Vermillion board votes to send letter supporting state bill to make reduced-price meals free
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Summary
Board member Ryan urged the Vermillion School Board to sign a letter backing House Bill 1082, which would make meals free for students who now qualify for reduced-price lunches and reimburse districts; the board voted to send a letter despite some members voicing budgetary concerns.
The Vermillion School Board voted Feb. 9 to send a letter in support of House Bill 1082, a state proposal to make school meals free for students who currently qualify for reduced-price lunches and to have the State Department of Education reimburse districts for the cost.
Board member Ryan, who presented a draft letter to colleagues, said the bill recently passed the House Education Committee 13–1 and is pending a hearing before the House Appropriations Committee. He said the change would likely save struggling families roughly $10 per student per month and urged the board to add its voice to other districts that have already submitted endorsement letters.
"As a taxpayer and as a parent, I can't think of many better uses of my tax dollars than to help ensure that more of our students are able to focus on learning rather than hunger," Ryan said.
Board members discussed fiscal and practical concerns before voting. Finance discussion noted that Vermillion currently has roughly 50–60 students who qualify for reduced-price meals; members asked how the state reimbursement mechanism would work and whether the change could reduce other forms of education funding. District administrators explained that if the legislation passes the state would implement a monthly reimbursement process and the district would file for reimbursement to the food-service fund.
Some trustees said they preferred individual board members to send personal letters rather than place district letterhead behind a split vote; others argued an official district letter carries greater weight. After discussion, the motion to send a district letter proceeded and passed.
The board did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript of the vote; minutes and any finalized letter will reflect the board's official signatures and wording.
Next steps: the board directed staff to circulate Ryan's draft for final edits and to forward the board-endorsed letter to the state committee as arranged.