School meals for all

Colorado’s Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program is in danger of ending as soon as this January. Commonly known as universal school meals for all school children, the program began during the pandemic with the successful passage of Prop FF in the ‘22 election. The program funds meals – breakfast and lunch – for all schoolkids, regardless of family income level.

On the ballot Nov. 4, Prop LL would fund HSMA through the end of the ‘26 school year, while Prop MM funds it beyond that. Additionally, Prop MM would help schools purchase locally sourced food, increase wages for cafeteria workers and supplement SNAP. As a parent myself of three kids in Durango 9-R schools, I consider HSMA to be a vital program that is well-worth Colorado voters’ support.

In fact, the need for Props LL/MM stems from the fact that HSMA has been so popular, with more students taking advantage of school meals than initially expected. In the case of LL, the funds have already been collected by the state. Approval of LL means those funds will go to HSMA, while rejection of LL will send those funds (by way of tax deductions) to taxpayers whose households earn $300,000 or more. Therefore, supporting Prop LL is a no-brainer for households (like mine) whose yearly income is less than $300,000. Unless, of course, you are opposed to kids having meals available to them in school on principal alone (you’re a mean one, Grinch!)

Similarly, Prop MM to extend HSMA to future school years is funded by decreasing deductions for households earning above $300,000. The fact that HSMA is very popular, and benefits all schoolkids regardless of parents’ incomes, demonstrates the need for the program to continue.

Multiple studies (and common sense) have confirmed that kids of any age learn and pay attention better in school with food in their stomach. HSMA also benefits parents like me, because we don’t have to worry about providing breakfast and lunch to kids. HSMA saves parents up to $1,300 per year per child on food costs!

While opponents of school meals for kids might argue that school meals lead to waste, the fact is that hungry kids will eat them, even if they’re picky.  Teachers and other school staff likely would also agree that kids learn and are better behaved when they are well-fed.  

It’s refreshing to vote for an initiative on the ballot that is nonpartisan, noncontroversial and beneficial for all kids in Durango, and indeed, statewide. I urge my fellow Durangoans, parents and non-parents alike, to vote yes for LL and MM on the November ballot to fund healthy school meals.

– Joseph Borum, Durango