Starting on November 6, Battle students were offered free dinner in the commons every day after school from 4:05 to 4:30. Students could acquire said dinner by punching in their student identification number into the POS pin pads.
The idea of dinner being available after school was already a pre-existing program that was taken away five years ago with the introduction of COVID-19. After interest spiking again this year from our principal, Sports Clubs, and even some athletes, the program can finally be utilized again like it was pre-Covid. In 2017 the program was in full swing. 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, after the first day, when it only saw 32 people. However, the following day saw over double this with 76 people claiming their free meal.
The program was first brought up again for people in sports or any after-school activities. 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 can be cost-free thanks to the government and state that is providing funding for the program. To Scott’s knowledge, Battle is the only school in Columbia other than Hickman that is able to qualify for the program by meeting a certain requirement of reduced lunch applicants and because of Battle meeting the requirement students are able to have their meal for free. Though if students would like a second serving they are allowed to go back but an additional $4.45 will be charged to their account. Likewise, if an adult would like to purchase dinner they also 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 on the daily Spartan Mailer where a link (November 2024 Dinner Menu) will be provided for the monthly menus.
