To help low income students do better in school, the Davenport School Board has converted its temporary Poverty Committee into a standing or permanent committee. It includes board members and residents of the district.
Board vice president, and committee chair, Linda Hayes says the most important things low income students need are food and transportation.
"There needs to be a policy to help a student who needs food. You need to have something in place for a student who has to walk two or three miles to school and not on the bus line."
As she says, " you can't think well when you're hungry."
The district now hosts a food pantry in the former JB Young Intermediate School that's open two days a week.
"People can come in, they're given carts, and it's a dignified process. You go there and select food for your family to take you through the week. You're able to go in there twice a month if you're needing it, your food stamps run out, and you need that extra boost we're there to help."
Hayes knows of no other school district with a similar focus on poverty, and helping its students and their families.
