Prior Lake is of just two public schools in the state choosing to opt out of Minnesota's universal free school meals program. Addison Banyai, a 10th grader at Prior Lake High School was surprised at the school's decision to opt out. "I was confused," Banyai said.
"Like what are all these schools doing? They're missing out." But Banyai is happy with the decision, which the district says was based off community feedback. The feedback showed a "strong preference for greater meal flexibility and variety.
" Options, the school says, aren't possible under the program. "I grew up in Prior Lake. I trust this school district and i understand the choices they made," Banyai said.
The district conducted two surveys last spring. The first found parents prioritized saving money. The district then did a two-week trial simulating what the meals would look like under federal standards.
They did a survey afterward where they collected feedback from nearly 400 parents, around 20 staff members and more than 400 students. "Terrible. It was just like a snack basically.
I was hungry before i got to class," Banyai said. "They would make us take certain things, like make us take the fruit and like, nobody ate it." Not all parents agree.
"How can we make kids go hungry just so other kids can buy ice cream?" Kim Fortin said. Fortin's daughter is in 9th grade, so they couldn't take the surveys last year. "It's people who have money making decisions for families who have less money," Fortin said.
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