5 things: Farm Bill could reduce those receiving free school meals

Each Friday I compile a list that highlights five things you probably missed in the news that week and why you should care about them.

Here’s your list for the week of April 30:

1. Farm Bill could cut free school meals

The version of the Farm Bill moving through the House would cut the number of children receiving free or reduced-priced meals at schools by 8 percent, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Fiscal Bureau. The report found that nearly 24,000 students would no longer be automatically enrolled in the subsided school meal program under the bill. The reason: A lower income threshold at which families are automatically enrolled in the program at the same time they are approved for food stamps.

Read more: Democrats: 23K children at risk of losing school lunch subsidy under House Farm Bill

2. Boston not meeting school breakfast goals

Last fall Boston Schools’ superintendent promised to triple the number of schools offering free breakfast in the classrooms, but that goal hasn’t been met. A recently released report found that nearly no progress has been made, and slightly less than half of the district’s students are eating breakfast in the classroom. Boston is hardly alone, with only 53 percent of Massachusetts students in high-poverty districts eating the morning meal in the classroom.

Read more: Boston makes little progress on school breakfast goal

3. Dead mouse found in college meal

A student at Missouri State University reportedly found a dead mouse in a salad he got from a dining hall. The dining services team, managed by Chartwells, said it would take immediate action and was calling in the health department. 

Read more: Dead mouse found in MSU dining hall meal

4. UC Santa Cruz dining workers plan strike
Dining service workers at UC-Santa Cruz are planning to strike from May 7 to May 9, joining other union members who drive buses and maintain facilities. The union says the strike comes following several years of stalled contract negotiations and a recent report that found women and minority workers were paid less than their white male counterparts. Dining Services is preparing prepackaged food in preparation for the strike and is asking resident assistants to help open the dining facilities so students have access to microwaves and hot water.

Read more: UCSC service workers to join systemwide strike

5. School changed unpaid meal policy
The Framingham (Mass.) School District changed its unpaid meal policy after a high school student had his meal taken away when he did not have enough money in his account to pay. The district has now decided not to withhold meals from students who can’t pay for them. It’s unclear if the previous policy was to offer an alternative meal or not. The cost of feeding students with unpaid meal account is estimated to be around $30,000.

Read more: Framingham Students Left Hungry After Being Denied Lunch At School

Bonus: Vegan “meats” prove popular for California district

Contact Becky Schilling at [email protected].
Follow her on Twitter: @bschilling_FM