As universal free school meals end, are Wisconsin families ready for it?
ERIN GRETZINGER and MADDIE BERGSTROM
Wisconsin Watch
Updated
After the Goodman family of Waukesha took a major financial hit during the pandemic, Jana Goodman was grateful for the universal free school meals offered at her son’s school.
ERIN GRETZINGER and MADDIE BERGSTROM
Wisconsin Watch
Until the pandemic hit, Jana Goodman, a mother of three and longtime resident of Waukesha, never relied on free school lunches. Even though she said her family was always “one broken down car away from a disaster,” her only school-age child at the time, Jacob, did not qualify for free and reduced-price meals.
Even though they were always “paycheck to paycheck," Jana Goodman’s family did not qualify for free and reduced-price meals before the pandemic — and still will not qualify next school year, despite their continuing financial struggles caused by the pandemic and inflation.
Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, joined Youth Empowered in the Struggle (Y.E.S.) students in Milwaukee for an event on May 3 promoting the students’ School Lunch Justice campaign. Also at the event were Reps. Kristina Shelton, D-Green Bay, and Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa. The lawmakers discussed their bill to provide free school meals to all Wisconsin students.
JOE BRUSKY, MILWAUKEE TEACHERS' EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Providing free meals for all students regardless of income generated hot debate in the Waukesha School District in 2021. The Alliance for Education in Waukesha held this rally on Aug. 27, 2021, to protest the board’s decision to end universal free meals. The board later reversed the decision, but the federally subsidized program has since expired.
Jana Goodman’s family relied on the universal free school meals program during the pandemic and had hoped the program would last. “It’s just another thing that we’re going to have to deal with during these scary times for money for my family.” She is pictured here with her son Miles, 4, at their home in Waukesha on July 12.
After the Goodman family of Waukesha took a major financial hit during the pandemic, Jana Goodman was grateful for the universal free school meals offered at her son’s school.
Even though they were always “paycheck to paycheck," Jana Goodman’s family did not qualify for free and reduced-price meals before the pandemic — and still will not qualify next school year, despite their continuing financial struggles caused by the pandemic and inflation.
Rep. Francesca Hong, D-Madison, joined Youth Empowered in the Struggle (Y.E.S.) students in Milwaukee for an event on May 3 promoting the students’ School Lunch Justice campaign. Also at the event were Reps. Kristina Shelton, D-Green Bay, and Robyn Vining, D-Wauwatosa. The lawmakers discussed their bill to provide free school meals to all Wisconsin students.
JOE BRUSKY, MILWAUKEE TEACHERS' EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
Providing free meals for all students regardless of income generated hot debate in the Waukesha School District in 2021. The Alliance for Education in Waukesha held this rally on Aug. 27, 2021, to protest the board’s decision to end universal free meals. The board later reversed the decision, but the federally subsidized program has since expired.
Jana Goodman’s family relied on the universal free school meals program during the pandemic and had hoped the program would last. “It’s just another thing that we’re going to have to deal with during these scary times for money for my family.” She is pictured here with her son Miles, 4, at their home in Waukesha on July 12.
