2 Magic Valley Schools Awarded Grants to Improve Nutrition Programs
A couple of Magic Valley schools are among those that have been chosen to receive part of a more than $125,000 federal grant to upgrade their kitchen equipment and improve their nutrition programs.
The money from the Idaho State Department of Education comes through its child nutrition programs to help schools with their school lunch and breakfast programs.
“Thanks to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Equipment Grant, schools across Idaho will improve their food service with new equipment ranging from freezers and dishwashers to a salad bar and massive mixers,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra said in a statement on Thursday.
The two Magic Valley schools who will use funding for kitchen equipment are the Dietrich School, which has been awarded $5,725 for a warming cabinet and salad bar; and Heyburn Elementary, which will use $13,626.25 for a dishwasher and freezer.
In all, $125,215.47 has been awarded to 19 Idaho schools. According to the education department, the application process was competitive, with 23 "School Food Authorities submitting grant applications totaling more than $170,697 in equipment requests.
Consideration was given to those that, among other criteria, had not received previous equipment grants and schools with a high percentage of students who are eligible for free and reduced-price.