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DCS’s students now have access to free meals at school with the new Great Start Readiness Program
By: Alex Watson & Caden Thisse
“It’s super easy, and it’s free now…It’s a lot easier than packing lunch.”
Senior Andrew Gafford along with many others support the new change in the High School. However, with every good thing there are going to be drawbacks, and there is no exception with free lunches for the 2023-2024 school year according to students.
Prior to the start of the school year, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced all 1.4 million Michigan students will be eligible for free lunch through the Great Start Readiness Program. The change gives students access to a free breakfast and lunch without the need for money in a lunch account.
Many students are taking advantage of this change.
According to a Squall survey sent out to DHS students, approximately 50% of the 310 respondents said they order school lunch every day with another 26% saying they occasionally order lunch. Less than 23% said, despite it being free, they never order school lunch. With this data, it’s likely more than 600 meals are made each day for DHS students.
When asked if the amount of preparation needed each day for lunches increased from the past year, Food and Nutrition Director Jennifer Mattison reflected on the changes.
“We’ve pretty much tripled the amount of food that we are bringing in and the kids are getting served,” Mattison said. “It’s been tight on us because we’ve been short staffed, but we’re making it, we’re doing it. We’re here for the kids.”
The inflation of the extra add-ons offered in the cafeteria has been a negative drawback of ordering lunches. Compared to previous years, most items have gone up in price.
“I’m not thrilled with the inflation of the fries,” senior Kate Varitek stated.,
Understandably, while the lunches are free, the extras will add up quickly. “I don’t think I ever got an extra last year,” sophomore Kasen Salazar said. “I’ve definitely gotten a lot more extras this year.”
It’s not necessary for all students, however, as Burke Smith noted: “it’s all I need.”
The coloration of the meat inside the sandwiches has been noted of late and has raised concerns about the quality of the food. Is this due to the increased meals produced each day?
“Most of the time [the quality] is the same but some of the things like the chicken sandwiches have got worse, junior Trey Kuhr said. Kuhr also noted that many of the meals have been average with the exception of the quicker, easier-to-prepare meals that have decreased in quality. Several students have reported not seeing many changes in quality from the previous year.
“Because I’m a freshman, I think it’s a lot better than what I have had in previous years,” freshman Burke Smith said.
Teachers have always had to pay for school lunches, even this year, and this year teachers have reported an increase in prices for their base meal as well.
English teacher Patrick Stolkey, a frequent school lunch enjoyer, is one of those teachers.
“The price definitely increased… it costs around $6 a meal now,” Stolkey said.
The Great Readiness Program has given students in Michigan the opportunity to free meals every day which boasts obvious benefits. And while the amount of traffic in the lunchroom is considerably larger than previous years, the change is welcomed among many students this school year.
