(Chuck Muth) – In response to Beth Smith’s recent claim that Gov. Lombardo’s veto of the Democrats “free” school lunch bill is leaving Washoe County kids hungry, it’s time to set the record straight.
Honestly, it seems like some folks can’t resist playing politics with the facts. And Smith, the supposedly “nonpartisan” president of the Washoe County School District Board of Trustees, is leading the charge—with zero facts in sight.
Let’s start with the basics: No kid who can’t afford lunch is going hungry due to any changes in state policy. Not one.
The suggestion that kids are being turned away at the cafeteria door is pure political theater. Yet, Smith bought into this narrative completely.
Makes you wonder if she’s ever even looked into how school meals are funded, doesn’t it?
Here’s the real deal: Over 80% of students in Nevada already get free school meals. How?
Thanks to the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP), entire schools or districts qualify for free meals if enough students receive public assistance. We’re talking about SNAP, Medicaid, and other programs.
And in Washoe County, 68 schools are already covered under this provision. That means every student in those schools gets free meals, no questions asked, no forms to fill out, no judgment.
Sounds like a pretty sweet deal, right?
Now, for the small percentage of schools that aren’t automatically eligible: Any student in a family that receives public assistance can still get free meals. And for anyone who somehow doesn’t fall into these categories? They can just fill out a form.
Yes, a form. Not exactly rocket science.
But wait, it gets better.
Even when students get free meals, it’s done discreetly—loaded onto their accounts just like paid meals. So, no, there’s no “scarlet letter” for free lunch kids. You’d think the school board president would be aware of that little detail.
What’s really puzzling is why Smith is pushing for state taxpayers to foot the bill for meals that are already covered by federal dollars.
Yes, she wants to send Nevada’s money back to Washington, D.C., just to avoid making a few families fill out a form. And that, folks, is called fiscal irresponsibility.
Why not use that money to, oh I don’t know, pay teachers or maybe buy school supplies? Nah, better to throw it at a problem that doesn’t exist.
Oh, and in case anyone missed it, Gov. Lombardo has already funded plenty of programs that help feed kids, including the Summer Food Service Program, which ensures free meals for Nevada students under 18 all summer long.
Not to mention, he’s also pumped $12 billion into K-12 education—the largest investment in Nevada’s history. So, suggesting that Lombardo doesn’t care about students? Yeah, that’s more than a little ridiculous.
It’s a shame that instead of focusing on actual issues, Smith decided to go to battle over whether well-off parents should have to—gasp!—buy their kids lunch.
Maybe next time, she’ll save her political capital for something that really matters.
In the meantime, Washoe County families deserve the truth, not scare tactics. Because here’s the bottom line: Every student who needs a free meal is getting one. Period.
Let’s move on to real issues now, shall we?
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