President Bush Makes Move to Streamline Free Lunch Programs

Monroe (LA) News-Star ^ | 02-04-03 | Wilson, Lynette

[Theodore R.]

There may be no free lunch for some.

A component of President George Bush's budget seeks more paperwork up front for children who want free or reduced breakfasts and lunches.

The administration contends too many children are getting free meals because school districts don't check them out enough.

[Theodore R.]

Isn't it true that many liberal school dministrators "encourage" people to sign up for free lunches because this brings additional revenue to the particular school? Are not school districts at a disadvantage if they check the financial credentials of the applicants? Also is not the quality and taste of institutionalized food a problem here? Notice that in LA 58 percent are on free or reduced-priced lunch.

[petuniasevan]

Watch for the old "Republicans are trying to starve kids" hue and cry.

Never are the parents held accountable for not feeding their children. I've seen some of the bad cases; the adults are tubs o' lard but the kids are skinny/dirty/lousy/hungry.

Plus there is NO SUCH THING as a free lunch. Whoever gets their lunch without paying is making someone else pay for them.

[anniegetyourgun]

Ask yourself....do you believe that over half of families in LA are below the poverty line? The fraud in this system is incentivized (sorry to use that made-up-word) by the proportionate increases in funding per enrollee. I'm glad to see it questioned.

Now comes the obligatory posters who think the entire program should be eliminated, along with public schools, along with welfare, along with food stamps, and so on and so on. While I might agree with some of them in principle and reality, let me turn your thread back over to reality now......

[Texan5]

Indeed-"Free lunch" is almost an oxymoron.

[OldFriend]

A particular percentage of 'free lunch' students triggers all kinds of extra financial aid to the school. There is no mechanism to verify the need at all. This is just one more boondoggle that inhales our tax dollars and returns absolutely nothing of value to the community.

[MomwithHope]

This will be a good policy and no different than cutting waste in other government programs. You can bet the liberals will scream about it, and schools will say it is demeaning to ask for more information from the parents. Like the old give them a credit card for food stamps mentality.

[Columbine]

The way the system works if parents choose to lie on their applications there is very little the school district can do about it even if they are aware.

There is a midyear random audit procedure that catches a few but it's a typical government program. Even if the schools really try hard they can't prevent abuse and it's a nuisance to a school district. The only reason they even tolerate it is because other funding is based on it.

On the other hand there really are kids in this country who do not have food at home regularly. I've been involved in the administration of such a program and I've seen them. Perhaps the argument should be made that they don't belong with parents that don't take care of them but that opens an even more expensive can of worms.

[Iscool]

How can anyone whine about feeding American kids when our gov gives hundreds of billions of our tax dollars to foreign governments??? And not a peep from anyone...

[ClearCase_guy]

For many, breakfast and lunch are the only two meals they eat a day, she said.

This smells of Urban Legend. How many kids in America are not fed by their families at all? If there are any at all, I would say the parent (almost certainly single) has substance abuse problems or mental illness problems. If the kid never receives a meal at home, than the problem is deeper than economics. But hey, it's a neat sound bite.

[Salvation]

**The administration contends too many children are getting free meals because school districts don't check them out enough.**

From someone who works in the schools -- parents fill out a form stating name, date, address, contacts, and income as of last year. I have no idea as to whether it is ever checked because in our district they all go directly to the "food service" contractor.

I really doubt that there is any verification of the stated facts. Hmmmmmmmm.

[jimt]

The administration contends too many children are getting free meals because school districts don't check them out enough.

The administration is WRONG ! The school districts don't check them out AT ALL.

The districts receive extra money for each kid on free lunch. Some programs are totally contingent on a number of free lunch kids.

When I see the parents driving new cars dropping their kids off for "free breakfast" at the elementary school across the street, it irritates me to no end.

There SHOULD be a stigma associated with not feeding your child, and relying on everyone else to take care of your responsibilities. There are way, way too many parasites on this program. Certain "parents" need "freeloader" or "parasite" tattooed on their forehead.

This is one subject that positively makes me froth at the mouth due to the rampant abuse.

[robertpaulsen]

"While I might agree with some of them in principle and reality"

That should about cover it. Where wouldn't you agree?

[lonestar]

"Free lunch" is the universal language.

[Dianna]

The districts receive extra money for each kid on free lunch. Some programs are totally contingent on a number of free lunch kids.

This is an outstanding idea. Not only will it reduce the cost of the lunch program, but it looks like it will reduce other costs to schools that we should never have been paying.

Schools will scream, but they scream anyway...

[JimVT]

A component of President George Bush's budget seeks more paperwork up front for children who want free or reduced breakfasts and lunches

Doesn't look like anyone is trying to kill the program...just get more evidence that certain parents are eligible for it.

[robertpaulsen]

"Stephanie Weaver, child nutrition specialist for Monroe City Schools, said,.... "The bottom line is you've got to feed the children and get them to school safely."

No you don't, Stephanie. The parents have to feed the children and get them to school safely.

Cereal for breakfast and a peanut butter sandwich for lunch got me through school, and we didn't need a "child nutrition specialist" (costing the school district how much?) setting up breakfast and lunch for us.

[ez]

My child receives free lunch at school. In order to qualify, I was asked to write the names of my family and my annual income on a sheet of paper. There was no effort made to checkwhat I wrote down, and limits I needed to be "under" were clearly marked on the application.

There is no system in place in MY school district to determine whether those receiving free lunch are telling the truth on their application (I did...)

[Conservababe]

How bout just eliminating the school provided lunch altogether. Children can bring their own lunch to school from home. And yes, the parents would be responsible for packing whatever they could afford in lunchboxes.

Many private and parochial schools still do this and the kids like it just fine.

[The Other Harry]

Cereal for breakfast and a peanut butter sandwich for lunch got me through school, and we didn't need a "child nutrition specialist" (costing the school district how much?) setting up breakfast and lunch for us.

Yes indeedy. I remember those days well.

[mikenola]

I thought i remembered that when the liberals started this program , the argument went "it's the only *nutritious* meal" the kids get during the day. I wouldn't be bothered too much by the school lunch, if it weren't for the fact that most of the school seem to be serving basically junk anyways.