The high cost of hungry students: How to solve Rapid City’s school lunch debt crisis ... while benefitting the community
Rapid City is a community known for its generosity. When needs arise, businesses and citizens alike consistently rally to help. Recent fundraisers by Taco John’s and the Youth City Council, which collectively raised over $5,000 for school meal debt relief, exemplify this spirit.
Yet, the problem remains immense: with eight weeks of school left, Rapid City Area Schools (RCAS) face a $110,000 deficit, accumulating an estimated $1,500 in unpaid lunch costs each day. RCAS continues to feed students regardless of their ability to pay. But for some families, the financial burden has become so severe that children are told to refuse meals to avoid further debt.
While local efforts are commendable, attempts to tackle this issue at the state level have been met with shocking resistance. A recent bill earmarking $600,000 to support school meals was defeated by a single vote, despite bipartisan support.
Opponents callously declared, “If you can’t feed ‘em, don’t breed ‘em” and “We have bigger priorities” — a chilling disregard for the well-being of vulnerable children.
History demonstrates the fundamental importance of school meals. During World War II, widespread malnutrition threatened national security, not only among troops but across the civilian workforce.
In 1943, Congress established the Community School Lunch Program in direct response, recognizing that well-nourished students learn better and contribute more to our society. Even today, the Council for a Strong America cites the Department of Defense that factors like poor nutrition and lack of education as reasons why more than 70% of potential recruits are ineligible for service.
Shifting blame onto parents or fast-food chains ignores the realities of modern life. Our schools are no longer neighborhood hubs where children walk home for lunch. Today, school meals are an expected and necessary part of a child’s day (as exemplified by the public domain photo above, posted on wikimedia commons).
Taxpayers ultimately pay the price for unfunded lunches, but this investment yields a healthier, smarter, and more capable workforce — directly benefiting our nation.
So, what’s the solution to the school lunch debt crisis? It requires action on multiple fronts:
Advocate for change: Support policies at both the state and federal levels to prioritize funding for school meals.
Support families: Implement programs to assist families facing financial hardship, so no child goes hungry at school.
Build partnerships: Encourage collaboration between schools, community organizations, and businesses to address the root causes of poverty and food insecurity.
By investing in the well-being of our children today, we invest in a stronger tomorrow for Rapid City, our state and our nation as a whole.
You can click here if you, your business, or organization care to contribute.
Laura Armstrong of Rapid City is a speech language pathologist who owns a small private clinic. She served two consecutive terms on the Rapid City Common Council (2017-23) twice as council president, and remains dedicated to the Rapid City community.
