In a surprising move, a local school district has decided to withdraw from a federally funded program that provided free lunches to all students, regardless of their families’ financial situations. A board member expressed concerns that offering free meals might lead to children becoming “spoiled.”
The Waukesha School District’s board voted in June to revert to pre-pandemic policies, opting to limit the National School Lunch Program to only those students who qualify based on income and apply for the assistance. This decision came as the district turned down the USDA’s Seamless Summer Option, which offered free meals to every student through June 30, 2022.
Parent Mark Thompson, whose children never qualified for the program before the pandemic, voiced his disappointment over the decision. He believes maintaining the federal program would have improved community welfare. “Feeding kids is a straightforward way to enhance our city and foster connections among parents,” he stated. “We can work together to make Waukesha a better place to live.”
School board president Ryan Carter defended the decision by framing it as a step toward returning to a pre-COVID normal. “As we transition back to what we consider normal, we have choices to make,” Carter remarked at the board meeting, seemingly overlooking the ongoing health crisis. “This is part of our normalization process.”
However, many are questioning the rationale behind not ensuring that every child receives a meal at school. With nearly two years into this pandemic, one might wonder if the old normal should be the goal. After all, ensuring that children are fed should be a priority, as it alleviates stress for parents and diminishes any stigma attached to free or reduced-price lunches.
Board member Lisa Robinson echoed similar sentiments, stating that the free lunch program could lead to families becoming “spoiled,” while the district’s assistant superintendent voiced concerns over potential “addiction” to free meals. Addiction to food? It’s a troubling thought that in this day and age, there are those who believe providing meals at no cost could somehow spoil children.
Economist Emily Waters from the University of Pennsylvania argues that a universal free lunch program is actually beneficial, stating that it fosters inclusivity. “A universal approach diminishes disincentives that might arise from conditional programs,” she explained.
Carter has announced plans for a special meeting to discuss the National School Lunch Program and the Seamless Summer Option. One can only hope that the board recognizes that feeding children does not equate to spoiling them, and perhaps restore a sense of humanity to their decision-making.
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In summary, the decision by the Waukesha School District to opt-out of a universal free lunch program has sparked outrage among parents and advocates who believe that feeding all children should be prioritized over unfounded fears of spoiling. This ongoing debate highlights the need for compassion and understanding in addressing the needs of families during these challenging times.