen before. Fulton doesn't have a soup kitchen, and hasn't at least since 1993. The closest thing would be Serve Inc., which gives free groceries. Furthermore, You have posted this exact comment in the Tribune, nearly word for word, and you were lying then too. If you oppose the idea, fine, a lot of us do. But when you just make stuff up, you should know how obvious it is to those that know better. You hurt your cause, genious.

fultonian 2 years, 1 month ago

I've never posted in the tribune
Fulton does have a soup kitchen that serves meals pretty regularly, as michelle stated it is across from breaktime at the subsidized housing there. Community organizations help support the effort by raising their own money to pay for the food, it is not government run.

fultonian 2 years, 1 month ago

ahh, here we are, this is from the united way of callaway county website.

Soup Kitchen Volunteers needed to purchase, prepare and serve meals one evening a month or more for 25 - 50 people (number varies). If cost is an issue, food can be provided and would only need to be prepared and served.

I'm patiently awaiting your apology, and you can atone for your sins by volunteering there in the near future.

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