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MOUNT VERNON — Cost versus benefit was part of the discussion Wednesday when Mount Vernon School Board members talked about the possibility of adding fresh fruit and vegetable snacks for students outside of regular breakfast and lunch periods.
Board member Rob Coffey questioned the $108,000 cost, which would pay for fresh fruit and vegetable snacks at all district elementary schools twice per day.
“I’m not sure in this day and age that it’s a burden appropriate to bringing onto the taxpayers of the district,” he said.
Superintendent Carl Bruner suggested that the district could prune the program back to once per day, or to fewer times per week. Bruner added that the program teaches kids about proper nutrition.
“We’ve seen improvements at breakfast and lunch at a pretty low cost,” said board member Laura Cailloux. “We can look at healthy modeling that doesn’t cost $100,000 a year.”
Other changes have been proposed to the menu next year, which would cost little to no extra money.
The discussion will continue next month on the 2009-2010 budget. Board members could approve the budget in August.
Kate Martin can be reached at 360-416-2145 or at .
