Count Portage Township Schools among the “kids eat free” crowd.
Breakfast and lunch are free of charge for students. “Kids’ bellies are full before going to class,” Superintendent Amanda Alaniz told the School Board.
“This is a great thing for our kids and our families,” School Board President Andy Maletta said.
Students consume more whole grains, milk, fruit and vegetables, board Vice President Wilma Vazquez said. Attendance and test scores are better, too.
The board approved meal pricing for 2024-25 last week, setting adult meal prices at $2.85 for breakfast and $5 for lunch, “still very affordable,” Alaniz said.
School district communications director Melissa Deavers-Lowe said not charging students for breakfast and lunch has increased participation and eliminated school lunch debt. “Our parents appreciate it. With the rising cost of groceries and such, it’s just one less thing,” she said.
Before the district began offering free meals, school lunch debt was more than $86,000. “We will take on that badge of honor and take on that debt as needed,” Alaniz said.
In the past, kids who didn’t have lunch money had their trays taken away and were given a supplemental meal instead, Maletta said. “It just brought us board members to tears.”
“It’s a terrible thing,” he said. “I’m just so proud of what our district is able to do for our kids.”
“I appreciate, from the bottom of my heart, all the work that went into these programs,” Maletta said.
Students give input on what they prefer to have on the menu, Vazquez said.
“Our service team is very inspired by best practices in their field,” Alaniz said.
This isn’t the school cafeteria operation their parents might remember; selecting foods off a rack is more appealing, so a grab-and-go approach like in a convenience store has been implemented, Alaniz said.
Milk has to be offered to students, but they don’t have to take it if they don’t want it, eliminating waste.
Students can still bring their lunch, Vazquez said.
Food insecurity is not always that visible, Alaniz said. Not having to pack lunches or buy meals is a significant savings for families. “No food shaming for any kid. You just get up there and you are absolutely welcome to have the meal of your choice,” she said.
“We have over 700 students with allergies,” Alaniz said.
A few years ago, Alaniz shadowed a student with severe food allergies at Kyle Elementary School. Food preparation has to be done in a separate location, completely sealed up, for this student.
Professional development and an “absolute fail-proof” process ensure kids can have their needs met without triggering allergies, she said.
Other options are offered for kids with allergies and kids without allergies to exercise their normal preferences.
“The allergies is huge, but they have it under control,” Alaniz said. “I could not believe the operation they have.”
In other business, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Hub Coalition of Porter County and the Porter County Sheriff’s Department to notify schools when there’s trauma in a child’s home. That allows schools to treat students appropriately, given their home situation.
“It’s just another great example of all of us coming together for that network of care for kids and families so they’re all handled with care,” Alaniz said.
Other districts will be participating in this, too.
“It is not to say that we are learning all the ins and outs of the situation,” Alaniz said. “When children have trauma, we just may need to know hey, there’s trauma, and not all the details.”
“This is a matter of a safety net, not exposing families’ trauma unnecessarily,” she said.
The board approved a separate memorandum of understanding with the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Northwest Indiana. The club is seeking a state grant to help students having difficulty in school.
Doug Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.