Clark County students returned to class today after summer break, and many of them are going to be met with supplies, free meals and upgraded buildings.

Following two decisions by the Clark County Board of Education in May, all students in the district will now be eligible for free breakfast and lunch.

Previously, meals had been offered to students at all of the district’s elementary schools in addition to Henry E. Baker Intermediate School. The program has since been expanded to include students at Robert. D. Campbell Jr. High School, George Rogers Clark High School and Phoenix Academy.

Beginning this year, parents of CCPS students will not have to purchase any supplies for their children to bring to the classroom. Superintendent Paul Christy said the decision was a way to reduce costs for public education.

“We have a lot of families that have trouble just buying clothes for school, let alone supplies,” Christy said. “This will go a long way toward providing free public education.”

Elementary students in the district will also be returning to enhanced buildings for their first day of school.

Over the course of the summer, the district has invested in a nearly $8 million energy savings contract involving six schools.

According to Administrative Director of Operations Donald Stump, the project is a guaranteed energy savings contract, meaning the cost of the project will be paid for through the savings over the next 20 years.

“Ideally, the more comfortable the building is, the better the students will learn and the teachers will teach,” Stump said previously.

The district has contracted with Performance Services to complete the project.

The project has three primary areas of focus: heating and cooling, electric and lighting and water.

Strode Station Elementary and Baker Intermediate are having the most work done. The buildings, which both feature central heating and air conditioning, are getting two new chillers and boilers to improve climate control in the schools.

All six of the schools, the four elementary buildings, Baker and portions Robert D. Campbell Jr. High, are being retrofitted to use LED lighting.

Additionally, the schools are having controls installed which allow principals and district officials to set schedules for energy usage.

Stump said the controls represent a large portion of the savings from the project, as they allow the district to minimize the amount of energy being used at night and at other times when the schools aren’t in session.

Next summer work on the contract will continue at Shearer Elementary.