12th District State Senator Brad Hawkins thinks schools need to start re-focusing on education. That's in reaction to State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal's proposal that schools provide free breakfasts and lunches to all students, a 200 million dollar plan that was approved in the State Senate Early Learning and K thru 12 Education Committee. Hawkins sits on that committee, but didn't vote for the bill; he says school's responsibilities have taken it far afield:
Hawkins says the state, whose responsibility it is to fully fund education, can't pay for it all:
Hawkins said it was tough to vote against a bill to provide free lunches, but the state already has a free or reduced lunch program that he believes does a good job of making sure no student goes hungry. He says in this post-COVID age, the 200 million dollars would be better spent on academic needs.