It has come to my attention today that the proposed changes in the United States Department of Agriculture regulations would restrict the use of allotted funds in meeting our needs to reach the hungry children of Lenior County and North Carolina. It is my understanding that, under the new proposal, the maximum reimbursement rate for special assistance will be 30¢ per lunch. This will seriously endanger our entire free and reduced price lunch program and place hungry students back in our classrooms! We urgently need your support to return this program to a basis that will allow North Carolina to pay the full cost of the free and reduced price lunches for this school year. Anything that you can do to help us will be more than appreciated. DEAR SIR: I am writing in protest of the new U.S. Department of Agriculture regulations restricting the use of allotted funds in meeting our needs in reaching hungry children in North Carolina. The Federal Government has set up a program stating that we must feed every hungry child; then the Department of Agriculture cuts our funds drastically. With the proposed reimbursement of 5¢ for a paid lunch and 30¢ for a free lunch, our schools here in Hertford County will be in serious financial difficulty by Christmas. In Hertford County, about 56% of our children eat a free or reduced price lunch. We charge 25¢ for a fully paid lunch so that more students can pay. In the spring of 1971, our reimbursement was increased to 12¢ for a paid lunch and 45¢ for free lunch. We felt that this was adequate. I beg you to consider this matter carefully before making your final decision. Sincerely, (Mrs.) ETTA HEATH, School Food Services Supervisor, Hertford County. Senator GEORGE MCGOVERN, Washington, D.C. BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, DEAR SENATOR MCGOVERN: Thank you for your interest and concern for the National School Lunch Program. We appreciate your awareness of our problems and we support the hearing you have called. RE: Proposed changes in regulating use of Federal Funds. We strongly feel that this is a high priority if we continue to feed our hungry children free and reduced price lunches. Attached is a copy of our letter to Mr. Herbert Rorex. DEAR MR. ROBEX: We are greatly concerned with the new proposed USDA regulations restricting the use of allotted funds in meeting our needs in reaching hungry children in North Carolina. In Beaufort County we have tried to follow Public Law 91-248 in meeting the need for free and reduced price lunches for children qualifying under income standards established by USDA and the State Agencies. Year: 1968-1969 1969-1970_ 1970-1971 PERCENT ADA SERVED LUNCHES 79 percent (25 percent free, 75 percent paid). 87 percent (25 percent free, 75 percent paid). 87 percent (32 percent free, 9 percent reduced, 59 percent paid). If our reimbursement had been reduced from the present 12¢ and 45¢ to the proposed 5 and 30¢ based 70-71 participation we would have received $87,475.90 instead of $166,537.53 we did receive. We have nine lunchrooms in Beaufort County and averaged feeding 4074 plates/da. in 70-71 for a plate cost of $.437. Therefore, we see no way we could continue to serve the needy children with a reimbursement of 30¢. Our present county-wide balance is .7 of a month's operating expenses. GRAY HODGES, Superintendent. U.S. SENATE, Washington, D.C., September 9, 1971. Hon. GEORGE MCGOVERN, Chairman, Select Committee on Nutrition and Human Needs, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR GEORGE: I am in receipt of a communication dated September 2, 1971, from Mr. Gray Hodges, Superintendent of the Beaufort County Board of Education, which has been co-signed by Mrs. Sara F. Cutler, Nutritionist of the Beaufort County Schools. They express concern about the new proposed USDA regulations restricting the use of Federal funds which provide for the free school lunch program. I enclose a copy of their communication so that you may have the benefit of their thinking on this important subject. With all kind wishes, I am Sincerely yours, Enclosure. Hon. SAM J. ERVIN, Jr., U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. SAM J. ERVIN, Jr. BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, DEAR SENATOR: We wish to request your support for the National School Lunch Program at the hearing called by Senator McGovern, RE: Proposed changes in regulations concerning the use of Federal funds to carry out the mandatory provisions of Public Law 91-248, with respect to meeting the need for free and reduced price lunches for children qualifying. We are attaching a copy of our letter to Mr. Herbert Rorex. Sincerely, Attachment. Mr. HERBERT ROREX, GRAY HODGES, Superintendent. BEAUFORT COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, Director, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, Washington, D.C. DEAR MR. ROREX: We are greatly concerned with the new proposed USDA regulations restricting the use of allotted funds in meeting our needs in reaching hungry children in North Carolina. In Beaufort County we have tried to follow Public Law 91-248 in meeting the need for free and reduced price lunches for children qualifying under income standards established by USDA and the State Agencies. Year: 1968-1969 1969-1970. 