Free, reduced price lunch may help ease financial woes for eligible parents

With the recently revised income allowances for the federal free and reduced price meal program, more families will be eligible for the savings. Photo illustration

As monetary concerns rise due to the economy and unemployment, one way for eligible parents to save a little money is to sign their children up for the free and reduced price meals program at their child's school.

The free and reduced price meals program is a federal program aimed at helping ensure that children can obtain a healthy meal at school.

Although several families in southern Dunklin County may qualify, school districts believe there are more families who could benefit from the program if they would simply sign up.

At the Kennett School District, 65 percent of the students are on free or reduced lunches. The regular price for lunch at Kennett is $1 per day for grades kindergarten through fifth, and $1.10 per day for seventh-grade and above, with reduced-price students paying only 40 cents per day.

At the Senath-Hornersville School District, 65 percent of the students are on free or reduced lunches. The regular price for lunch at Senath-Hornersville is $1.25 per day, with reduced-price students paying only 40 cents per day.

At the Southland School District, 79 percent of the students are on free or reduced lunches. The regular price for lunch at Southland is $1 per day, with reduced-price students paying only 50 cents per day.

At the Holcomb School District, 56 percent of the students are on free or reduced lunches. The regular price for lunch at Holcomb is $1 per day for elementary students and $1.25 per day for high school students, with reduced-price students paying only 40 cents per day.

At the Gideon School District, 66 percent of elementary students and 59 percent of high school students are on free or reduced lunches. The regular price for lunch at Gideon is $1.40 per day for grades kindergarten through sixth and $1.50 per day for seventh-grade and above, with reduced-price students paying only 40 cents per day.

When asked why he thought people who may qualify for free or reduced lunches do not sign up for the program, Gideon Superintendent Dr. David Hollingshead said, "We have pondered that question over and over and over again. [The program] benefits the individual and the school. We get additional funding for students who do qualify for free and reduced lunches."

"I think there is a stigma that should not be there," Hollingshead said, adding that there is no way for anyone to find out who is or is not enrolled in the program.

Raymond Lasley, superintendent of Southland Schools, said, "I cannot understand [why those who may qualify do not sign up]. There is no way for anybody to tell. There is no stigma attached but a lot of kids won't sign up for [the program], especially high school kids. I assume they are afraid there will be [a stigma attached]. [The program] is a benefit to the school because if they eat, they will do better in school.

"We try to get [the students] to [sign up]. It is a benefit to the parents, it is a benefit to the kids, and it is a benefit to the school."

At the recent Senath-Hornersville Board of Education meeting, the topic of the number of students on free and reduced price meals was briefly discussed. Board member Dana Autry questioned as to why more students were not enrolled in the program. The general consensus from the board and school administration was that many of the families who qualify may look at the program as a "hand out."

Autry said there must be several families who are not signed up, because his family, with both he and his wife working full-time, barely exceeds the monetary guidelines.

New guidelines went into effect on July 1, 2009. The new guidelines are as follows:

Household size-Maximum Annual Household Income Eligible for Free Meals-Maximum Annual Household Income Eligible for Reduced Price Meals:

1 - $14,079 - $20,036

2 - $18,941 - $26,955

3 - $23,803 - $33,874

4 - $28,665 - $40,793

5 - $33,527 - $47,712

6 - $38,389 - $54,631

7 - $43,251 - $61,550

8 - $48,113- $68,469

Each Additional Member - $4,862 - $6,919

According to the program, family/household means a group of people who may or may not be related and who do not live in an institution or a boarding house, but who are living as one economic group. Students who are temporarily away at school should be counted as members of the family; however, students who are full-time residents of an institution are considered a family of one.

The program also says that income means income before deductions for income taxes, employee's social security taxes, insurance premiums, charitable contributions, bonds, and other withholdings. Income does not include any income or benefits received under any federal program.

With the change in maximum annual household income, more families could be eligible for the free and reduced price meals program. School districts hope the families will take advantage of the program, as it benefits the district and the families involved.