Connecticut schools are grappling with a mounting student lunch debt crisis, with over $366,000 owed halfway through this school year alone. Some school districts that typically see $1,000 in meal debt by year-end, now face over $19,500 in unpaid bills, highlighting the financial strain that increased costs and rising inflation is putting on families. The policy of universal free meals has actually worsened the situation, and now some are pushing for state intervention, citing the importance of ensuring all students have access to nutritious meals for academic success. As the debate continues, schools explore additional solutions.
Ed Histed
Ed launched his radio career in 1975 and has spent more than five decades in the broadcasting industry. During that time, he has served in a wide range of roles including Air Personality, News Director, Sales Manager, Operations Manager, and General Manager at numerous radio stations in various markets across the country. Beyond on-air and management responsibilities, Ed has also worked extensively on the technical side of broadcasting. His background includes RF engineering and information technology, with particular experience configuring digital automation systems and remote voice-tracking platforms used by stations across the country. Ed was also among a select group of industry professionals invited by Google to its California headquarters following the company’s acquisition of Scott Studios. He was one of just 12 broadcasters nationwide chosen to participate in discussions and provide input during the design and rollout of Google’s digital broadcast automation platform. Although the majority of Ed’s career—spanning roughly four decades—was rooted in music radio, he transitioned into news and information programming in 2012. He says the move into spoken-word broadcasting was a natural evolution after decades of experience in multiple areas of the industry.