1970-1971 PERCENT ADA SERVED LUNCHES 79 percent (25 percent tree, 75 percent paid). 87 percent (25 percent free, 75 percent paid). 87 percent (32 percent free, 9 percent reduced, 59 percent paid). If our reimbursement had been reduced from the present 12¢ and 45¢ to the proposed 5¢ and 30¢ based 70-71 participation we would have received $87,475.90 instead of $166,537.53 we did receive. We have nine lunchrooms in Beaufort County and averaged feeding 4073 plates/da. in 70-71 for a plate cost of $.437. Therefore, we see no way we could continue to serve the needy children with a reimbursement of 30¢. Our present county-wide balance is .7 of a month's operating expenses. GRAY HODGES, Superintendent. CABARRUS COUNTY SCHOOLS, Concord, N.C., September 16, 1971. Hon. GEORGE MCGOVERN, Senator Annex Building, DEAR SENATOR MCGOVERN: During the 1970-71 school year, the Cabarrus County Schools served 1,158,179 student lunches-42,674 reduced price, 151,287 free, and 988,703 paid. We received for the year a lunch reimbursement of $131,063.03. Under the regulations now out, the maximum reimbursements are 5¢ for paid lunches and 30¢ for free lunches. This will give us a reimbursement for the above figures of $100,277.95. This will mean a loss in reimbursement of $30,785.08. The number of free student lunches is approximately 5% more this year so this means an even greater loss. At this point, I cannot see how school lunch can operate with such a tremendous loss in funds. I urge you to help us by any means possible to at least receive the reimbursement established last school year. We just simply cannot operate by increasing the number of free lunches served and decreasing the funds available to do the job. Very truly yours, (Mrs.) JOHNSIE BEAVER, School Food Service Director. CATAMBA COUNTY SCHOOLS, Newton, N.C., September 17, 1971. Sen. GEORGE MCGOVERN, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR MCGOVERN: I wish to quote figures as to how the reduction in reimbursement rates would affect our administrative unit using the same number of lunches to be served this year as last. Since no investigation is to be made concerning the family income reported on the application blank there is going to be considerable more free and reduced priced lunches. 1970-71: Number of free lunches, 125,109 x .36=$45,039.24; Number of paid lunches, 1,510,856 x .06=$90,651.36. 1971-72: Number of free lunches, 125,109 x .30=$37,532.70; Number of paid lunches, 1,510,856 x .05=$75,542.80. This would be a loss of $22,615.10 to our unit alone. The law was passed that we must feed our needy children. Everyone agrees that we have them in each state. We feel if we are to feed these children we must be provided the funds for this. With the price of our lunches frozen we feel we cannot do the job this year unless we have at the minimum the same rates as last year. Please do all you can to help us. Yours truly, (Miss) CLAUDIA THARPE, Director. KANNAPOLIS CITY SCHOOLS, Senator GEORGE MCGOVERN, Senate Annex Building, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR MCGOVERN: We wish to call to your attention our deep concern about the proposed reimbursement rates for the 1971-72 school year. We understand that the new rates are $.05 for paid lunches and $.30 for all free lunches. We include for your information our loss calculated upon the proposed reimbursement rate: We believe this report speaks for itself. We feel that our lunch program will be in serious trouble if something is not done to correct this. We urge you to use your influence in whatever way possible in order that we may continue to operate effectively during this school year. Thank you for this service. Very truly yours, C. R. COWAN, Associate Superintendent. TRANSYLVANIA COUNTY SCHOOLS, Hon. GEORGE D. MCGOVERN, Senator, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C. DEAR SENATOR: The enclosed copy of a letter to Mr. Herbert D. Rorex, Director, Child Nutrition