Jean Kish, Goodrich School District Food Service Director says their story is all too frequent.
‘Both parents are laid off from work, neither one is sure when they may be called back,? said Kish. ?’We need some help with lunches for our children,? they say. It’s just a sign of times.?
With an enrollment of about 2,185 students, the Goodrich School District food service prepares, under the direction of Kish, about 1,200 lunches each school day. The lunches range in cost from $1.75 to $2.50 per student, depending on the meal they select. To assist families with lower incomes students, may be eligible through state assistance, depending on income of their household for free or reduced school lunches.
The number of students receiving free and reduced lunches in the Goodrich District has doubled in just two years, said Kish.
According to the Goodrich school report in 2007, the number of lunches increased from 158 to 251 in 2008. Today, free and reduced lunches top 340, or about 15 percent of the student population. In Genesee County, 40 percent of all students received free and reduced lunches. In Oakland County, 23.3 percent receive free and reduced lunches. Statewide, 37 percent of all students receive free and reduced lunches.
‘It’s more than doubled in just two years,? said Kish. ‘We’ve made it a seamless process and kept it very personal’it can be very embarrassing for students.?
Kish added that those receiving food stamps are directly certified for free and reduced lunches. In 2009, a total of 178 students qualified directly.
‘It’s hard to believe that 13 years ago we had 42 students qualify for free and reduced lunches.?