Kansas school district opts out of free-meals program again

The state’s largest school district has again opted not to participate in a federal program that allows some schools to offer free meals to all students at no cost to their families.

Wichita district officials say paperwork required by the state for at-risk funding would be burdensome and would negate one of the program’s biggest selling points.

“We determined that it was not in our best interest to move forward,” said Darren Muci, director of operations for Wichita schools.

In April, the district’s director of nutrition services said his staff was considering implementing the free-meals program at Hamilton Middle School and five elementary schools: Gardiner, Harry Street, Park, Stanley and Washington.

Since then, Muci said, the district has sought guidance from the Kansas State Department of Education about logistics and decided against starting the program.

“Assuming there were no roadblocks, this program certainly appears to be a tremendous benefit,” Muci said. “But we’re continuing to see, unfortunately, that the devil’s in the details with regard to how it can function in Kansas.”

The Community Eligibility Provision, a piece of the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, was available to Kansas districts for the first time last year. Wichita officials opted not to apply. A handful of districts, including Topeka, Hutchinson and Kansas City, Kan., participated.

The program gives schools in high-poverty areas the option to serve free breakfast and lunch to all students at no cost to families, no questions asked. Groups that advocate against childhood hunger say it would help ensure that more Kansas children have access to two healthy meals while they’re at school.