student meal debt
State budget set to raise eligibility for free lunches, still falls short of universal free lunch
Changes made to the budget by the Ohio House would bring more funding to school districts to feed students, but it’s not what school nutritionists asked for, which would feed everyone and remove the stigma of hunger. The budget is now making its way through the Ohio Senate after House changes added provisions in the […]
Student hunger is pervasive in Ohio
Student hunger looks different in every school district in Ohio, but legislative intervention could resolve the issues, from the funding gap to the stigma attached to meal support, advocates say. Districts across the state have held fundraisers to pay down unpaid meal accounts, and alternatives to hot meals are available, often in the form of […]
Schools districts plead for universal lunch amid budget talks
Daryn Guarino had to tell a six-year-old girl she couldn’t eat lunch. At Athens County’s Alexander Local School District, Guarino spends his days creating recipes, building menus and serving food to the students. But his job isn’t so enjoyable on Wednesdays. “On Wednesdays, I become a debt collections agent, and I chase the parents of […]