BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Free lunch for all students. That’s what many community members called for at Monday night’s Bethlehem Area School District board meeting.
While the school district supports the idea, officials says it may not be financially possible.
“Please, do what you can to make sure all are welcome, and all are fed,” says one advocate.
Community pushes Bethlehem School District to offer free lunch for all students
Monday night’s school board meeting in Bethlehem saw more than a dozen pleas for free lunch for all of the district’s students.
“We tell them that attendance is important to success, but we do not fuel that attendance with food without incurring debt,” says another advocate.
The Lehigh Valley Democratic Socialists of America (LVDSA) wants to expand free lunch through the federal community eligibility provision program (CEP).
Several local clergy members are joining them in their efforts.
“I think it’d be an investment for our schools and for our children, I think it’s important,” says Jon Stratton, dean, Cathedral Church of The Nativity.
The district offers several low-cost or free programs for families, and says it maintains its commitment to ensuring that every student has access to meals each day.
A statement released by the district says in part, “Providing meals for all students is a goal we support, however, under current funding structures, programs like CEP do not cover the full cost for a district like BASD.”
The school’s superintendent says the program would result in shortfalls, totaling to around $500,000.
It’s a burden that could be picked up by taxpayers.
Advocates say the cost of what’s at stake is priceless.
“It’s worth the $10 per household in property taxes to feed the children of our entire school district,” says Rev. Steve Davis, senior pastor, St. John’s United Church of Christ.
The school board did not vote on the proposal Monday night. Any movement on the issue wouldn’t happen until the preliminary budget approval in May.