While attending a fundraising event put on by grocer RF Buche to go towards food security last night, Governor Larry Rhoden announced that he will be signing House Bill 1082, for the reimbursement of school districts that provide free or reduced-price meals to students:
Considering for those on a free or reduced lunch that the school might be providing the only meal, or the only hot meal that some kids may be receiving that day, it’s not a bad thing. And it helps schools.
Update – Oh! Shout out to Team Buche Cares for putting on the event it was announced at. Please support their mission to help reduce hunger & food insecurity in tribal and rural communities.
Finally a republican politician who cares about poor people.
Raising the sales tax to make it the most regressive? But sure think what you want.
The sales tax is going back to 4.5 after the sunset. It’s not a new tax.
Are you aware that the Federal government already reimburses those costs, for ELIGIBLE students?
The state is now going to feed the children who DON’T qualify, the kids whose parents can afford to pay their kids’ lunch bills but don’t bother to do it.
Pretty sure that’s false. Still need to qualify for free/reduced and fill out the form. This just moves the cost from the school district to the state.
Absolutely false. IF you fill out the paperwork, AND you qualify for reduced price meals (but not free) paid by the feds, THEN this bill covers the rest of the cost, which in many cases is now contributing to the uncollectible meal accounts schools carry on their books. I didn’t listen to the discussion, but I’m thinking this will be a great stress reliever for school lunch ladies and business managers, to say nothing about some hungry kids and parents.
wrong. if you can’t read the bill, maybe carley can recommend you a good eye doctor
Not sure that’s accurate BUT as long as the parents don’t pay for it and a kid is going hungry, I’m more than OK feeding that child.
Hey look! A lobotomized half-monkey learned how to type!
“From each according to his abilities, to each according to his needs”
Another win for deadbeat parents.
Kids must be educated by law. Public school is free. Lunch should be included in that education for all students.
No way do we insure all kids are being educated. Home schooling is a joke.. No curriculum oversight . We test them 3x in 12 yrs. Our work force and the kids are going to suffer.
That’s a separate issue. Kids going to public school should be fed, period.
Ensure num-nuts.
Agreed
Another loss for narrow minded South Dakota values
You’re an idiot.
RF Buche one of the great South Dakota independent grocers that give so much to their communities!
Agreed
If school attendance is compulsory then the students parents shouldn’t have to pay for lunch.
Great move. It’s not the kids’ fault that they’re in this situation.
Holy cow! A Republican Governor signing a Democratic bill? Must say you! What age are we in? Seriously though…..4 years of trying to get this bill over the finish line. Rep. Wittman (D) deserves so much praise and thanks. AND all of her colleagues on the other side of the isle that finally made this happen. Thanks Larry! and Thanks Rep. Wittman!