Starting November 6, Battle students were offered free dinner in the Commons every day after school from 3:45 to 4:30pm. Students can punch in their student identification number into the pin pads. 

After School dinner was a pre-existing program that was taken away five years ago by COVID-19. After interest spiking again this year from Battles principal, sport coaches, clubs, and even some athletes, the program can be utilized again like it was pre-COVID. 

Previously in 2017, the program was in high demand. Melissa Scott, the Kitchen Manager for Battle High School stated, “In 2017, we were doing 400 meals a night in ten minutes, with only two cashiers.” While Battle saw this success in 2017, the program has seen a slow startup this year with only 32 people served on the first day. However, the second day saw over double this with 76 people claiming their free meal.

Athletes and club members utilize after school dinner the most. People don’t have time to get food after school before their activity starts with the typical club or practice beginning at 4:30; thus, the program allows students to get a quick snack to fuel themselves for most of the night. 

  The free dinner program is free thanks to the state that is providing funding for the program. To Scott’s knowledge, Battle is the only school in Columbia other than Hickman able to qualify for the program. The schools meet a threshold of reduced lunch applicants. 

If students would like a second serving, they are allowed to go back but $4.45 will be charged to their account.  If an adult would like to purchase dinner, they are charged the fee of $4.45.

Dinner will be available to students every day after school with the main course changing daily yet with the same alternative meal of a PB & J Uncrustable. Students will be able to see the dinner menu right outside the lunchroom line area as well as in the daily Spartan Mailer where a link (November 2024 Dinner Menu) is provided for monthly menus.

-Revised for gramatical corrections on 11/19/24