By Drew Adams
Murray, KY – School districts across the region have until Friday to opt into the Community Eligibility Option, a new school lunch program created by the Kentucky Department of Education. The Department of Education claims that the program would supply schools with free meals but without the large amount of paperwork needed for current programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 106 of the 174 school districts in the Commonwealth qualify for the program, which stipulates that more than 40% of a school's enrollment must qualify for SNAP. Murray Independent School District Food Service Director Mallory Cathey says MISD will not participate in the program in part because only the preschool and head-start programs qualified. School districts across the region including those in McCracken, Graves and Calloway County will be making their decisions this week.