Strollerderby : free and reduced lunch

"Free" Lunches Cost School 200 Grand

JeanneSager — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 21:32:00 GMT

A Georgia school started tallying the figures for the lunches handed out to kids who showed up without this month, and the numbers were astonishing.

The school is looking to recoup almost $200,000 as it sends bills off to parents, asking them to pony up for their kids food intake.

Shocked? You should be - these aren't kids whose parents fall within the federal guidelines for the free or reduced lunch program.

The Clayton County school district already gets federal funding to offset the cost of those lunches - enough for about seventy seven percent of the fifty thousand kids in the district. But, everyday, dozens of kids show up without a brown bag in hand or money in their pocket. They've racked up $112,633 in debt so far - a figure that the school estimates would hit $200,000 by June if they didn't act now.

The cafeteria staff has been reluctant to turn away hungry kids, says Clayton County's Chief Operations Officer Joseph Jones, because hungry kids can't learn. But with the numbers rising, the school board is considering instituting a policy that would put milk and peanut butter and jelly or cheese sandwiches in the hands of kids who come without money - rather than a full meal. They also approved billing the parents for debts already incurred.

With numbers this high, it's clear this is more than just a few kids forgetting their lunch money once in awhile. When we did that as kids, we were able to "charge" our lunch, creating a bill that would have to be paid off by the end of the year or it would be sent home to our parents. It's clear the parents should be held responsible.

But I wonder with that kind of number if this isn't a sign of deeper issues. Are parents so used to the school stepping in that they're taking advantage of the system? Are these kids being neglected? Or is this just another sign of our economic downturn hitting families where it hurts? With the information in the Atlanta Journal Constitution article, I don't know.

What I do know is that the kids shouldn't have to suffer - whether it be from their parents stupidity or their parents economic struggles. Schools are often the only places kids in those situations get a full meal. It's the reason the federal free and reduced breakfast and lunch program was instituted to begin with.

With the state of the economy and a problem that's bordering on pandemic, is it wise for a district to cut back on how much its feeding the hungry kids? The parents should be billed, but at the outset, shouldn't the district put the kids first and make sure they're fed?

Image: Family.Go

December Photo Contest: Winter Wonderland

editors — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 20:39:00 GMT

Have you seen these kids frolicking over at the Playground yet? They’ve got the Winter Wonderland holiday spirit – do you? Here’s what we’ll give you if you show us the frosty fun side (or the "I live in Florida" holiday fun side) of your family: An amazing prize package from Quinny and Maxi-Cosi. The brand new Quinny Buzz 4 is going home to one lucky reader/photographer with all the fixings and a Maxi-Cosi Mico car seat to boot. That’s worth over $1,000 bub, what are you waiting for? Join The Babble Playground and December Photo Contest today! - April Peveteaux

The Breakfast Club: In NYC Schools, It's a Hit

Kate Tuttle — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 14:30:00 GMT

New York has offered free breakfast to public school students, regardless of need, since 2003. But the program, which served hot meals in school cafeterias, wasn't used by anywhere close to the number of students who qualified for free or reduced lunches. It seemed that kids felt embarrassed to show up early and eat in the cafeteria, singled out. School officials needed to figure out how to reach poor kids, or even not-so-poor kids who skimp on breakfast, which nutritionists and pediatricians call (all together now) "the most important meal of the day."

According to a recent New York Times feel-good article, a new program seems to be doing just that. Now in nearly 50 schools serving largely poor student populations, the plan provides free breakfast in the classroom, removing the stigma many felt was keeping kids from taking advantage of earlier cafeteria-based meals. After initial objections by some teachers -- would it cut into planning time? distract the kids? -- everybody seems very satisfied. Some see the possibility to take the show on the road:

Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger, said that if the classroom breakfast program succeeded in New York it could blossom in other states, too. He said advocates for better nutrition are asking Congress to finance similar programs next year.

“Any program that feeds hungry children, improves education, reduces tardiness and absenteeism is clearly an overwhelming public good,” he said.

And as for the most exacting critics of all? “It makes me full and happy,” one student told the Times. “I’m ready to study and learn.” All together now: awwwww.

Photo: Robert Stolarik for The New York Times

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