More applying for free, reduced-price school meals
| Thursday, Aug 27 2009 07:20 PM
Last Updated Thursday, Aug 27 2009 07:21 PM
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Free and reduced price meals, Kern County:
2008-09: 62.6 percent (of student enrollment)
2007-08: 60.4 percent
2006-07: 60.6 percent
California:
2008-09: 52.3 percent
2007-08: 50.2 percent
2006-07: 50.3 percent
Families can apply through their school district for free and reduced price meals at any time during the year if a job loss or other economic situation arises.
2009-10 eligibility: A family of four: free student meals if income is less than $28,665; reduced-price meals with an income below $40,793.
Over the past three years Fruitvale School District has experienced a 50 percent rise in applications for free and-reduced price meals.
This year a third of its 3,217 students meet the income-eligibility requirements that let them receive low-cost breakfast and lunch.
Neighboring Rosedale Union School District, which draws 4,200 students from some of the most affluent neighborhoods in Bakersfield, usually sees "only a couple" applications per year, said Superintendent Jamie Henderson.
This year the district got 10 applications, a small number but a big spike.
As school starts, many Bakersfield school districts are seeing a bigger number of applications for free and reduced price meals, another marker of Kern County's continuing economic woes.
"You can definitely tell the economy is hurting," said Kern High School District food services manager Sharon Briel, who looked over 20,041 applications for reduced-price meals this week -- a 9 percent rise over last year.
The district's biggest increase was in the "reduced price" meal category.
The district offers lunch to all students for $2.50 per day, breakfast for $1.50, and reduced price lunch for 40 cents. Breakfast, for those who qualify for reduced price meals, is free.
The 20,000-plus meal eligible students in KHSD represents 54 percent of district enrollment.
"It shows that families have lost part of their income, or taken substantial decreases, but they aren't yet in the free category," Briel said.
This year the Bakersfield City School District will serve about 4.2 million free or reduced price lunches and 1.9 million breakfasts to 23,000, or 87 percent, of its students.
That number hasn't changed from 2008-09, said spokesman Steve Gabbitas.
Families can apply in their school district for free and reduced price meals at any time during the year, if a job loss or other economic situation arises.
Every student taught by the Kern County Superintendent of Schools fills out an application, said food service manager Mason Hollingsworth, who predicted an increase in eligible students over last year based on the applications he'd received so far.
"Everything we do, we remain consistent, whether it's an up or downturn, we serve the same meals to all students," Hollingsworth said.
Fruitvale's business director, Robert Harte, said last year the district had quite a few instances where employment situations changed, and where a family member lost a job.
KHSD goes to great lengths to make its food appealing to students.
"I watch trends of what fast food is doing and modify its appearance," Briel said.
This week, the district piloted a nutritious take-off from Subway's chicken salad wrap, which came complete with cranberry, mayo and apples in a tortilla.
All signs point to a future lunch item.
"This program serves a very important purpose in protecting the health and well-being of Kern County's children," Briel said.
