Local schools look toward free lunch for all students

With large percentages of their students coming from lower-income families, some schools in Duluth and Superior might be able to offer free lunch to all their students.

That’s if current changes to the federal Child Nutrition Act make it through Congress.

“Now, more than ever, we have situations where the food the students get at school — in many cases — that’s the majority of their food for the day,” said Bill Hanson, director of business services for the Duluth school district.

The upcoming reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act would put $4.5 billion into school lunch programs over the next 10 years to help meet healthier nutritional guidelines. It is reauthorized every five years, and this version comes with sweeping changes. The school lunch bill awaits a Senate vote, and the House has yet to act on its version.

The legislation would do away with the need for paperwork on individual students at schools where 40 percent or more of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunches.

As for students at schools that don’t qualify to offer free lunches to all, they still could get free and reduced-price lunches if they qualify. Their families would just need to apply, as currently required. All foster children would automatically qualify at all schools.

Schools would benefit from eliminating paper applications, said Pam Bowe, a dietitian and Duluth’s food service director. “Staff is devoted to getting those applications, so it’s a time-saver.”

Because the recession has pushed formerly middle-class families into lower-income brackets, Bowe said, “some people who have never needed us don’t know where to start.”

The elimination of paper applications will make things easier for families, Hanson said, some of whom don’t want to provide personal information or deal with a form.

“There’s always a feeling of ‘Who aren’t we reaching?’?” he said. “Hurdles will be lower.”

About half of Duluth schools would qualify to offer free lunches, and the districtwide rate for students who qualify for free and reduced-price lunches is 41 percent.

In the Superior school district, 49 percent of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches, and six of its eight schools meet the guidelines for free lunches.

Hermantown school district doesn’t have any schools this year that would qualify for free lunches, and Proctor has only one.

“You either get help or you don’t,” said Liz McLaughlin, food service director at Proctor. “Middle-income families fall through the cracks.”

A couple of schools have high rates of low-income students, including Duluth’s Grant Elementary with 88 percent and Nettleton Elementary with 79 percent.

Liz Friedlander, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee press office said the bill — approved by the Agriculture Committee — is awaiting floor time with the full Senate. Depending on how quickly it moves through the Senate and the House, it’s possible it could go into effect this year, she said.

Tags: news, education, food, duluth, hermantown, superior, proctor, money