Keep school lunches free in Iowa

Free school lunches for students in Iowa and across the nation during the COVID-19 pandemic will come to an end next school year. That shouldn’t happen, especially in a state that often touts its role in “feeding the world.”

This week, the Des Moines Register editorial board called on federal and state officials to take steps to make sure free lunches continue. We echo that demand.

As the Register notes, returning to the pre-pandemic status quo will mean bureaucratic hassles for families and school officials applying for free and reduced lunch and tracking down lunch payments. Children who are required to be in school should be fed. And with an inflationary jolt hitting grocery prices, all Iowa families could use this financial break.

In Cedar Rapids, more than half of all students qualify for free and reduced lunches. Otherwise, a patchwork for organizations work to provide free lunches in parts of the district. A uniform free lunch program would mean all students have full access to nutritious lunches.

Congress could act to make sure free lunches are here to stay. But if the federal government declines to act, the state should set up a fund to cover lunch costs. We believe if the fund were invested, the return on those investments could be ample enough to fund or partially fund the lunch program.

The Iowa Legislature has adjourned for the year, so we’ve missed an opportunity to address the issue through legislative action. But the Reynolds administration and the Iowa Department of Education should be looking for ways to cover lunch costs.

The state is running a large budget surplus. Federal pandemic aid could be accessed. If the state can fund a $100 million effort to provide grants for tourism destinations, surely it can come up with dollars for school lunches.

So we’re giving the state a summer school assignment. Find a way to make free lunches work. Then we can also be the state that touts its role in feeding our children.

(319) 398-8262; editorial@thegazette.com