newjerseynewsroom.com

Treasurer insists children would continue to be fed

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

UPDATED

The Christie administration's plan to save $2.4 million by cutting the state's contribution to free breakfast and lunch programs for low-income New Jersey public and private school children came under criticism Wednesday from a Democrat on the Assembly Budget Committee.

State Treasurer Andrew Eristoff, in an appearance before the panel to discuss Gov. Christie's $28.3 billion 2010-11 state budget, insisted federal aid for the program will enable it to continue without hurting children.

The administration would eliminate its 10 cents per breakfast and lunch meal contribution while the federal contribution of $1.46 per meal would continue.

Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer (D-Passaic) asked why the aid to public schools would be cut only for breakfasts while the aid to private schools such as charter and parochial, would be cut for both breakfasts and lunches.

Eristoff said the aid cut was at the recommendation of the Department of Education. "I believe the state's first obligation is to provide education through the public system,'' he said.

Schaer said when he saw the reference to the elimination of the aid in the budget, he thought it was a mistake.

"I would think one's nutrition effects one's ability to perform.'' Schaer said. "I would not want to suggest short term pain will lead to long-term silliness. I'm very concerned you are singling out children who attend private schools over children who attend public schools.''

Eristoff stressed the administration does not believe the quality of breakfasts and lunches would be effected by the aid cut. The treasurer said the program has been "inconsistent'' in reaching eligible children. He did not know how many children take part in the program and the Department of Education could not immediately provide an answer. Presently, 1,813 public and private schools participate in the breakfast program and 2,694 schools in the lunch program.

The $3 million cut is opposed by the New Jersey Anti-Hunger Coalition, which argues the reduction will "greatly affect school districts and will dissuade schools from making breakfast programs more accessible or providing breakfast altogether, due to the loss of funds.''

Children from households with gross incomes of over 185 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for the free meals. For example, the children of a family of four with an annual income of $40,793 would be eligible.

The free school meal program is pushed by both the Education and Agriculture departments.

The program's web site declares, "Scientific evidence supports that eating breakfast affects a child's performance in school in a number of positive ways. Kids who eat breakfast: concentrate better, have more energy, learn more and miss fewer school days due to illness. The School Breakfast Program is a result of studies suggesting that academic achievement and student behavior improve when breakfast is made part of the school day.''
For breakfast, children receive milk, juice, bread and meat.

According to the Anti-hunger Coalition, New Jersey ranks 45th among states in school breakfast participation by low-income children.