1 Golden Bomber Dr.
Ilion, NY 13357
Sr. High: 315.895.7471
Jr. High: 315.895.7471
Fax: 315.895.5255
Principal
Asst. Principal
Jr.-Sr. high lunch prices rise 25 cents
Junior-Senior High School students returning to school in September will find the cost of a school lunch will be $2.25 in 2011-12. Elementary school lunch prices will remain unchanged at $1.50.
Food Service Director Barb Cristman had not wanted the change, but explained, "The increased cost is part of the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act. Under the new federal rules, schools must increase the price of a paid lunch until that price matches the federal reimbursement level for the meal.""
District officials elected to limit the increase to 25 cents, even though the government target is $2.46.
As a participant in the National School Lunch Program, Ilion must meet the government's standards regarding what the cafeteria charges.
The new rules require districts to more closely monitor their expenses to ensure that federal monies designated for school meals are not used to cover expenses not directly part of the food service program. According to the government's formula, the district needed to institute the 25-cent increase.
Mrs. Cristman understands that this could be a lot of money for many families.
"I encourage anyone who feels they may be eligible, to apply for free or reduced meals. If your total household income is the same or less than the amounts in the Income Eligibility Guidlelines, your children are eligible for fee or reduced price meals," she said.
That could make a big difference in these challenging times.
"A family with one elementary and one secondary school student who both eat school lunches 75 percent of the time would save over $500," she said.
Many families do not apply for free and reduced price meals
Far fewer families apply for the free and reduced price meal program than actually qualify.
Mrs. Cristman said there are generally two reasons.
First, parents and students worry that other children will know who gets free meals.
"Parents should not worry. Everything we do is completely confidential—from the application to the way children pay for their meals," she explained.
To protect students, the district uses a computerized debit system for school meals. Each time a student passes through the cafeteria line, a cashier simply enters the student's PIN number. If the student pays the full or reduced price for the meal, that amount is automatically deducted from the student's account. If the student receives free meals, the computer records the meal as served under the federal program. Because no money exchanges hands, no one knows how the student actually paid for the meal.
"I can't stress enough that no one, not even a child's teacher, will know how a child pays for his or her lunch," she said.
The second stumbling block said Mrs. Cristman is that some parents view the program as a handout.
"Our community is filled with hardworking people who don't earn decent wages. They are proud and aren't looking for charity," she said.
"We want them to understand that the goal is to make certain every child has a healthy, nutritious meal everyday. Research shows that kids who eat well are more likely to stay alert and active in school. And all parents want their kids to do well."
Click here for a free or reduced meal application (PDF).
Free or reduced counts toward school aid
In addition to helping students to perform better in school, the free and reduced price meal program impacts the district's state and federal school aid.
"New York school aid and federal grants are generally tied to need. One of the major factors in calculating that need is the percentage of students who qualify for free and reduced price lunches," said Superintendent Cosimo Tangorra, Jr.
"Unfortunately, qualifying families often do not complete an application. As a result, those families pay more for meals than they should; the district does not have an accurate measure of our local need; and we lose valuable aid that would improve our school programs."
He noted that families often apply when their children are young, but stop as the children move on to junior-senior high school. He believes that older students are more selfconscious and worry about the negative stereotypes associated with receiving free and reduced price meals.
In addition, high school students have the privilege of leaving the campus during their lunch periods. Many turn down the school lunch in favor of pizza or fast food from an area restaurant.
"The problem with those lunches is that they are usually high in calories and fat, and low in vitamins, fruits and vegetables," said Mrs. Cristman.
The cafeteria's challenge is to find foods kids like and are good for them.
"I've heard some kids say that they don't like school food. We are working hard to improve our quality and variety. We are using more fresh produce and following a state initiative to buy locally produced ingredients whenever possible", she said.
"That doesn't mean we're going to serve pizza and soda or chicken wings and fries for lunch. The federal government holds us to very high nutritional standards. Children who eat a school lunch are getting good food that helps develop a lifelong pattern of healthy eating."
Click here for a free or reduced meal application (PDF).
