Some Students May Make Co-Payments on Free Meals

Some low-income students who have received free meals at school may have to start making co-payments for the food under a plan being considered tonight by the Orange Unified School District.

The change would affect the middle category of students who are unable to afford a daily $1.50 lunch fee but not poor enough to qualify for free meals, said Judy Ross, the district’s director of nutrition services.

In 1991, the district stopped charging students eligible for reduced price meals the 30- to 40-cent co-payment because the department could absorb the cost.

But inflation and other rising expenses have led administrators to reconsider that policy, Ross said.

Orange Unified is one of only five districts in the county that do not charge the co-payment, she added.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which subsidizes school meals, has a range of income qualifications, but generally, a family of four living on an annual income of about $20,000 is considered to be at the poverty line.

If the family makes less than that, the children are eligible for free meals. If the same-size family makes less than $30,000 per year, students can receive the reduced-price meals, according to the guidelines.

When the issue came up earlier this month, trustees postponed their vote, saying they were worried about children who failed to bring in their money going without food.

But Ross explained that students will be given grace periods and, if the family is in difficulty, possibly be moved to the free program.

The meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. at district headquarters, 1401 N. Handy St. Information: (714) 997-6221.