PEABODY — The School Committee has decided to send letters to its federal and state government representatives to advocate for the renewal and reinstitution of universal free lunches.
“A lack of healthy nutrition has been proven to be a permanent detriment to the success of intellectual development and a definite detriment to educational success,” the letters said. “Physical and mental health is key to academic advances as well as to the overall health of our citizens.”
The letters were prepared by School Committee member Beverley Griffin Dunne. The rest of the committee unanimously approved sending them to President Joseph Biden, U.S. Sens. Edward J. Markey and Elizabeth Warren, U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, Gov. Charlie Baker, state Sen. Joan Lovely (D-Salem), and state Reps. Thomas Walsh (D-Peabody), and Sally Kerans (D-Danvers).
“They are basically the same language, encouraging our legislators, whether federal or state, to support the legislation before them, requiring that school meals be reimbursable and that the universal free school meal program continue,” said Griffin Dunne.
The universal free school meal program was introduced across the U.S. in March 2020 through federal waivers at the beginning of the pandemic. However, the waivers expire on June 30 and the $1.5 trillion needed to extend the program for a year was not included in the federal spending bill for fiscal year 2023.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. Josh Vadala said it was important to advocate for the program as it would be very challenging for Peabody, as a single school district, to afford universal free lunches.
Under the universal meal program, the district was reimbursed for the number of lunches it provided based on students’ designations. Designation options included free, reduced or full-price lunch, and the district received a specific allocation based on that, Vadala said.
“The anticipation is that a greater percentage of kids who receive free and reduced lunch actually (will) take free and reduced lunch,” said Vadala.
He also mentioned that the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee had reserved $110 million for universal free meals for all students next year in the House budget. The Senate still has to vote on the state budget.
“It is not 100 percent solidified yet,” said Vadala. “But this is a huge step forward. It was not in the governor’s budget.”
He commended the state for stepping up and leading the way among other states.
