A large group of protesters and supporters of the Manitowoc Public School District ending the Community Eligibility Provision or CEP attended yesterday’s (October 10th) Manitowoc Public School District Meeting.
The program allowed the district to give out free lunches to all students because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Manitowoc Superintendent Jim Feil announced that the district ended the policy because there’s a difference between the district’s needs and wants.
Protesters who spoke yesterday saw the move as not caring about parents with kids in the district.
One woman said, “He (Feil) believes that it is more ethical to turn down these funds than to have the ability to feed every child in the district.”
Another woman asked, “How do you think the students who do have food witnessing this daily feel?”
She continued saying “How is this experience and hungry stomach helping test scores and reading programs?”
She finished by saying “If you want success for all, start with food for all.”
A man also believes that Feil “is putting his personal political beliefs before his job and he’s failing us (the people). He didn’t consult the board or community and now he’s using excuses to try and cover his mistake.”
A sophomore at Lincoln High School also said she didn’t agree with Feil’s decision.
She also questioned the board saying, “Do you know how hard it is looking around the cafeteria and think that kid just wanted some lunch today?”
She continued saying “It is heart breaking seeing students with food in hand but don’t have enough money. The cafeteria worker literally throws the food in the garbage can, the kid is embarrassed, the worker feels bad, and I feel helpless.”
Members also asked people to sign an online petition asking Feil to resign because of what he did.
As of Tuesday night, there are 600 signatures out of 1,000.
While there seemed to be more protesters, those who supported Feil’s decision said they agree that they don’t want the federal government continuing to intrude into public schools like they are now.
One woman said “Our country is going to deteriorate if it becomes a free-for-everyone and free-for-everything country, when mostly everyone can take care of themselves,” which caused a commotion among those in attendance
She continued, “most people can take care of themselves.”
Her husband also questioned protesters asking “Who’s really complaining about this? Is it the affected people? I’m not sure if that’s the deal.”
He continued saying he wishes that the federal government would run like Feil is running things because he’s “asking for the money that he needs and not asking for more.”
During the board discussion about CEP, Feil stuck to his decision saying that the money the district gets from the federal government should go back into funding the district in areas it’s lacking in.
“We also need to start influencing the federal government where they’re spending our money. And I truly believe we have lost control locally and we’re just taking funds with, it doesn’t matter it’s just free money,” he said. “It’s not free money. We’re borrowing for that and we’re paying for more in the long run.”
School Board Vice President Matt Spaulding, Treasurer Tony Vlastelica, and Board Member Matt Phipps agreed with Feil but Board Members Paul “Biff” Hensen and Chris Able questioned how Feil is saving the district money when the federal government is offering.
The school board took no action because it was just an update.
Able says he will work on getting CEP back on the agenda so the people can tell the board if they should have it or not in the future.
Click here to view the full meeting, with public comments beginning at the 7:41 mark.
