SCHOOL MEALS: State should pay for it
Coeur d'Alene Press | UPDATED 3 years, 3 months AGO
I’m sorry to see the termination of free federal government school breakfasts and lunches.
The complete breakdown of costs for breakfasts and lunches for the district can be found at cdaschoolsnutrition.com. For elementary school children the monthly cost is $60 for lunch and $38 for breakfast for a total cost of $98/month. Families with income limitations can sign up for reduced cost or free breakfasts and lunches for their children.
As stated in the school district’s nutrition webpage, “Children need healthy meals to learn.” Because of the importance of good nutrition for students’ health and learning ability, I would like to see the school district add the total cost of student breakfasts and lunches to their annual budget. This has been done in other school districts.
The reason for Idaho school district override levies is to make up for lack of school funding by the Idaho Legislature. The Idaho state tax revenue surplus is now close to $2 billion. The Legislature, in their upcoming special session on how to spend some of this surplus, should consider covering the cost of school breakfasts and lunches for Idaho school districts.
MARK WEADICK
Coeur d’Alene