Panther Valley students will continue to receive free breakfasts and lunches, the superintendent told the school board last week.

“A lot of the schools last year across Pennsylvania got a free breakfast and a free lunch,” Superintendent Dave McAndrew told the school board. “That waiver ended, so a lot of schools no longer offer them for free. But, Panther Valley students will continue to receive the free breakfast and lunch.”

All students in the Panther Valley School District had been receiving free lunch since before the pandemic because of a federal program for districts of a certain poverty level.

The school board also voted to raise the adult meal prices to $2.10 for breakfast and $4.05 for lunch, after Business Manager Jesse Walck recommended it.

Gearing up for school

The principals at the three Panther Valley school buildings said they are ready for the first day of school, which is Aug. 29. Enrollment is up and the schools have many new aids and staff that will be ready.

“We’re excited to start the school year,” McAndrew said. “Enrollment has been growing in the past couple of years. Over the past three years, we have had 250 more kids enroll.”

Parents should have also received a schedule of the new bus routes, which were sent Aug. 18.

“We wanted to get the routes out earlier this year,” McAndrew said. “With all the students coming in this year, we wanted to make sure we fit them on. The buses will have to be rerouted two or three weeks from now. We’re in a comfortable position that we know where we are going to roll with the buses.”

An open house for parents and students will be Thursday.