Education Commissioner Joins Students for Lunch at Summer Camp

Torrie Osbon

Communications Director

Metcalfe County Schools

 

Metcalfe County Elementary School welcomed Kentucky’s Education Commissioner to lunch at its 21st Century summer camp last Tuesday.

Dr. Robbie Fletcher stopped by to check out the district’s Summer Feeding Program and Summer Boost: Reading and Mathematics Program. While the more than 70 children enjoyed their pizza, Dr. Fletcher engaged them with a good book.

“The best part of my job is being with kids,” Fletcher said. “In Metcalfe County, the kids have been phenomenal. They have been well-behaved but also very curious. You can truly see that these kids are developing a love for reading. Not just learning how to read, but learning to read with comprehension. They want to see what’s going on next. That curiosity is something we need to foster, cultivate, and grow. It’s very obvious it’s happening here in Metcalfe County.”

After lunch, all of the students received a free book to take home as part of the Kentucky Department of Education’s Summer Boost Program. Metcalfe County was one of 34 school districts to be selected to participate in the program, which provides free books and digital access to math games to remind families to make summer count.

“It’s important for students to have enrichment over the summer, opportunities to push them further. It is also a great time to provide remediation for students who may be falling behind. And at the same time, we are helping families who may be facing food insecurities. It’s hard to learn and focus on an empty stomach.”

Metcalfe County Schools Summer Feeding Program offers free breakfast and lunch for all children at its 21st Century summer camps. Additionally, the district provides bulk meal pickups each Monday through the end of July for any child ages 1-18 who lives in the county, regardless of school choice or income status. Each meal kit comes with 7 days’ worth of breakfast and lunch items and a gallon of milk for each child.

Superintendent Josh Hurt said, “On the first day of our Summer Feeding Program, we handed out meals to more than 800 kids. That’s food that some children might have had to do without in other circumstances. It also takes some of the burden off families who rely on our free breakfast and lunch program during the school year. To top it off, we are seeing kids getting curious and excited about reading on summer break. That’s a reward in itself.”

Metcalfe County Schools also partners with the Metcalfe County Public Library for summer meal pickups to ensure all children in the county have access to the free program. For more information about Summer Feeding or Summer Boost, visit the district’s website, www.metcalfeschools.com.