Learn more about this issue at Juanita High School from Associate Principal Terry Jess:

For the last two years, Juanita High School’s Equity Team has been spearheading efforts to raise awareness and funds to eliminate school meal debt for graduating seniors. Last year, we raised over $10,000 and were able to ensure that no graduating senior left an LWSD high school with the specter of debt looming over them. This year, the seniors at Juanita High School alone currently have over $9,000 of meal debt, and we need all the support we can get to help eliminate it.

While the issues that lead to this may be both personal and systemic, our team has been focused on eliminating the systemic barriers that can cause meal debt accumulation. The issue is complex, but some of the things that we are working on and ask others to address as well are:

Federal Level:

• Immigration Fears and Concerns: Considering recent federal policy and practice, families may hesitate to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application due to sharing identifying information with the federal government.
• Income Level Determination: Free and Reduced Lunch are based on federal poverty levels, which does not take into consideration the significant cost of living in Kirkland, so many who are identified as not qualifying or only qualifying as Reduced, still may not be able to afford
• The current budget bill would increase the percentage needed for an elementary school to qualify for schoolwide free meals from 30% F/R to 40%.
• Federal Guidelines require a student to take a “Complete” meal in order for it to be covered by Free and Reduced Meal Program. This means if a student just grabs a slice of pizza as their meal, they will be charged. A student must take a milk, fruit or vegetable, and the entrée in order for it to count in the program.

State Level:

• Advocating for Universal Free School Meals – Requires state to commit to covering balance of meals not covered by federal free and reduced meal funding.

District Level:

• Better systems for communicating with families experiencing meal debt to ensure they have completed the Free and Reduced Meal Application, are connected to other resources the family may need, and troubleshoot any issues.
• Ensuring clear policy to prevent meal debt from being sent to collections after a student graduates.
• Ensuring clear policy to remove old language about holding diplomas until all fees/fines are paid.

Building Level:

• Increasing number of signs and schoolwide lesson about what meal qualifies for free/reduced.
• Building Family Connection Center to help with resources and to connect with families experiencing meal debt.
• Increasing frequency and clarity of information sent to families about Free and Reduced Meal Applications.

Policy change takes time, and unfortunately, our graduating seniors are facing this obstacle now. If you would like to support our efforts to eliminate meal debt, please consider donating and/or reaching out to leaders in the respective areas above.

Sincerely,

Terry Jess, Associate Principal at Juanita High School