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Students urge Pennsbury to cancel lunch debt and expand free lunch; board says no student is denied food
Summary
Three Pennsbury High School students and community advocates asked the board to cancel student lunch debt and adopt universal free lunch, citing roughly $140,000 in district lunch debt. Administrators said students are not turned away and that the district is pursuing community eligibility for some schools and other measures to address outstanding balances.
Three Pennsbury High School students addressed the board May 21 asking officials to cancel student lunch debt and adopt universal free lunch across the district.
"No child should bear the burden of debt," said Gina, a junior at Pennsbury High School, who told the board students are asking for universal free lunch so every student has access to a meal regardless of income.
Andrew, another student speaker, said the district has about $140,000 in lunch debt and that Pennsbury High School alone carried about $90,000 as of Jan. 22; he said the district qualifies for the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) at current rates and urged wider adoption. "We qualify for it," he said, urging the board to pursue CEP for more schools.
Shannon, from the Pennsylvania Lunch Debt Cancellation Coalition, voiced support for the students and urged the board to follow other districts that have canceled lunch debt and pursued CEP to reduce stigma and ensure universal access.
Administrators responded that no student is denied a meal: food service personnel are instructed not to turn away students who cannot pay, and the district provides free breakfast to all students. The district said it receives donations (noted as Giant supermarket contributions) and that those funds are used to reduce outstanding balances. Officials said they have applied CEP for some schools and will continue to explore expanded eligibility.
Board members said they would investigate the specifics — including price points and program mechanics — and report back. One board member noted high-school lunch prices ($3.25) and said the district will clarify program participation and how outstanding debt is being addressed.
The student requests prompted both support and opposition from other speakers during public comment; opponents warned about fiscal impacts on taxpayers. The board pledged to look further into CEP expansion, existing donations used to reduce debt, and communication to students about how to access free or reduced-price meals.
