Getting a free meal

E-mail this story

Print this story

Share

The number of students receiving a free or reduced lunch at DeKalb County's public schools has increased this academic year, and several school officials said the poor economy is one reason for the uptick.

Six of the eight public school districts in the county have more students receiving a meal through the federal National School Lunch Program at the start of this academic year than last year. Messages left with administrators in the Hinckley-Big Rock and Indian Creek districts were not immediately returned this week.

The National School Lunch Program provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to more than 30.5 million children each day, according to the program's Web site. The federal government reimburses schools for each meal served.

The number of students receiving a free or reduced meal at DeKalb Schools increased by more than 450 students this year, according to Merrie Schyvincht, food service treasurer for the district. There were 2,046 students in the program last year and there are 2,498 students now, she said.

"I'm not surprised by that," Schyvincht said. "We do see an increase every day. People are coming in to apply. People have lost their jobs."

Lois Sondgeroth, with Sandwich Schools, said 609 students were in the program at the end of August. There were 518 last year, according to data from the Illinois State Board of Education. Sycamore Schools Superintendent Wayne Riesen said there were 632 students in the program in September, up from the 503 in September 2008.

"Without a doubt it's the sign of the times," he said. "It might be a sign of more families with a hardship, More families with a job that has been lost. But that's all one can surmise."

In the Somonauk School District, there are 161 students in the program now, according to district officials. Last year, there were 120, according to the ISBE. In the Hiawatha School District, there are 209 students in the program, according to district officials. Last year, there were 185, according to the ISBE data.

For the first time at G-K schools, more than 30 percent of the students in the district are receiving a free or reduced lunch, Genoa-Kingston Superintendent Scott Wakeley said. There were 674 students receiving one this year on Sept. 30, as opposed to 530 on Sept. 30, 2008.

"I think it's because of the economy and some people who have not accessed, even though they may have qualified, they are more readily willing to take support they are entitled too," Wakeley said. "The whole nation is hurting financially. It has reduced a little bit of stigma."

But several administrators also cautioned that there are many reasons that could be causing the uptick.

Sondgeroth and Riesen noted the numbers fluctuate every month, and that it is difficult to compare from year to year because of enrollment changes. And Schyvincht pointed out that there are more students attending all-day kindergarten in DeKalb Schools, which means more students qualify for the program than before.

A change in rules automatically provides a free lunch to the children of families that qualify for food stamps, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture. And food stamp usage is up, according to the USDA.

Children from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free meals; for the 2009-2010 academic year, 130 percent of the poverty level is $28,665 for a family of four, according to the program's Web site. Children from families with incomes between 130 percent to 185 percent of the poverty level – which is $40,793 for a family of four – qualify for a reduced-price meal.

The lunches must meet federal nutrition requirements, such as no more than 30 percent of the calories come from fat and less than 10 percent can come from saturated fat, according to the Web site.

"In some kids cases, this is the most nutritious and best meal they may get during the day," Wakeley said. "That does make a difference for our kids."

Families in the program receive other benefits as well. Those receiving a free meal also can have other fees waived, Wakeley and Schyvincht said. At DeKalb Schools, students receiving a reduced lunch can get many of their fees halved, Schyvincht said.