Oklahoma City (KFOR) – It’s almost time for school districts across the state to return to the classroom, which for some means a return of stress about paying for school lunches.
“This is a big problem statewide, countrywide,” said State Senator Jessica Garvin (Republican, Duncan). “The family is in a difficult situation right now.”
That’s a problem many Oklahoma families and government officials have had since the pandemic’s free meal program ended last June.
During the two years at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program allowed every student in the country to eat free in public school cafeterias. Ended in June 2022.
Students must qualify for a free lunch this semester.
“You must be below the poverty line of 185% to be eligible for the discounted lunch,” said President Chris Benard. Oklahoma without hunger. “Families beyond that are still suffering…until solutions are found that can actually help those people, I think we will continue to be in debt for school meals at a higher rate than before the pandemic.” .”
Benard explained that the end of Universal Free Meal has caused a surge in outstanding lunch debt. Even now, many eligible people forget to fill out the application form.
Last month, the Marlow School District in southwestern Oklahoma told KFOR it owed thousands of dollars from families who didn’t pay for school meals.
Superintendent Corey Holland said the school district has more than $20,000 in lunch debt. The debt is financed by about 450 children, about a quarter of the student population, he said.
Other districts received more than double that amount, Garvin said.
In the last session, she co-authored a bill that would entitle an additional 150,000 students to free meals by raising the poverty line from 185% to 250%.
“It will allow more children to qualify for the program and more families to qualify for the program,” Sen Garvin said. “It’s going to provide state funding to bridge the gap and to school districts.”
The bill was defeated in the last Senate session, but Garvin is optimistic that lawmakers will be hungry for a solution in the future.
Oklahoma without hunger Many families are unaware of this, he added. do It is subject to the lunch discount. Application forms can be completed on the district’s website. It only takes a few minutes to complete.
