CHESAPEAKE
The School Board is looking at a proposal to raise the price of school lunches by 10 cents, to $1.90 for elementary school students and $2 for middle and high school students.
The increase would generate an additional $180,000 a year in revenue and would help cover the rising costs of food and supplies, said James Roberts, assistant superintendent for personnel and support services.
If approved, it would be the third increase in three years. Chesapeake's lunch prices - among the highest in Hampton Roads - went up by 15 cents both last year and the year before.
This newest increase would go into effect next school year. The price for breakfast would stay the same, and there would be no change for students receiving free or reduced-price lunches.
Divisions such as Chesapeake with a lower number of students eligible for free and reduced-price lunches receive less money from the federal government to cover the cost of those lunches. Chesapeake's prices are lower than divisions with comparable numbers of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
The number of those students is going up, however, Roberts told the board. Thirty-seven of Chesapeake's 46 schools reported an increase in students in the program since October.
The board is expected to vote on the increase at the May 11 board meeting.
Also at Monday's meeting, the board postponed a vote on allowing elementary schools to decide their own uniform policies. Members said they needed more time to research the issue.
Alicia Wittmeyer, (757) 222-5216, alicia.wittmeyer@pilotonline.com
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Mixing issues, Terry
Wealth does not necessarily equate to greed, to showing off, or trying to outdo others in dress. Mothers as well as fathers shop for their childrens' clothes, and many want their kids to dress as best they can afford. This doesn't mean they want their kids to flaunt their wares in the company of others who cannot dress similarly, but some children do. Many children learn to be more sensitive (& less sensitive) to such things as they mature into young adults.
Children of school age already have a sense of their socio-economic situation -- whether or not the neighborhood they live in is relatively well off, if their parents must both work to make ends meet, what the friends they play with care about, and cool-factor of the cars their family owns. Dress codes do not resolve disparities and inequities of economics, nor do they create an environment for our students that harkens back to a time when we were clueless about such school-age rivalries.
I'm not convinced dress codes resolve -- or even reduce-- the interpersonal gaffes and social competitions happening at schools. Look at students wearing uniforms at any of the local private schools and one can determine who buys at J.C
Uniforms separate the needy from the greedy
All too often mothers are out shopping to see how they can make little jane or johnny show off their wealth (and in many cases lack of) trying to out do everyone else in the class. First graders already know the difference between Walmart and Limited Two. They didn't learn this from the clothes they wear only by their parents trying to show off their wealth by buying pricy brand names.
I came from a little town where most of us had the same income bracket because our fathers all worked at the same plant and our mothers were home taking care of the kids. There were no latch-key kids where I came from. All the boys wore jean and converse sneakers and all the girls wore dresses. Not one time, that I could remember, did I look at the other boys and say "Wow, did you get those at Hollisters"! And, when we went out to recess the clothes could hold up to the environment.
Back to the issue, the only way to get kids back to being interested in school instead of clothes is uniforms. And, everyone can afford uniforms - just look how all the kids are dressed today! Those $200 sneakers will buy at least two or three uniforms. So I hope the City of Chesapeake School Board votes for
Please explain
What is the big deal about uniforms? Escpecially for elementary students. If it's about words & pics on clothes, types of clothes or how clothes are worn that should be covered under the dress code. If people don't follow the dress code follow a preset plan with expulsion or court as the end result. Why have parents buy "special" clothes that can only be worn at school. Is the school board going to be sure that families that don't have enough money will have the clothes their children need, right doubt it.
Very sloppy writing
Alicia P.Q. Wittmeyer wrote:
>>>Under the proposal policy, an elementary school can require students come to school in a uniform dress code if a survey shows at least 85 percent of that school's population supports the move.<<<
What population? The students, the teachers, the parents of the students?