The Essex Westford School Board shared the following letter with Vermont Governor Phil Scott in regard to enacting H.165 Universal School Meals.
Governor Phil Scott,
The Essex Westford School District Board calls upon you to ensure Vermont children
are healthy, well, and have equitable access to learn by enacting H.165 Universal
School Meals. As elected officials like yourself, we have special responsibility to the
most vulnerable in our community. We advocate for our schools, students, and fellow
communities across the state.
Hunger and food insecurity are consistently listed as one of the key indicators of
outcomes for children. Children from food insecure homes are twice as likely to
experience poor health or hospitalization. They are more likely to be diagnosed with
mental illness. Food insecurity is also linked to decreased attendance, minimized gains
in reading and math, and reduction of a child’s chance of graduation. Our schools also
manage adverse behavioral responses resulting from stress, inability to focus, and other
social consequences of hunger. This contributes to burnout and secondary trauma
response in teachers, staff, and students.
Our schools are the front lines for the intersectional social issues facing Vermonters.
This has given us the opportunity to see firsthand the incredible power universal meals
had within our community. As board members, we have heard about the gains in
academic performance, school climate, peer engagement, student behavior, and so
much more when meals became temporarily accessible for all students. Parents have
shared about the stigma and shame associated with food insecurity, and how the
accessibility of universal meals reduced financial burdens of families struggling to make
ends meet. We have heard from our own students, who courageously held a press
conference sharing how deeply this issue impacts their school day.
Our social support income guidelines do not come close to reflecting the challenges
faced by Vermont families. Food insecurity leads to parents stretched thin; making
impossible choices between rent, childcare, and food. Universal meals significantly
alleviated this burden leading to stronger, healthier families. The benefits of universal
meals extends far beyond our children. Strengthening families and our community
support network enhances our wellbeing and economy through countless secondary
measures. This includes supporting Vermont farmers, the backbone of our state and
communities. Vermont needs the certainty, simplicity, and stability of securing
permanent universal school meals now.
Schools are more efficient when delivering services to all students, regardless of
classification. EWSD has reported greater efficiencies of scale preparing meals
intended for everyone in attendance. Other services for example, utilities and books,
are budgeted for all students regardless of income. Busses serve our all of our
students, not just students based on economic thresholds. Universal meals is a cost
effective means to reinforce “one community” in our schools.
Investment into universal school meals is an investment in our future. We ask that
anyone opposed to this legislation to try living without access to regular, nutritious
meals. Attempt to meet expectations of your job and daily life while living within the
criteria of food insecurity. It is effectively impossible to achieve the same outcomes;
which is why it is so heartwrenching that so many Vermont children and families are
expected to do so.
The Essex Westford School District represents one of the largest districts in our state. In
response to overwhelming feedback from our families, our board unanimously chose to
write to you, prior to the upcoming veto deadline Tuesday, June 13. We implore you to
hear the voices of bipartisan Vermont families and the Vermont legislature in passing
this milestone opportunity to strengthen our community.
On behalf of the entire Essex Westford School District and School Board, we ask you
enact H.165 to ensure all students' access to nutrition. As a young student, Anne Frank,
once wrote: “Hunger is not a problem. It is an obscenity. How wonderful it is that nobody
need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”
Thank you for your time and attention to this matter,
Robert Carpenter
School Board Chair
Essex Westford School District
rcarpenter@board.ewsd.org