Beverly Coronavirus: Schools Will Continue To Provide Meals

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Public Schools will continue to provide free and reduced breakfast and lunch during the state-ordered shut down of schools in Massachusetts.

"This plan for distributing meals may evolve over time, and we will make sure the community is updated to any changes or expansions of services," Beverly Superintendent Sue Charochak said in a note to families Sunday. "We recognize these decisions impact our families and students and we appreciate your patience and cooperation."

All children under 18, regardless of their lunch benefit status, can pick-up lunch at Beverly High School from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the closure. Beginning Tuesday, the school system will also start delivering lucnhes between 11:30 a.m. and 12 p.m. to Apple Village Manor, Goldway Park and Holcroft Park.

The lunches will include a breakfast for the following morning.

"If you have a Beverly student and cannot access any of these meals sites and are in need of lunch services please reach out to the Food Service Director, Christina Leal at cleal@beverlyschools.org or 978-921-6132 ext 11129," the school district said.

On Sunday, Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker ordered all schools closed for at least three weeks. The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is working with school districts to develop distance learning programs and to make sure vital services offered by schools would still be available during the three-week closure.

Details of those plans are expected in the coming days, but already the state had received a waiver to federal rules that will allow low-income school districts to continue offering food service.