The Los Angeles Unified School Board voted on May 14 to continue with the Breakfast in the Classroom program. Dozens of SEIU Local 99 members rallied in front of LAUSD headquarters and spoke out during the board meeting to urge support for this important program. The meeting today culminated several weeks of rallies with parents and other supporters for a program that addresses the issue of hunger in our schools. In addition to maintaining and expanding the breakfast program, our efforts also saved over 900 jobs that would have been eliminated if the School Board had voted to end the program. Thank you, Local 99 members for standing strong for quality student services and good jobs.
Below is a statement from SEIU Local 99 Executive Director Courtni Pugh on the Board’s decision:
“We applaud the School Board for voting to continue with Breakfast in the Classroom and, ultimately, focusing their decision on the needs of our children.”
“The School Board demonstrated that they understand that education requires addressing the needs of the whole child. There is no doubt that classroom lessons are essential, but a child cannot concentrate on learning when she is overwhelmed by hunger, or fear, or shame. This program begins to tackle some of the very real problems that students bring to school every day. We are glad that the Board voted to make sure that Breakfast in the Classroom will reach many more of our children.”
“Breakfast in the Classroom also saves and protects many good jobs in our communities. As our economy continues to improve and funding is restored in our schools, we must ensure that student services are fully staffed. Good jobs mean our children’s learning is supported by a full team of education workers. It also means that cafeteria workers and custodians and other school workers who support student learning—many of them also parents of LAUSD students—will be able to provide greater stability for their families.”
Every major Los Angeles media outlet covered our fight to make sure kids get a healthy breakfast:
- LA Times Front story photo
- Daily News (SEIU Local 99 Member Tonya Chambers quoted):
- KPCC Radio
- CBS 2
- NBC 4
- KTLA 5 and here
- ABC 7
- KCET
- Univision 34 and here
