Free Breakfast Status Uncertain For Hatboro-Horsham Students

HATBORO / HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —No state budget, no free breakfast.

Breakfast won't be free for all Hatboro-Horsham students if the state budget is not passed before the school year begins, school officials said.

School Board Member Theresa Brown, in her Finance Committee report, said if the state approves its budget before the start of the school year, then breakfast will remain free for all students. However, if the budget is not approved, students will not receive free breakfast.

She did state at the board's July 24 meeting that school meal prices for the 2023-24 school year will remain the same as the previous year.

The school board also accepted a $1,000 donation to the Food Service Fund from a donor who wished to remain anonymous.

The donation, per the donor’s wishes, will be used to reduce outstanding student meal debt.

Schools Superintendent Scott Eveslage, in his report to the board, also reminded residents that free lunches are available to children from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. every weekday at Crooked Billet Elementary in Hatboro.

Eveslage also encouraged residents to apply for the program giving students free or reduced-cost meals during the school year.

In other school business:

• The school board approved the district’s health and safety plan required of districts that accept federal funding as part of the American Rescue Plan in the wake of the pandemic. The health and safety plan has no substantive changes from last year’s plan, school officials said.
• School Board President David Brown welcomed juniors Caryne Dio Cruz and Aashna Patel as the newest Student Board Representatives. Eveslage said the two are excellent students and very involved in the high school. He said Caryne and Aashna applied for the position, obtained letters of recommendation from teachers, and went through an interview process.
• School Board Member Tara Conner-Hallston reported that Eastern Center held its annual awards night at Upper Moreland High School, with 171 students being recognized and more than $47,000 awarded for academic and technical achievements. She also reported that ECAT will maintain the same programming for the upcoming school year, and enrollment is already full in several programs.

The next school board meeting is Aug. 21.