Tulsa - As the economy gets worse, more and more Tulsa schools are qualifying for free breakfasts and lunches for all of their students.

Many elementary schools and one middle school in west Tulsa are already on that list. The newest one to qualify for the program is Park Elementary.

Park Elementary has 240 students. It's not the first Tulsa school to be free breakfast and lunch, but it's a first for this school and it's very important.

To get the program, more than 90 percent of the families must qualify for free or reduced lunches.

"And if you have 99 percent of your forms in and processed, it's a big deal, then your school will qualify," says Principal Anita Schroeder.
 
She says they were thrilled and excited when the school qualified.

"I thought it was a great program," says Parent Tamara Brook. "Not only my son but there's a lot of parents that are low on income and there are some that do not qualify but through this program everybody will be free."

Fifth graders understand the importance of the free program for all the students.

"Well I think it's cool because my parents can pay for stuff like bills and all that," says Gabbie Johnson.

"Like we can pay for bills, and we can pay for food, and we can pay for gas and all that," adds Boston Jewell.

Teresa Bailey has worked at Park Elementary for seven years. She will do all the cooking.

"They eat healthy," she says. "It makes them better learners, so yes I can do it."

The totally free lunch program is funded by the state and profits from vending machines at local middle and high schools. The program at Park runs through October of 2010. The principal warns parents that they'll have to fill out the forms again next fall if they want this free breakfast and lunch program to keep going.

The program at Park gets underway Monday. It could save each student and their parents up to three dollars daily.

 Email To Friend