Sean C. Morgan
The District 55 School Board voted during its regular meeting on Aug. 14 to offer breakfast at no charge to all students in the school district in an effort to reduce district cost, provide meals to more students and reduce the stigma related to the federal program.
Depending on family income levels, students have been able to qualify for free or reduced-price lunches and breakfasts. The district is reimbursed for the costs associated with providing free or reduced-price meals by the federal government. Under the school board’s action, all students will be able to take advantage of the district’s breakfast program.
The provision that allows the district to provide free meals to all students will reduce the administrative burden, decrease labor costs and remove the free and reduced-price “stigma surrounding school meals, Food Services Director Pam Lessley’s proposal said. Another benefit of a “universal” meal program is the potential positive impact on academic outcomes of students.
Around the state, 15 other programs offer free meals, and two school districts are doing it on a district-wide basis.
The district may propose providing free lunches as well next year, Lessley told the board.
“I don’t look for this to cost the district,” Lessley said.
For the 1999-2000 school year, the school district had an operational loss of $960.80 on the program. By providing breakfast free of charge, the program is projected to operate with a gain of $525 based on reimbursements in 2000-01.
The school district had a total of $83,093.99 in expenses with $82,133.19 generated in income for the program last year. In 2000-01, the program is projected to cost $93,355 with an income o $93,880.
The school district may choose to end the program at any point.
For more information, seek this week’s The New Era.