Utah State Board of Education backs proposal for free school lunches

SALT LAKE CITY —  The Utah State Board of Education is backing a change that could give free school lunches to families in need.

Board member and former educator Brent Strate approves of a bill proposed by Rep. Tyler Clancy, R-Provo. Instead of reduced lunch prices, the bill gives free school lunches to qualifying families. 

According to Strate, food insecurity is a problem he often sees. He stocked his own shelves with snacks like granola bars for students who could not afford to eat lunch.

“Feeding kids is fuel for learning,” Strate said. “It has been absolutely shown and proven in study after study, that a hungry child cannot learn.”

That’s why he voiced his support at their last budget meeting for the bill Rep. Clancy is drafting.

The proposal is among 15 funding requests that the board is expected to prioritize for their next meeting with Gov. Spencer Cox later this month.

“We’re supporting what the governor is doing. We’re supporting what Tyler Clancy is doing,” said Strate.

Gov. Cox recently diverted just over a million dollars to make a dent in the nearly $3 million in school lunch debt. Strate said the bill is a great first step in tackling the problem.

“Do I think there’s a bigger picture? Yes. But, I absolutely support this step. I think it’s the right direction,” he said. 

Strate wants to see the the bill pass through the 2025 Legislative Session.

Eric Cabrera is a reporter for KSL NewsRadio. You can follow him on Instagram. 

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