A holiday present came early this season to Parkland Elementary as every student with a negative lunch account balance had it paid off, thanks to a generous donation from the Roger J. Palacios Memorial Scholarship Fund.
The gift – totaling $1,037 – helped pay more than 75 students’ negative lunch account balances.
“The effort by Parkland parents and staff to raise money for these unpaid meals is a phenomenal show of community support,” Yukon Public Schools’ Superintendent Dr. Jason Simeroth said.
“For more years than I have been in Yukon, the unpaid balance cost of our lunch program has been an issue. Yukon typically loses approximately $15,000 to $20,000 a year.”
For the last two years, the federal government allowed all students to eat for free. It was a blessing for YPS students.
YPS officials, among others, had hoped the federal government would decide to make this a permanent situation.
But they did not, and therefore federal regulations for the lunch program reverted to pre-COVID-19 status.
FINDING A SOLUTION
Any YPS family struggling to pay their student’s lunch account balance is advised to contact YPS Child Nutrition Services. They will help find a solution.
YPS officials highly encourage everyone to fill out the free and reduced lunch application.
This not only benefits students at lunch it allows the district to receive more funding to increase educational services. YPS families may apply on the district’s website at www.yukonps.com.
