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All Students At Many North Escambia Schools To Receive Free Lunch This Year
July 12, 2017
All students at many North Escambia schools will receive free breakfast and lunch this year, thanks to the expansion of a two-year old Escambia County School District program.
Bratt, Byrneville, Molino Park, Ernest Ward and Northview are among the 17 new schools added through the district’s participation in the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP).
Free breakfast and lunch will begin on the first day of school at the following locations in Escambia County (new schools are in bold):
Elementary Schools: Bellview Elementary, Bratt Elementary, Brentwood Elementary, C.A. Weis Elementary, Ensley Elementary, Ferry Pass Elementary, Global Learning Academy, Holm Elementary, Jim Allen Elementary, Lincoln Park Elementary, Lipscomb Elementary, Longleaf Elementary, McArthur Elementary, Molino Park Elementary, Montclair Elementary, Myrtle Grove Elementary, Navy Point Elementary, Oakcrest Elementary, Pine Meadow Elementary, Pleasant Grove Elementary, Scenic Heights Elementary, O.J. Semmes Elementary, Sherwood Elementary, Warrington Elementary, and West Pensacola Elementary
Middle Schools: Bellview Middle, Ernest Ward Middle, Ferry Pass Middle, Jim Bailey Middle, Warrington Middle, Woodham Middle, and Workman Middle
High Schools: Escambia High School, Northview High School, Pensacola High School, Pine Forest High School, Booker T. Washington High School
Special Centers: Camelot, Lakeview Center, Judy Andrews, McMillian PreK Center, and Escambia Westgate Center
Alternative Education/Charters: Byrneville Charter, Capstone, Escambia Charter, and Jacqueline Harris Preparatory Academy
Vocational School: George Stone Technical (Phoenix Initiative Program)
Parents of the students at these schools are not required to submit an application for the free and reduced Lunch program at that school — all meals are free.
Families with students attending other ECSD schools are encouraged to apply for the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Applications will be sent home or parents and guardians to complete and return to their student’s school.
Pictured top: Sweet potatoes, mixed vegetables and crackers on the lunch menu at Jim Allen Elementary School. Pictured below: Lunch at Bratt Elementary and Ransom Middle School. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Comments
50 Responses to “All Students At Many North Escambia Schools To Receive Free Lunch This Year”
For those parents that are complaining that not all schools were included. The school that my son attends was not included last year, so therefore I had to pay full price for lunch everyday. I am thankful his school is added this year and maybe more will be added next year.
Of course Beulah Elementary is not listed, and it is one of the overcrowded elementary schools in escambia county right now. Leaving 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools and 2 high schools off the list is just sad. Would it really hurt to add 9 more schools to that list???
Ridiculous that Ransom & Tate are not included! I’m a taxpayer and have NO problem with my tax dollars paying for students to eat! Regardless if they are on welfare or not, its not the children’s fault!
Ransom & Tate 100% have students that can’t afford to pay for breakfast and lunch….
Free bean burritos for every student.
This is just sorry people can’t just be happy for the kids that needed this to be able to eat at school.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
I think it’s a wonderful idea to feed the young students. Learning is easier when your not hungry.
I believe that if JESUS CHRIST were to come, there would be people complaining that HE shouldn’t be here, shouldn’t expect HIS people to abide by his rules. It’s so SAD that there is always someone complaining, or gripping about one thing or another. There are children whose parents try to provide, but are just unable to do so, then there’s children who have parent that just DON’T care. We had 5 children, I was a stay-at-home Mom, we grew a garden and I canned or froze all the vegetables I could, I made sure that our family would have good food. that the children would have the proper food to help them grow healthy, nothing like fast food, sweets that have all kinds of additives. The children were healthy, missed very little school. They had principals to live by, and THANK the GOOD lord ABOVE, they are raising their children very similar to the way they were raised. ALSO, they believe in helping those that need help. Personally I believe if you’re able to do anything, then get a job, DO the very best you can and IF you’re a believer in the ALMIGHTY, HE’LL surely help you. ALL children NEED FOOD! AND LOVE!
Military retirement was earned. Welfare is not. The reason we have to have these programs at all is because parents would not feed their kids. I am not talking about the few that cannot afford it just the many lazy parents that let the goverment do it.
Enjoyed the comments on this. I was not a planned child, but my parents made sure I had food. I am from a one parent family because my mother died when I was a child, my father didn’t quit feeding me on that day.. I attended public schools and we owned the house we lived in so yeah, my parents paid taxes. This is back when not one kid got a free lunch. When Detroit was in fact, a very proud, hard working city. I am tired of watching our country fall apart. If I had ever taken a hand out, I would still be black and blue When will people wake up and figure out they are being sucked in to more poverty? Who is making the money on all of this free food? Where are the food cards being sold off? Two years ago I wrote in this very newspaper I saw kids starving in one house while their parents were as high as kites. Why aren’t parents responsible for feeding their own kids? We, the taxpayers get to pay for these lunches and also free drugs since the parents are selling the food cards for drugs. Why aren’t these parents being asked where the groceries are? A student could earn a PhD writing about this disaster. I will never agree with free lunch, It is a scam on the taxpayers.
