Students and teachers are back in classrooms in the Webb City R-7 School District. The first day was Monday.

Superintendent Tony Rossetti reports an initial count of 4,540 students, including a normal increase of about 50 students.

“Things are going well,” considering the normal first-week issues, says Rossetti.

One change this year is that two years of free lunches for all students has come to an end.

Unlike before, though, there’s no free-and-reduced lunch program. It’s free to all who qualify. Rossetti encourages families to apply for free lunches online.

For those who don’t qualify for free lunch, here are the current prices. Increases were approved by the School Board in June in order to keep up with rising food costs.

Breakfast is still free for all students.

DIVE SAFELY
Student injured Wednesday

The message to drive safely when students return to school became real Wednesday when a student walking home from school was struck by a vehicle at Daugherty and Oronogo streets.

Rossetti reports that the student was transported to the hospital, “but the last we heard he’s going to be fine.”

The district is still short of bus drivers, causing some drivers to have to drive two routes. It’s a problem continuing from last year when double routes were also necessary.