Waukesha School District Opts Out Of Lunch Program, Rally Planned

Editor's Note: This article has been corrected to clarify that the Waukesha School Board opted to return to the National School Lunch Program at its June meeting, instead of continuing to use waivers that it had been using under the Summer Food Service Program to provide free meals through the 2021-2022 school year. At a special August meeting, the board reversed its decision and moved forward with using the waivers for the Seamless Summer Option.

WAUKESHA, WI—The Waukesha Board of Education opted out of a federal program in June that gives all students free lunch. Waukesha was the only district in the state to opt out.

Now concerned parents are responding with a rally.

A rally is planned from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Friday in front of the district office, 222 Maple Ave.

Parents and community members have opposed the school board's June 9 decision to opt out of using waivers to continue providing free meals without income requirements to all students for the entirety of the school year. Waukesha was the only district in the state to opt out of the federal program. The waiver for the 2021-22 school year was for the Seamless Summer Option, typically only available when school is not session but had been extended due to the pandemic. Previously, the school district had been using the waivers for the Summer Food Service Program.

During the June meeting, Joseph Como Jr., president of the school board, said the topic of school lunches was part of normalization following the pandemic.

Another board member said free meals was a big problem.

"I had three kids, I had them and so I'm going to feed them. I feel like that's the responsibility of the adult," Karin Rajnicek, a board member said. "I feel like this is a big problem, and it’s really easy to get sucked into and become spoiled and think, it’s not my problem any more, it’s everyone else’s problem to feed my children."

Darren Clark, assistant superintendent for business services, said there could be a “slow addiction” to the service.

Instead, the board in June chose to take part in the federal National School Lunch Program, a federally assisted meal program that requires parents to complete a form and provide income information in order to qualify for free or reduced cost meals.

An email was sent to staff on Tuesday that explained the decision.

During the 2020-'21 school year, the district participated in the Summer Food Service Program. When the district decided to take part in that program in 2020, families were no longer required to complete forms to receive free or reduced-price meals.

The low levels of applications and participation may interrupt not only a student's ability to access meals, but might also lead to the defunding of instructional programs that assist students, the district said. The total number of applications for free or reduced lunches in the 2019-'20 school year was 606. In 2020-'21, it decreased to 297, according to the district.

In addition, the district said demand for the free meals fell.

The board is holding a special meeting to discuss the district's possible actions on federal lunch programs at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the district office, 222 Maple Ave.

Patch has partnered with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2021, about 42 million Americans may not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.