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Rep. Dan Schoen - Legislative Report - February 26, 2014

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Friends,

I know many of you are concerned by recent stories about how some school districts are treating students who can’t afford to pay for their school lunches.

A study by Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid shows that some low-income students who are participating in the state’s reduced-price lunch program are denied a hot, nutritious meal by some school districts. Forty-six school districts immediately or eventually refuse to serve any food to  these children. More than half of Minnesota’s school districts will deny these kids the hot meal being served to others and give them a cold sandwich instead. 

Only 96 school districts will continue to serve these children a hot meal, regardless of their ability to pay.

It got me wondering about the policies of our school districts. I thought many of you might also be interested.

South Saint Paul Public Schools: Students who are unable to pay for lunch are provided alternate meals consisting of milk and peanut butter sandwich. The school district is adding a vegetable to this option. Between the months of September and December of this year, according to the district, between five and eight meals were taken away from students who had no money in their lunch accounts. After December, SSPPS implemented a new system of notifying parents through nightly phone calls and e-mails when their child's lunch accounts were in danger of going negative. Students have been allowed to charge up to two meals. In addition, SSPPS has established an Angel Account.

South Washington County Schools District #833: District #833 has an Angel Fund that is utilized by students at all levels to access meals. At the Elementary level, they allow charging of up to two lunches and one breakfast. Parents receive an automated phone call when the child’s account balance reaches $5 or less. Additionally, school cashiers in the Nutrition Services Department will make personal calls to parents and principals, and social workers will be involved as needed. At the Secondary level, students are not allowed to charge, but they can access the Angel Account. Students are not denied meals, and, in very rare instances, an alternative meal of a cheese sandwich is offered.

Hastings School District: Hastings School District allows students, except at the high school level, to receive a reimbursable meal daily even if they do not have adequate funds and continue to debit their account. At the Elementary and Middle schools, all children receive a hot meal regardless of whether they can pay. High schools students are allowed to be negative three meals before their trays are taken away. To prevent the situation from happening to any students in the district, the district will call and email parents about the situation and inform students that they are low on funds in their lunch account once it falls to $10 or below. Hastings School District only offers alternative meals in very extreme situations, and the alternative meal will be a reimbursable meal choice of a sandwich, fruit or vegetable, and milk.

If you have more questions about your district’s policies, I encourage you to give the school board members a call. These folks are elected officials, just like myself. We answer to you – our constituents.

South St. Paul Board of Education

Chair Ann Counihan, (651) 204-4076, Ann.Counihan@sspps.org

Vice Chair Lisa Rother, (952) 500-3380, Lisa.Rother@sspps.org

Wendy Felton, (651) 451-9002, Wendy.Felton@sspps.org

Amy Williams, (651) 402-3787, Amy.Williams@sspps.org

Deb Clark, (651) 455-7120, Deb.Clark@sspps.org

Lauri Flatley, (651) 453-9298, Lauri.Flatley@sspps.org

Sarah Winslow-Brewer, Sarah.Winslow-Brewer@sspps.org

 

South Washington Board of Education

Chair Ron Kath, 651-769-0291, rkath@sowashco.k12.mn.us

Vice Chair Tracy Brunnett, 651-458-6201, tbrunnet@sowashco.k12.mn.us

Jim Gelbmann, 651-739-5575, jgelbman@sowashco.k12.mn.us

Laurie Johnson, 651-387-0427, ljohnson1@sowashco.k12.mn.us

Kathleen McElwee-Stevens, 651-459-5411, kmcelwee@sowashco.k12.mn.us

Katie Schwartz, 651-347-7656, kschwart5@sowashco.k12.mn.us

Sharon van Leer, 651-202-3848, svanleer@sowashco.k12.mn.us

 

Hastings Board of Education

Chair Vince O’Brien, 651-208-5563, vobrien@hastings.k12.mn.us

Vice Chair Kyle Latch, 651-319-0376, klatch@hastings.k12.mn.us

Lisa Hedin, 651-438-3622, lhedin@hastings.k12.mn.us

Angie McGinnis, 651-480-8370, amcginnis@hastings.k12.mn.us

Dan Cater, 651-438-4290, dcater@hastings.k12.mn.us

Scott Gergen, 651-438-0007, sgergen@hastings.k12.mn.us

Teresa Moes, 651-437-8543, tmoes@hastings.k12.mn.us

 

Sincerely,

 

Dan