Loyal reader Ironman encouraged me to take another look at the N&R’s front-pager headlined ‘Poverty rises in Guilford schools.’ The article focused on the fact that Irving Park Elementary —located right in the heart of Greensboro’s toniest neighborhood — will become a Title I school this fall.
Ironman was upset that the article didn’t examine the fraud linked to school lunch programs. CJ’s David Bass is all over the story, so I’ll just let his work stand for itself.
I think it’s safe to say that since Irving Park has been an opt-in school for many years —- as the N&R points out —– it’s only logical that it would be dragged down to poverty level, so to speak. But when reading the article, I noted a more subtle fraud taking place:
No Child Left Behind requires that any school where 75 percent of students receive a free or reduced-price lunch be a Title I school, but school districts can lower that threshold to allow more schools into the program.
Last year during its budget discussions, the school board debated lowering those thresholds, hoping the additional funding might offset a budget shortfall. The board abandoned the idea, fearing it would lead to more schools under sanction.
In the comments below the article Guilford County Board of Education member Paul Daniels comes right out and says the “reason for turning a blind eye” to possible fraud is simple—-“Money! The more Title I students you have in a school system the more money you are eligible for. more Title I students you have in a school system the more money you are eligible for.”
This is only going to get worse as budget -strapped school systems keep looking the federal government for more money, with an administration that’s all too happy to oblige.
