School officials in Alexandria, Osakis, B-E discuss potential impact of free lunches

ALEXANDRIA — A bill is currently being discussed in the state Legislature that would provide universal no-cost meals to students statewide.

Representatives from area school districts say that, if passed, this legislation could have positive impacts on the schools.

"Universal meals would allow nutrition staff to focus on preparing and serving healthy meals and eliminate the significant financial burden for school districts and families," Janeen Peterson, food and nutrition services director for the Alexandria School District, wrote in an email. "Universal meals could also reduce the stigma or shame that students on meal benefits often feel. This stigma can often lead to students not eating meals, which then puts them at an even further disadvantage."

Randy Bergquist, superintendent for the Osakis School District, also wrote in an email that the legislation would "definitely benefit all students and their families."

Among the positives are the fact that the district would not have to deal with lunch debt, and that the students wouldn't have to worry about whether they have enough money for lunch, according to Bergquist.

All Minnesota schools currently have free and reduced-price lunch programs, which are based on the percentage of families who qualify, Bergquist wrote.

Parents fill out the forms in a confidential process and the state determines if the families qualify, Bergquist added.

Louisa Glenetske, superintendent of the Brandon-Evansville School District, wrote in an email that filling out these forms is important for the district.

"While families tend to complete these applications to receive free meals, the benefits to the school district are much greater than that. These applications are used to determine other critical funding the district can receive," she wrote.

Currently, 25% of the Alexandria district's population qualifies for free meals, and 8% qualify for reduced meals, Peterson wrote.

"These numbers fluctuate throughout the year based on families' financial needs," she noted.

In Osakis, 41% of the students currently qualify for free and reduced prices, according to Bergquist.

In Brandon-Evansville, the current number is 36%, Glenetske said. Last year, when lunches were free, the number was 20%, she added.

The universal lunch proposal, HF5, was heard last month in the House Education Policy Committee.

The committee approved the bill via a voice vote, sending it to the House Education Finance Committee.

The bill would require schools to participate in a federal program called the Community Eligibility Provision, which allows schools to provide meals to all students, regardless of family income.

Funds from the federal government reimburse most costs to school districts under CEP. The bill would require state funds to pick up the remainder.