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Becky Bicha
Becky Bicha
John Walczak
JANESVILLE — They might get unruly or fidgety at school on Fridays because they know they're not likely to be well fed for a couple of days.
Back at school on Mondays, they'll eat more than normal.
They're the poor kids who live in Janesville.
If they're homeless, their parents might not tell anyone.
Teachers look for signs:
-- They might come to school in the same clothes day after day.
-- Homework will go undone.
-- They might steal food.
-- They might need a bath.
-- They might be jumpy or sad.
"When they don't know where they're going at the end of the day, that's what's on their minds, not the three states of matter," said Becky Bicha, principal at Wilson Elementary School.
Bicha and John Walczak, principal of Jackson Elementary, spoke about poverty to the local League of Women Voters chapter Wednesday.
As of Monday, Wilson staff knew of 54 cases of homelessness this school year. Jackson has had 16 cases. The principals suspect there are more cases they don't know about.
More often than not, homelessness means doubling up with another family when the family can't pay rent. Walczak cited a recent case of 14 people living in one mobile home.
Seventy-three percent of Jackson students are eligible for the federal free/reduced price lunch program. At Wilson, it's 96 percent.
By these measures, they are the two poorest schools in the district. But the schools are also rich in caring staff and good kids, the principals said.
"Please don't feel sorry for our Wilson kids because they're second to none," Bicha said.
Both schools employ social workers who connect families with school and community resources. Teachers often buy clothes, food or school supplies for "their" kids.
Wilson and Jackson are the only two Janesville schools, by virtue of their poverty rates, that receive state funding to keep student-teacher ratios at 15-to-1 in kindergarten through third grade.
Schools also supply emotional support—hugs—and things kids might not get otherwise, such as field trips, Walczak said.
Volunteers help in a Lunch Buddies program at Jackson, and volunteer mentors are being sought, Walczak said.
At Wilson, a breakfast club provides breakfast, a federal program provides a "brunch," and lunch is later in the day, so kids get three meals, Bicha said.
But what happens to these kids in the summer? asked Carolyn Brandeen of the League of Women Voters. Brandeen noted malnutrition can harm brain development.
Wilson has a lunch program for most of the summer, Bicha said. Jackson has none.
"I'm not sure what to do," Walczak said. "I don't have the answer."