October 18, 2003

School Breakfasts

Like many states, Wisconsin is under severe bugetary pains. So, what does Gov. Doyle want to do? Have every school provide breakfast for kids. It's not just conservatives like myself who question further government intrusion into families' lives. School administrators are questioning the idea.

And Dave Schmidt, superintendent of the Waukesha School District, said his district already provides meals where the need exists, at four schools that have children from low-income families who tend to benefit most from the program, he said. But the other 20 schools in the district don't serve a morning meal because it's not needed, he said.

"It ought to be driven by what a school needs and not by the government," Schmidt said. "Any time you bring a new program into a school, it takes time, people and money" away from serving other needs, he said.

John Box, superintendent of Mequon-Thiensville School District, said parents and teachers never told him that children were coming to school hungry.

"It isn't something we would consider a priority," Box said.

Elizabeth Burmaster, the state superintendent of schools, also questioned whether all schools needed to supply a morning meal.

Burmaster praised Doyle for bringing public attention to the issue, but added, "please understand that I am not calling for mandatory school breakfasts."