School boards consider impact of free meals law

Free school breakfast and lunch will return to schools this fall under a bill signed by Gov. Tim Walz.
The Free School Meals for Kids was signed March 17 with details still being released on how the state-funded program will work.
All kindergarten through 12th-grade students will receive the regular breakfast and lunch meals for free.
Students will continue to pay for extra helpings and other a la carte items under the program.
Both Luverne and Hills-Beaver Creek school district officials have responded favorably to the legislation, which goes into effect July 1.
“Free school breakfasts and lunches are a great benefit for those families in need,” said H-BC Superintendent Todd Holthaus.
However, there is some uncertainty about how the program will affect other state aid to districts.
Luverne Superintendent Craig Oftedahl said districts receive compensatory aid based on the number of students signed up for the free and reduced meal program.
Without this information, Oftedahl said it is uncertain how the aid will continue to be dispensed.
For two years, during the coronavirus pandemic, both breakfast and lunch were free, paid for by federal funds.
The free federal program ended this school year. Since then, many districts have experienced an increase in unpaid breakfast and lunch balances.
Luverne’s unpaid balance has grown to more than $33,000.
Holthaus said his district’s unpaid balance isn’t that large.
“H-BC is quite fortunate in that our families pay for their lunches,” he said. “We also have a number of outside groups donate toward families that have a need and fall behind.”
During the pandemic, school districts were reimbursed monthly for their food service costs.
Under the new program, the state will reimburse districts what federal funds don’t cover.
For officials who supported the free meal program, it helps budget-strapped families and eliminates the stigma students felt under the previous free and reduced meal program.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan attended the March 17 bill signing.
“By providing free breakfast and lunch to all students, we are removing the stigma in the lunchroom, helping family pocketbooks, investing in the health and well-being of our children, and ensuring that no student goes hungry for any reason,” she said.