School lunch changes won't hit everyone

Jul. 7—For the last two years parents in the Daviess County area have not had to worry about school lunches. As part of the COVID response by the federal government students throughout Indiana received free school lunches. That is going to come to an end this fall, as schools revert to the system they had before.

"I don't think necessarily it will make any difference for me," said Sarah Hembree, a mother with kids in school. "I think whoever needs it should have it. It was convenient not to have to worry about lunch for the kids."

"I think it could impact some of the people on the lower end. I know I won't see any change from it," added Sarah Goodwin.

While the change will have some impacts many families see them as minimal.

"It always helps but you don't expect everything for free forever, said Jen Welsh. "I am thankful I don't live from paycheck-to-paycheck. For me a change would not be that big of a deal."

For school systems in the area there will be a mixed bag of results from the change in the school lunch program.

Before the pandemic Washington's elementaries had qualified for all students getting free lunches because of the schools qualified for the Community Eligibility Program.

"We had that in place for one year before COVID hit as a CEP district," said Washington School Superintendent Kevin Frank. "That year we applied and received it and all elementary students ate for free. The feds dropped the income requirements during COVID and allowed everyone to eat for free."

While the secondary school students were left out of the initial CEP designation, the school system has looked at the numbers again, and feel that all students may qualify.

"It's community eligibility, so they are looking at free and reduced rates across the district for the entire enrollment of 2400 students and there is a rate we hit that allows us to qualify," said Frank. "We are working through the paperwork and we have received some assurance we are going to qualify."

While Washington will continue with 100% of the students receiving free lunches, some other school systems in the area like Barr-Reeve will not be so fortunate.

"It's hard to say what the impact will be," said Barr-Reeve School Superintendent Dr. Travis Madison. "Different families have different circumstances. I don't see how the change will help. It will add some stress on some families that have not had to worry about this for a couple of years. "I suspect we will have around 35 or 40% who get some assistance. If everybody filled out the paperwork, we might have another 15% that would qualify. We probably have more that qualify for free lunches but a lot don't fill out the paperwork, for whatever reason. It may be they don't want to take the time, they may not want to share their information. We have a lot of people in the district that just won't ask for it. They think it is a handout and they want to handle it in their own way."

With the change in free lunch rules, schools like Barr-Reeve now have a fresh challenge. That is putting together the lunch puzzle that includes a mix or nutrition and economics during a time of rising prices and supply shortages.

"With this change we are now really concerned with food prices," said Madison. "We are paying a lot more for things compared to two years ago. That has put us in a position where we are trying to set prices at an affordable level and still keep the cafeteria operating in the black. It's a big puzzle to try and make everything come together. We are also concerned about meeting food guidelines because of supply issues."

Schools facing lunch changes are already finding their work increasing to make certain everything works for both those who receive free lunch and those who will once again have to pay.

"We are going to fight our way through it and do our best to take care of the kids," said Madison. "We are going to try to make certain no kids have to do without. That is an advantage of a smaller school. We can keep an eye on the kids and identify those in need."

Prior to the new regulations being handed down to local schools Madison says he tried to lobby Senator Todd Young's office to continue with the old lunch policy.

"I spoke with one of Senator Young's aides recently on a school safety matter and while I was on the phone with him. I suggested that the free lunches become permanent for kids and families at school," said Madison. "Our country throws around a lot of money. I felt like this is a program you could put money into that would give a lot of bang for the buck. I was hoping that this would be something that came out of COVID that would stay because it is a great resource for families and kids."