North Michigan News

State Representative Curt VanderWall responded to recent claims about the House Republican budget proposal regarding school lunch funding. He referred to a press release from the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) that addressed concerns and clarified the issue.

“I’m pleased to see the department getting this right in its recent press release. I have heard many people who have been misled to believe the House Republicans are cutting funding for school lunches in the K-12 budget, and it’s simply not true," VanderWall said.

He explained that the proposed plan would allow school districts flexibility in how they use their funds. “Our plan ensures that school districts that want to continue the program may do so, and those that do not may use the funding elsewhere if they see fit. No two school districts are alike – and there are varying degrees of need for lunch assistance throughout them. We are no longer forcing this funding to be spent only in this one area – as much or as little can be dedicated to school lunches as they see fit," he stated.

VanderWall also commented on criticism from Democrats, saying, “Democrats continue to push a false storyline at the expense of students and parents. But MDE’s explanation of our plan confirms that Republicans are working to ensure our students have the best chance to learn and develop valuable lessons and skills. It should also give parents and school staff peace of mind to know that our budget proposal offers robust per-pupil funding and addresses our outstanding teacher pension liabilities.”

The MDE press release described how the state House budget groups several important items under Section 22f. According to MDE, “The state House budget would place in a single funding category, Section 22f, several essential items including but not limited to universal school breakfast and lunch; funding for English learners; per-pupil funding for children’s mental health and school safety; early literacy coaches; career and technical education programs; and assessments, to be allocated on a per-pupil basis.”

This means that rather than earmarking funds specifically for one purpose such as lunch programs, districts will receive money on a per-student basis with flexibility on how it is used within key areas identified by lawmakers.