District to keep community eligibility, expand summer weekend meal kits and praise award-winning food‑service staff

Superintendent recognized two food‑service staff and outlined the district’s summer meal plans at the North Adams Community Schools board meeting. Penny Pennington Kinas and Heather Hartman were honored for statewide school‑nutrition awards; Hartman was described as overseeing daily production across all meal sites and the new campus kitchen.

The district said it will operate a summer feeding site at Belmont Elementary in June, serving breakfast 9:00–9:15 a.m. and lunch 12:15–12:30 p.m. on weekdays. The district will also offer Friday take‑home, shelf‑stable weekend meal kits — described as peanut butter and jelly, shelf‑stable milk, fruit juice, and alternating Star Kids chicken and tuna kits — available to families and the community. District staff clarified that a student must accompany a nonstudent pick‑up in most cases, and that students may attend alone in some situations.

Food‑service staff told the board the district serves about “approximately 1,600 meals a day,” with secondary schools offering up to 11 daily meal options. Belmont Elementary and Middle School will remain community‑eligible for breakfast and lunch for the next three years, meaning there will be no charge for those meals at those sites.

Board members praised the staff for long tenure and operational work to maintain a broad menu and new weekend options. The board approved the summer feeding program by voice vote (motion made and seconded; outcome: approved, five to zero). The district also said it will continue ADA and food‑safety training requirements for managers and complete required health inspections.

What happens next: the summer feeding program will run throughout June as presented; district staff will implement pickup procedures and publicize participation rules to families.