PARIS — Statistics from the National School Lunch Program indicate the economy is improving in SAD 17 because fewer students need free or reduced-price lunches, school officials said.

The report on student lunches was part of an overall presentation by Kathy Elkins on the fiscal 2014-15 allocation of Title I and II funds to SAD 17.

Elkins is working part time for the next several months handling all federal grants the district receives.

This year, more than $1.14 million will be distributed to the district, about $5,000 less than last year, she said.

The federally funded school lunch program assists schools and other agencies in providing nutritious lunches at reasonable prices. Eligibility for free and reduced-priced lunch is based on a family’s income and, in turn, indicates the state of the economy of a school district.

Schools with large concentrations of low-income students receive Title I and Title II funds to assist in meeting students’ educational goals.

Of the 400 students at Oxford Elementary School, 301 have free or reduced-price lunches. That’s 75.25 percent of enrollment, a drop from 78 percent last year, Kathy Elkins told SAD 17 directors this week.

The Agnes Gray School in West Paris has 74.26 percent of its 101 students receiving free or reduced-price lunches. Rowe Elementary School in Norway has 71.61 percent of its 479 students receiving free or reduced-price lunches.

Paris Elementary School has 305 of its 442 students, or 69 percent, participating in the program. In Waterford, 82 of 120 students, or 68.33 percent, participate; in Harrison, 87 of 140, or 62.14 percent, participate.

A total of 317 of the Oxford Hills Middle School’s 495 students, or 64.04 percent, participate.

The Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School, with 1,072 students, has 55.97 percent receiving free or reduced-price lunch.

At Hebron Station School, 50 of the 124 students, or 40.32 percent, participate, and at Otisfield Community School, 52.56 percent, or 41 of its 78 students, receive free or reduced-price lunches.

Elkins said Title I money supports programming for elementary schools in Oxford, Harrison, Waterford, Norway, West Paris and Paris. The money supports salaries and benefits or program administration interventionists, literacy coaches, class-size reduction positions, parental support, staff development and instructional supplies and resources, according to the report.

Title II funding provides for two class-size reductions positions, the Hebron Academy allocation and partial salaries for the districtwide literacy coach trainer, federal funds coordinator and secretary. It also supports staff development initiatives, Maine Comprehensive Partnership in Literacy costs, workshops and summer work.

A planning committee, comprised of school administration and staff, has been meeting to determine where the money should be distributed to ensure the neediest areas receive it. The SAD 17 board Monday approved the committee’s recommendation for using that money.

Under the No Child Left Behind law, schools must make adequate yearly progress on state testing and focus on best teaching practices in order to continue receiving the funds.

ldixon@sunjournal.com