@ Chris: I am disappointed you feel the way you do about military retirees. My little “entitlement” represents my return for a blank check I wrote to my country many years ago. In no way does this constitute a “freebie,” or a “gimmee.”
Some of my friends did not come back, but what they did in their own little way helped give us all the right to free speech and “free” stuff.
To all the haters complaining about kids getting free food,
How many govt programs are you on?
Where did that military retirement check come from?
Shame on you and your cheap charlie mentality.
Feeding kids is great but this program seems like it would be decreasing federal money available for these schools.
“The basic principles of Title 1 state that schools with large concentrations of low-income students will receive supplemental funds to assist in meeting students’ educational goals. Low-income students are determined by the number of students enrolled in the free and reduced lunch program. For an entire school to qualify for Title 1 funds, at least 40% of students must enroll in the free and reduced lunch program.”
The School DISTRICT is saving money because they have a grant that covers meals. But the SCHOOLS are losing money to educate the kids.
@FoodsFuel; WEL SAID!
We never know what hardship, the person next to us is silently suffering through.
Why only “most” schools. I think they should be providing them at all schools rather than pick and choose which ones will receive free breakfast and lunches. There se,dchildren in eveey single school that needs and deserves to eat.
I am both for and against this. Why are only certain schools included?
I never ate breakfast as a child because our family could not afford it. By lunch time I was so hungry. I could hardly concentrate on my school work. At snack time, I received a glass of water. I looked forward to my school lunch. Honestly, I do not remember it tasting bad—I just remember having a meal to get me to dinner. When my parents could not afford to pay the reduced price, I was sent to the office to “borrow” money from the principle to pay for lunch. Then the school forced my parents to repay the money I borrowed (which is fine but I was put in the middle and made feel bad by both the school and my parents). There was this one time that I showed up to school so hungry I told the teacher. The teacher was shocked to hear that I never had breakfast. She sent me to eat in the cafeteria. I am certain that my teacher paid for that meal—and it is a meal that I will never forget (20 years later).
Please show empathy to children! You do not know what their life is like at home. Just because a child does not have to worry about their next meal does not mean they will grow up being entitled. Food is our fuel and children need fuel to learn. If a child is not able to reach their potential they may never contribute to society, but we need them to. Yes, I agree, it would be better for every school to offer free lunches, but this is a good start!
Does this mean will still have that nasty food? Maybe an upgrade on portions I don’t like going towards the end of the day feeling like I have nothing in me…
Well, for everyone complaining about their “Tax dollars going to feed kids”, why are are you not as upset or angry about your tax dollars going towards standardized testing? For those of you that are not aware what that might mean, it is our children basically learning how to take a test and not the material that is covered in school. Some of the simplest things that you can learn in elementary school or not even being taught to children anymore and that should be where your concerns lie.
I think it’s great. My son was entered into his elementary school prior to this being announced. I think people are being rude stating that we shouldn’t have kids if we can’t afford lunch especially since I personally had no clue about the change and my child is in one of the schools. I also think it’s not fair to state “the working class needs a break too” I AM also working class. How about we all stop judging and come together for OUR COMMUNITY. That’s how they use to do it back in the day. It takes a village to raise a child.
UNBELIEVABLE!!!!. Wish I had a vote where I spend MY tax dollars.
Going to get where the working man can’t afford to eat at home due to him having to feed all the dang entitlist. Get a job and quit reproducing if you can’t afford them.
Our family is a single income family. My husband makes just enough to where we do not qualify for free or reduced lunches. I apply every year and we are denied every year. My kids bring their lunches every day, because we can’t afford the prices charged for middle and high school. My kids are at Brown Barge and West Florida, so we are excluded from the free program. The ironic thing is, we would still be excluded, because we are zoned for Ransom and Tate!
This is all well and good, but are we not educating or conditioning these young people that FREE is the way? As for the school menus…if a child is hungry they’ll eat what is prepared and presented without any complaints.
The waste of food in the school breakfast and lunch programs is atrocious…too much goes in the garbage cans to be thrown away.
I normally do not comment, but felt I had to on this. I agree with the people who say that all Schools should provide free meals to students, not just some schools. What I don’t agree with is the ones that are fussing about their taxes paying for the food for the CHILDREN who didn’t have a say or vote in them being born. Really? Why would you want to punish the children for something they had no control over? Some would be OK with their taxes paying for the children’s food, if they can get some work out of them. Again, really? I guess you would rather the children work in your yard or what have you instead of going to school, so you can feel good about feeding them. These are CHILDREN!!! And saying if you can’t feed them, don’t have them. What about the families who, through no fault of theirs, i.e. one parent becomes disabled and/or passes way, can’t feed their children? Do you suggest they give them up for adoption so your taxes don’t have to feed them at school? My suggest, if you don’t want your taxes paying for the school children’s food, MOVE TO ANOTHER COUNTY. Hope ya’ll have a great day.
