(Photo provided) The Marshall County Board of Education office is shown here in Moundsville. The board learned this week that hot breakfast items such as eggs and sausage are being offered to students and more students are eating the free breakfasts and lunches.

MOUNDSVILLE – Marshall County Schools is offering more substantial breakfasts for its students to help keep their bellies full and their minds sharp for learning.

Superintendent Shelby Haines said the board of education this week heard from Rob Chavanak, director of child nutrition and wellness, about the district’s new food offerings.

“He provided an update and they are serving more hot food items and breakfast across the county. The eating rates have increased,” Haines said.

Haines noted all students are offered free breakfast and free lunch. New hot breakfast choices include items like eggs, sausage, biscuits and gravy, instead of just grab-and-go items like breakfast bars.

Haines said the rate of participation in breakfast was 53.7% during the first semester, up 4% compared to last year. The rate of participation in lunch was 74.24%, up nearly 1% compared to last year.

“We’re also feeding more students after school as well,” she said.

She said Chavanak also plans to work with coaches from Cameron and John Marshall high schools regarding providing afterschool snacks for student-athletes to eat before practice. There will also be afterschool snacks for students who are receiving tutoring after school.

She noted the snacks are paid for via tax levy money and money from the reimbursable food program.

Haines said Chavanak is also planning a summer food program that delivers food boxes to students’ homes. She said parents would have to sign up for the free service. She said Chavanak is researching prices for such a service.

Meanwhile, the board approved a food service bid for next school year from HPS Gordon Food Service. The company had the highest qualifications rubric score of 95/100. It also had the correct food items wanted by the district at the lowest prices.

Another bidder, Premier/US Foods, had a qualifications rubric score of 91/100. A third bidder, Omnia/Sysco, had an incomplete market basket, meaning it did not have all the food items wanted by the district.