This school year marks the first for the statewide FSM (Free School Meals) program to be signed into legislation by Governor Tim Walz.
On March 17, 2023, the FSM program was introduced to many Minnesota schools with the goal to allow all students of those schools to be able to have one free breakfast and one free lunch each day.
Saint Francis High School’s nutritional service supervisor, Wendy Klobe, believes the program is important and it brings to the table.
“In the past if a student came from a family that was struggling, the student was waiting for the family to fill out the form,” said Klobe.
Sometimes students were waiting for a longer period of time before parents finally got the paperwork filled out, but now that is no longer an issue.
Not only are the staff and nutrition service members excited for this new change, so are some of the students.
“They help a lot of people out financially and they’re pretty good,” said student Hunter Farbera.
With this exciting new change happening, students and staff shared their favorite school lunches.
“I’d have to say that my favorite lunch would be the teriyaki chicken,” said Jamie Clarkson.
Alex Christan shared that his favorite lunch was the spicy chicken patty with a side of crumble cookie cone.
“My favorite lunch here is the spicy chicken wrap,” Hunter Farber said.
Wendy Klobe shared that her favorite meal was the chicken alfredo.
While they can’t speak for every school, every person at Saint Francis High School is hungry in anticipation for what is to come of this new program.
“Now there’s no paperwork,” Klobe said, “so that has all been removed and it’s just an easier process for everybody because all the students are free”
