Officials Want Probe Of Elizabeth School Lunch Program

ELIZABETH, NJ (WCBS 880/AP) - Officials are calling for an investigation into the school lunch program in the Elizabeth school district.

WCBS 880's Levon Putney On The Story

The district's lawyers say applications for the federally financed program intended to help low-income families would be reviewed.

The action comes after The Star-Ledger of Newark reported a principal, the president of the school board and a supervisor of custodians had enrolled their children in the free or reduced lunch program even though they don't meet income eligibility requirements.

Gov. Chris Christie's spokesman Michael Drewniak told the newspaper the "serious allegations that must be addressed by the school district and by other authorities as appropriate.''

"You have the board president, you have a principal, you have a supervisor, and a teacher all making six figures, their families, with reports showing that their children recieve free or reduced price lunches reserved for low-income families," St. Sen. Ray Lesniak, who lives a few blocks from the disctrict administration building, told WCBS 880's Levon Putney.

He says the district is looking into how the paper got the information "instead of trying to save the taxpayers the dollars from the fraud and abuse."

So, he sent a letter to the feds, the state Attorney General, and the Union Prosecutor asking for an investigation.

School districts are required to verify only 3 percent of applications to the lunch program.

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