Division Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, expresses our concern regarding the proposed regulations governing the operations of Federal-State Child Nutrition programs. In Transylvania County and in North Carolina we appreciate your concern and the effort you have made (or will make) to help meet our needs in feeding hungry children in 1971-1972 and in the years to come. Sincerely yours, (Mrs. B. F.) MADGE K. MAREE, Director/Supervisor, Transylvania County School Food Service. Mr. HERBERT D. ROREX, SEPTEMBER 22, 1971. Director, Child Nutrition Division, Food and Nutrition Service, USDA, DEAR MR. ROREX: In North Carolina and Transylvania County we are concerned regarding the Notice of Proposed Rule Making, published August 13, 1971, in the Federal Register to amend the regulations governing the operations of Federal-State Child Nutrition Programs. We think the new proposals by the United States Department of Agriculture restricting the use of allotted funds would not meet our needs in feeding hungry children. In Transylvania County we would be faced with an impossible financial drain. Based on the number of children fed in our County last year, the financial loss would be approximately $16,000.00. This loss would be created if we only received 5¢ reimbursement for all meals and 30¢ reimbursement for free/reduced cost meals. Progress made last year in feeding needy children cannot be maintained unless a change in the proposed regulations be made. There is a great financial need for increased reimbursement for ALL meals and especially so for free and reduced cost meals. Without changes being made in the proposed rate of 5¢ per type A lunch and 30¢ maximum for free and reduced cost meals, the needs of hungry children cannot be met, nor can the price per lunch be maintained at a level that children can afford to pay. We urge you to lift these restrictions as proposed by the new regulations so that we will be able to fulfill our obligations in meeting the needs of our children in Transylvania County, in North Carolina and in our Nation. Sincerely yours, (Mrs. B. F.) MADGE K. MAREE, Director/Supervisor, Transylvania County School Food Service. OHIO Mr. WADE D. BASH, BOARD OF EDUCATION, MAYFIELD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, Chief, School Food Service Program, Executive Offices, Ohio Departments Building, Columbus, Ohio DEAR MR. BASH: A few days ago our school district received information that we would only be reimbursed to the amount of 15 cents for every free lunch granted to needy children in our district. A subsequent call to your department produced information that the reimbursement rate varied between school districts, from 15 cents to 60 cents, depending upon the number of needy children in the district. My sense of fairness was truly outraged by this information, for the following reasons: A. It cost us between 45 and 60 cents to produce a lunch, probably about the same amount it cost other districts. I see no reason why others should receive reimbursement for the total cost of their free lunch program while our paying students have to pick up part of the bill for their less fortunate neighbors. B. This development will be very damaging to our cafeteria program, already losing about $50,000 a year. The weight of supporting these free lunches out of local funds is threatening our total lunch program on an economic basis, and could eventually deprive all our students of a hot school lunch. You are well aware that the tie-in between the free lunches and the surplus food forces us to retain one to get the other. We can't stay in business without that surplus food, but the free lunch program is moving toward the point where it is wiping out the advantages which we have been gaining through the surplus food program. C. Everyone in this community who is aware of these developments feels somewhat betrayed. They feel it is the traditional pattern of federal aid— leading local schools into programs which soon become indispensible, and then slowly withdrawing federal support. This leaves the local district with the burden of supporting a program it would not have started in the first place had federal funds not been made available to support it. I am told that the decision concerning the distribution of support monies was made by HEW in Washington, and that our state people are just following the plan. Please send me the name of the head of the responsible agency as I wish to present him with the same sentiments expressed above. Very truly yours, ROBERT G. STABILE, Superintendent of Schools. 58-854 0-71-pt. 7———7 |