The Washington Community School Board approved changes to nutrition and activity fees and discussed the expiration of the USDA’s free breakfast and lunch program during their recent meeting.

The only activity fee change was a $5 increase for seniors to $40, which is still half the price of an adult pass. Lunch fees increased by five cents to $3 for students and $4 for adults, and breakfast increased by a dime to $1.60 for students and adults. The board reviewed statistics for the district’s students, as five percent of students this school year were homeless and 50% of students were registered for the free or reduced lunch program. As the USDA’s free breakfast and lunch program that has been provided to all students through the pandemic is set to expire on June 30th, Board Member Troy Suchan expressed concern for families who haven’t yet signed up for free or reduced lunch, “What I’m afraid of, they’re not going to apply for it and they’re not going to budget to pay for it or they’re not going to pay for it, one way or the other. So I feel like there’s going to be a really bad transition because it’s something that up until this pandemic had been forever, and now all of a sudden it’s gone. They don’t have to worry about it and then all of a sudden it’s going to drop back on them.”

Superintendent Willie Stone assured that students will be given lunch no matter what, and Curriculum Director Veta Thode shared the importance for those who are eligible to sign up for free or reduced lunch, “That number not only impacts their access to lunches but it also impacts the support we get from the state. So it impacts our Title I dollars, it impacts a lot of other things. So it is a good thing for them to actually acknowledge it for their own help, but also the district.”

Stone said he plans to communicate with families over the summer about the free and reduced lunch program. The district also offers free summer lunches Monday through Friday for anyone 18 years old and younger from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Stewart Elementary in Washington from June 6th to August 5th. You can find more information on the summer lunch program here.