Area schools will be able to buy various types of new food service equipment with federal economic stimulus money distributed through the Oklahoma Department of Education.

State Superintendent for Public Instruction Sandy Garrett said the state has awarded $1.5 million in stimulus dollars for child nutrition. Of that, $218,996 will be distributed among 21 area schools. Prices range from $2,680 for a garbage disposal at Ellington Elementary in Wagoner to $37,397 for a walk-in cooler-freezer combo at Stilwell Elementary.

Checotah Public Schools will receive $34,794 for a combination oven for Marshall Elementary School.

“It’s good any time we receive something additional that will make it better for the kids,” said Assistant Checotah Superintendent Toni Brown. “The new oven will make it easier for the cook to prepare food for the kids.”

Brown said Checotah schools had made several requests for child nutrition stimulus funding, but was only awarded the Marshall Elementary request because the school had a high percentage of students on free and reduced lunches.

The stimulus grant awards were made through a competitive grant process through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the official name for the stimulus package.

Garrett said applications were received from 833 Oklahoma schools and exceeded $23 million.

“The applications were ranked using such criteria as the percent of students at each site who qualified for free and reduced priced meals, average daily participation in school meals and the type and cost of the children’s nutrition equipment they wished to purchase.

She said schools will be held strictly accountable for spending funds only on items specified.

Rhonnie Kerns, child nutrition director for Tahlequah Public Schools, said the district applied for several items for child nutrition, but received money only for a new serving line for Cherokee Elementary.

“The serving line was at least 20 years old,” she said. “It’s wonderful any time we can get material with federal funds.”

Reach Cathy Spaulding at 684-2928 or cspaulding@muskogeephoenix.com.