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Politics & Government

More Students Need Help Paying for Breakfast and Lunch

Parkland School District had an 11 percent increase in families eligible for free and reduced price lunches and a 77 percent increase in students seeking breakfast.

The number of Parkland students eligible for free and reduced price lunches increased 11 percent in the past year, according to information presented Monday to the school board's .

A total of 1,406 students were eligible in October, compared to 1,268 students in October 2010, Parkland's Director of Food Services, Todd Holmes, told the committee.

Also, he said, the number of Parkland students who have taken advantage of breakfast programs in the district’s eight elementary schools, Springhouse and Orefield middle schools and Parkland High School increased 77 percent in the past year.

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The numbers “probably are not very surprising with the economy,” said Holmes, who presented the information in a report to the committee. 

"It shows the demographics are changing in our district, which I think everyone knows,” he said.

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Following the meeting, Holmes said families can apply for free and reduced price lunches via a federal government application process. Household incomes and household sizes are the two main factors that determine a family’s eligibility.

For example, a family of four that has a household income of $41,348 would receive reduced price lunch benefits for their children. A family of four with an income of $29,055 would be able to receive free lunches for their children.

The school district tracks the number of free and reduced price lunches each month and submits a claim for reimbursement.

Some of the largest increases were in the following schools: , 36 percent; Ironton Elementary, 31 percent; , 24 percent; , 16 percent; , 15 percent; , 12 percent; and , 11 percent.

Two schools had fewer students eligible for free and reduced lunches this October compared to a year ago: Kernsville Elementary, a 12 percent decrease; and , a 1 percent decrease.

Holmes said he doesn’t know why those two schools had fewer eligible students. However, he said, “My guess is that there was a larger number of fifth grade eligible students that graduated to the middle schools. Just a guess.”

The national school breakfast program is sponsored by the federal and state government. It's available to all students in grades one through 12. Breakfast costs $1.10 for students who pay full price for lunches. It costs 30 cents for students who receive reduced price lunches, and is free for students who are eligible for free lunches.

The menu includes whole grain muffins, fresh fruit, milk, pancakes, bagels, yogurt, fruit juice, and whole grain cereal, depending on the day.

The three largest increases in the number of students participating in the breakfast program were at the following schools: Orefield Middle School, from 45 to 181 students; Parkway Manor Elementary, from 240 to 488 students; and Springhouse Middle School, from 207 to 404 students.

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