Summer lunch program

The State of Illinois passed a law in February saying that all school districts hosting a summer school program and who have at least half their students qualifying for free or reduced lunches must provide free lunches for all community members under the age of 18. Here in the local district, summer school started today and so did the program.

Back when the program was announced, administrators around here had several concerns. One was, obviously — and especially in a state which can’t pay its bills on time — funding of the program. In talking to the assistant superintendent for finance on Friday, he said that the intent of the program was to be fully-funded, especially if the district sticks with a fairly modest cold lunch, so that’s looking as if it was settled.

Another concern was logistics in feeding both the students at summer school (which serves kids from first through fifth grades who are in danger of not meeting grade equivalency) and members of the general community. Administrators worried about mixing the younger students (and the younger members of the general public) with the older kids, who could get rowdy. So, the solution was to give the summer school students their lunches in the classroom (making it a working lunch so as not to lose instruction time) and give the general public the multi-purpose room. I’ll check up on how this is going in a week or so, once people settle into a routine.

I believe in this program, because kids shouldn’t have to suffer if their parents can’t provide, and anything is better than the McDonald’s processed food they can pick up within walking distance of almost any home in this city. But, I also think it puts an unfair burden on our schools to provide extra services on their already strapped budgets. Luckily, it’s looking as if this will be fully-funded, but that has yet to be seen.

I just hope this can remain under the control of state funding and the state doesn’t dump any more of its financial problems on the districts.