SDR elementary and middle school students encouraged to add a fruit or veggie to their lunch to get free milk

Families with students at School District of Rhinelander elementary schools and the middle school can get a free carton of milk with their child’s meal — but only if the student also takes a fruit or vegetable, Director of Business Services Bob Thom told the Board of Education’s Operations and Strategic Planning Committee Monday. Sept. 24. Thom, presenting the district’s August budget status report, said free lunch is available to all students at the elementary and middle school levels this year. However, he said many students are still opting for cold lunch and paying separately for milk, when taking a fruit or vegetable alongside their milk would make the entire meal free.

“You don’t have to eat it at school,” Thom said of the fruit and vegetable requirement. “You can take it home or give it to your friends. But you’ll get a free milk if you do it.”

Thom told the committee the district’s 2026-27 budget has not yet been loaded into its Skyward financial system, limiting comparisons to the prior year. He said overall expenditures were running slightly lower than the same point last year, with little financial activity in July and August.