Free food offered; Community clinic opens
Dear Blackhawk Families and Community,
The first few weeks of school have been busy and exciting. Whether our students are with us face-to-face or virtually, we are grateful for the opportunity to work with them and their families. This year is like no other, and it will take all of us working together to make sure it is a success.
For this article I would like to focus on two things happening within our district that are benefiting our students and the community as a whole. The first is the offering of free meals through Dec. 31, 2020, and the second is the opening of the community clinic at the new high school.
Through a continuation of a grant from the USDA, the district will be offering free meals to all children (ages 0-18). The grant runs through Dec. 31, 2020. A child does not need to be a Pea Ridge student to receive the free meals. If you would like more information on this program, please contact Julie Ferguson at jferguson@ pearidgek12.com.
It is vital that families continue to fill out the Free and Reduced-Price Lunch Applications and return them to school by Oct. 1. This will ensure there is no gap in coverage after the new year, and federal funding received is directly tied to the percentage of students qualifying for free and or reduced-price meals before the October 1st deadline.
The Community Clinic located at the west end of the new high school is now open. This partnership allows for quality medical care and mental health services to be provided for our community. Services offered include: primary care, acute care, wellness checks, lab tests, behavioral health, and immunizations. Medicaid, Medicare and most private insurance plans are accepted. There is also a discount program available for patients who qualify based on income. If you would like more information, please contact the community clinic at 479-256-5080 ext. 6145. Respectfully, Keith Martin, Superintendent Pea Ridge School District