The Shadow
Almost 50 percent of Alleghany County public school students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, reflecting effects the economic downturn is having on household income levels.
The Alleghany County School Board was presented with the data Tuesday night during its September meeting at Boiling Spring Elementary School.
The numbers show that 47.43 percent of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches in August.
“The free and reduced-lunch rates in Alleghany County Public Schools have been steadily climbing over the past few years,” said Mary Jane Mutispaugh, the school division’s director of instruction. “We currently have two schools with rates in excess of 60 percent and two additional schools that will likely reach the threshold soon.”
Public schools offer free and reduced-price lunches under the National School Lunch Program. The federal program provides low-cost or free meals to more than 31 million children each school day in 2009.
The program was established under the National School Lunch Act, signed by President Harry S. Truman in 1946. In 2009, the program cost $9.8 billion.
Student eligibility for the program is based on family income. For a family of four to qualify for a free lunch, the annual household income must be $28,665, or less, reflecting 130 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
To qualify for a reduced-price lunch, a family of four must have an annual income of $28,665.01 to $40,793, or 185 percent of federal poverty guidelines.
In August, 61.27 percent of students at Sharon Elementary and 60.8 percent at Boiling Spring Elementary were eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Callaghan Elementary school was just below the 60 percent level at 59.9 percent.
Rates in other county schools were Mountain View Elementary School, 57.3 percent; Clifton Middle School, 44.38 percent; Alleghany High School, 41.07 percent; and Falling Spring Elementary, 17.76 percent.
Overall, the percentage of students in county schools eligible for the lunch program was up 2.6 percent from June and 4.72 percent higher than August 2009.
“It’s a sign of our times,” said Superintendent Dr. Sarah Campbell, in reference to the stagnant economy that has brought higher unemployment.
Mutispaugh said the lunch program numbers will factor into federal No Child Left Behind benchmarks the school division must meet annually. The benchmarks are more commonly known as adequate yearly progress.
“It is important to monitor this information as these free and reduced-lunch students and Medicaid-eligible students comprise the economically-disadvantaged subgroup of No Child Left Behind. When a subgroup reaches 50 students of the tested population, the subgroup becomes a factor in determining adequate yearly progress,” she said.
Keven Rice, director of budget and finance, reported that student membership for the first 10 days of school stood at 2,719 – 11 fewer than budget projections. The school division’s 2010-2011 operating budget is based on 2,730 students.
Student enrollment factors into how much funding the school division receives from the state. The most critical aspect to state funding is March 31 average-daily membership in a school division.
Rice, however, said enrollment for the first 10 days is also important because the state uses that figure to determine interim funding levels.
The enrollment breakdown for each school in the county on Sept. 8 was: Alleghany High School, 849; Clifton Middle School, 668; Mountain View Elementary School, 560; Callaghan Elementary School, 193; Sharon Elementary School, 173; Falling Spring Elementary School, 152; and Boiling Spring Elementary School, 124. Boiling Spring Principal Amy Dew said the school has since added another student, bringing its total membership to 125.
In other business Tuesday, the school board agreed to sell a bus to the Alleghany County United Fire and Rescue Association for $25. The bus will be used as part of training exercise for local fire departments in October.
“The bus has a busted engine, it’s no good to anybody,” said Kenny Higgins, director of administrative services.
MeadWestvaco is also donating a bus for training exercise, scheduled to be held at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College.
The four board members present for Tuesday’s meeting voted to declare five other vehicles as surplus. The school division will attempt to sell the vehicles through sealed bids.
The surplus vehicles include a 1997 Ford pickup, a 1995 Oldsmobile used for driver’s education, a 1993 International bus and two 1995 International buses.
Following a closed session, the board also voted to approve several personnel-related matters.
Appointments include Elizabeth Hampton, school secretary, Mountain View Elementary; Sonya Tinker, teacher assistant, Mountain View; Steven Craft, custodian, Clifton Middle School; Mary Holley, substitute nurse; Lisa Jeffries, substitute custodian; Maureen Wenstrom, substitute bus driver; and Bob Leonard, volunteer forensics coach.
The board also accepted the resignation of Tomalee O’Conner, teacher assistant at Clifton Middle School.
