KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WZMQ) – Gov. Gretchen Whitmer served lunch to students at Woods Lake Elementary in Kalamazoo on Tuesday, continuing a tradition she’s kept up most years to mark the start of the school year. She was joined by state Sen. Sean McCann, D-Kalamazoo, State Superintendent Dr. Glenn Maleyko and Kalamazoo Public Schools staff.
Maleyko, addressing the group before the governor spoke, credited Whitmer’s administration for prioritizing student needs.
“I appreciate Governor Whitmer and Senator McCann for putting students first by coming to school today,” he said, adding later, “Michigan children are in a better position to learn thanks to the leadership of the governor.”
The visit centered on Michigan’s free breakfast and lunch program, which covers all 1.4 million public school students in the state regardless of household income. Whitmer said the program, now in its seventh straight year under her administration’s budgets, continues to save families money at a time when many household costs remain a top concern.
The stop comes as back-to-school shopping is proving more expensive than ever for families nationwide. According to analysis from Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation, the total cost of a school year, including supplies, lunches, clothing and other essentials, is running close to $4,000 per child, up about 10.7 percent from last year. That analysis ties part of the increase to tariffs on imported school supplies, pointing to price hikes disclosed by manufacturers.
Against that backdrop, Whitmer pointed to the free meal program as one way the state has tried to soften the hit to family budgets.
“Each year since I took office, we have raised the bar on what it means to invest in our students and our teachers and in our schools, this year’s budget is no different,” Whitmer said. “It continues free breakfast and lunch for all 1.4 million public school students in Michigan. And that alone saves families up to $1,000 per student in your household.”
Woods Lake fifth grader Cade, who introduced the governor at the event, said the school has been a steady presence throughout his time as a student there.
“When I walk into school every morning, I know it’s going to be a great day. I love Woods Lake because it’s a place where we get to be curious, learn new things, and grow together,” he said. “We are also lucky to be part of Kalamazoo Public Schools because they give students the resources we need to succeed. Also knowing that Kalamazoo Promise will be there to support my college dreams after I graduate from high school from 2034 is awesome.”
Whitmer also pointed to how the program plays out for individual students, describing a hypothetical third grader whose family saved money on breakfast and lunch costs. “At lunch, she sits with her classmates and shows off her new backpack, which her parents were able to afford with some of the money that they were able to save. And thanks to free breakfast and lunch, she doesn’t worry about going to class hungry,” Whitmer said.
The visit also touched on literacy funding included in this year’s budget.
“Governor Whitmer and her team do that when they support free breakfast and lunch for all students here in public schools across Michigan.” Dr. Maleyko said, “They do it when they support the science of reading, which we’re proud of in the budget and with the new law so that we can improve student literacy by using evidence-based methods for teaching of reading.”
Whitmer described her broader approach to literacy as a three-part plan: “Our plan to get literacy back on track with three simple strategies, early starts, proven methods and extra help.” She separately highlighted the state’s Every Child Reads initiative and pre-K for all funding, framing both as part of a broader push to support students beyond the cafeteria. Closing her remarks, Whitmer summed up the day’s message: “To help every Michigan child read, help every Michigan child eat, make sure that every Michigan child is successful.”