@Jon, Worker, Anne… Did you all go to private schools? IF not then your education was paid for by taxpayers so return that favor. Those roads you live on are they private? If not then they were paid for and maintained with taxpayer dollars. The education provided to our children is not something that should be so easily thrown aside because you don’t think you have a responsibility to it. Do you really want more criminals and rampant crime then we already have? Education is our future yours, mine, everyone’s whether or not you have kids.
Wow, some of these comments. Circumstances can change and a well-to-do family of five (or whatever family size) may fall upon hard times. And even if they end up in that situation because of poor choices, you want to punish the kids for it? That’s sad. On top of that, a hungry child is not going to perform well in school, plus countless other issues. FWIW, I don’t have children and am perfectly fine with a measly portion of my tax dollars going toward this.
Waiting for the paper application can delay your student’s approval. If your child’s school is not on this list, you can submit your free/reduced meal application ONLINE starting August 1st. The application can be accessed through the school district’s website at this link: http://mealapp.escambia.k12.fl.us/SummerMsg.aspx
This just shows how far we have fallen on respect and pride and working for what we have! If you can’t afford to feed your children, don’t have them! .
Don’t get me wrong I know this will help a lot of families, but I’d like to see that the menu changes up.
Would the food be edible? My daughter always brought a lunch from home because the food available at school wasn’t much of a choice at all.
While every one is whining about being a taxpayer and all this. This is the least they could do for schools here seeing they cut $3 million out of Escambia County School Boards budget for the 2017-2018 school year.
When you wonder why a teacher is sending home notes about donations, it’s not because they are lazy but because they have to pay for all supplies out of pocket on the little check they get.
I think all of us should eat free. Not just students and jail gueste and homeless. Everyone should eat free it would be easier on me . No responsbility
There are only 5 elementary schools, 2 middle (Brown Barge and Ransom), and 2 high schools (West Florida and Tate) that don’t get to be part of this program. That is highly unfair to students in those areas. Their students who fight hunger have to apply for food, but all the other schools get it regardless? This is ridiculous. Either keep the application program or not, but it should be equal for all schools.
Literally every high school but Tate High!! Sometimes the working class needs to catch a break too.
That’s great. It’s wonderful and a lot of kids need it. My only complaint is the kids hate the food. It does no one any good to provide free food for the children if they hate the way it tastes and throw it away. My son has qualified for free lunch for several years now but because the food tastes so bad he begs to just take a sandwich and has for two years now. Free is only good if it’s edible. Healthy is great and needed but it has to be something they will eat. Many many parents have this complaint and have even had school officials tell us to complain because the district won’t listen to them about all the food being thrown away and wasted. Hopefully this will go better….,
Hey guess what, I’m a taxpayer and one of my kids goes to one of the mentioned schools, so yeah I’m good. Also what tax money I pay that isn’t used in the cost also pays for the jet fuel that fuels the military jets that keep us safe. But that’s me!!!
Why are Tate and Ransom excluded? They appear to be the only ones….I may be wrong, but I can’t think of any other middle or high schools not on the list but those two.
It should be for all kids. People in jail eat for free, why shouldn’t the kids?
You guys are ridiculous. Isn’t this something you like to see your taxes go towards?! Or are you just one of those people who will find something to complain about in everything around you? I think this is great! Even if my taxes are paying for it!
Ok, feed them. Just get some work out those young whipper-snappers. I need my hedges trimmed, grass mowed, garden dug over – you get the idea.
Are you kidding me? All students on this list is provided a free breakfast and lunch? So parents can’t feed their kids or pay for their meals? Lola says it’s hard for a family with three kids, well tuff, don’t have three kids. Over half of my property taxes goes to schools for EDUCATION not for the urchins to feed at the trough. So will they demand their employers to feed them when or IF they get jobs? Somewhere around 43% of homeowners in Escambia County do not pay property taxes and the Board doesn’t have anything like Local Option Sales Tax to help subsidize such a misaligned expenditure of funds. Another “educator” coming up with brain stormed idea to make things “better” spend money that is not theirs and solve nothing. I was once at a home when an elderly couple received their meals on wheels (the grandfather had diabetes, was blind and legs amputated) and little urchins snatched the meals from their grandparents. So all you bleeding hearts go for it.
Randy, you’re exactly right, and I agree with you completely. But think about it this way, if part of our taxes are going to pay for free lunches, we should get some benefit from it. I never liked the idea of paying twice for lunch.
I’d be interested to hear from Mr. Thomas about the additional costs, if any, once the program is implemented. As a matter of fact, I’ll bet he has some projected numbers that were used to make the decision to go forward with this.
I agree with a comment earlier it should be for all students.
Randy, we are going to be paying the same amount of taxes anyway. So why not give us something in return. Its costly for a family with 3 kids to pay for lunch, at least we are getting some tax money back. They are cutting services everywhere else!
> Not so sure about those green eggs, though
I think the photo might be from Dr. Suess week…”Green Eggs and Ham”. At lest we hope it is.
No such thing as free .. taxpayers paying
It should be for All schools! No Discrimination.
What a blessing.
It’s about time!
Good. I’ve been thinking this for a long time. Simpler program and use the saved admin costs to pay for lunches. Not so sure about those green eggs, though