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Fresh Faces In District 87, Lunch Affordability Addressed

Baylee Steelman

The District 87 School Board will be under new leadership.

Vice President Mary Yount was nominated for president to replace Jennifer Sedbrook. Yount said she looks forward to the upcoming year.

"It's a great position to work with the board and work on different issues that are coming to the board," said Yount. "I know as a board member we are allowed to do that, but sometimes as the president you can oversee and maybe nurture some of those things more with the board." 

Board Member James Alameda was nominated to replace Yount as vice president. The board welcomed Chuck Irwin and Elizabeth Fox-Anvick to replace departing board members. 

Bloomington school leaders want to reassure students the district will not embarrass them if they cannot afford to pay for lunch. 

The emphasis on confidentiality policies comes in the wake of national news accounts of some students getting ink stamps on a hand if they do not have money. Superintendent Barry Reilly said schools keep in touch with parents to arrange payment plans.

Credit Baylee Steelman
Newly appointed Vice President James Alameda.

"There have been numerous communications with parents and guardians of those children to try to work on a plan that allows them to work through that in a way that works for them," said Reilly. 

More than half of the student body in District 87 qualifies for free and reduced price lunch.

Reilly said schools will only provide an "alternate lunch" as a last resort. He said the "alternate lunch" meets nutritional standards for daily lunches. 

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Baylee Steelman joined us in November 2016. She is a journalism major graduating in May 2018. She mainly covers Bloomington City and Normal Town Council meetings, Unit 5 School Board meetings, produces the weekend News In Review, and helps run GLT events. Baylee also produces and anchors at TV-10, Illinois State University's student TV news station.