Increase in Freeport students eligible for lunches

FREEPORT— The number of students eligible to receive help paying for school lunches has more than doubled in Freeport since 1997.

The Journal-Standard reports Tuesday that 30 percent of students at Freeport School District 145 were eligible for free or reduced cost lunches in 1997. Thirteen years later, in 2010, that number increased to 64 percent.

Families of four must earn about $28,500 to qualify for free lunches and about $40,700 to qualify for reduced cost lunches.

District superintendent Peter Flynn says enrollment has been stable, but "there are more children living in poverty."

Flynn says the district may need to consider additional social services as more students are classified as living in poverty.

About a decade ago the district added family resource coordinators to work with each school's neediest families.