ECUA D5 Member Stephens Pays Off Student Lunchroom Debt At Tate, Ransom, Kingsfield

February 22, 2023

Emerald Coast Utilities Authority District 5 member Kevin Stephens has paid off the lunchroom student debt at three North Escambia schools.

Stephens made personal donations to pay off cafeteria balances at Tate High, Ransom Middle and Kingsfield Elementary schools. He said $1,000 per school will pay off any outstanding balances and cover future balances for the remainder of the school year.

Breakfast and lunch are free for all students, regardless of income, without any application at 44 schools in Escambia County due to the USDA’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program for schools in low income students.

Tate, Ransom and Kingsfield are among the schools in Escambia County that are not eligible for the program, but parents may still apply for free or reduced price meals. Applications are available here.

Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.

Comments

18 Responses to “ECUA D5 Member Stephens Pays Off Student Lunchroom Debt At Tate, Ransom, Kingsfield”

  1. Ensley Miss on February 23rd, 2023 4:36 pm

    Says personal donation.

  2. Kris C on February 22nd, 2023 11:15 pm

    A lot of comments seem to be out of concern for the wrong reasons. We should be glad that hungry students are now getting a lunch without worry of a debt. Those burdens should not be placed on children. After all, how is a child supposed to learn if they’re hungry??

  3. Give me a break on February 22nd, 2023 7:24 pm

    @Jason

    That’s a fair question.

  4. Eric M on February 22nd, 2023 4:27 pm

    I couldn’t tell you what political party this man is from, if any, but it’s nice to see a politician give back to those who need it the most. God bless you sir.

  5. Jason on February 22nd, 2023 3:32 pm

    The use of the ECUA watermark gives an illusion that the donation check came from ECUA and not a personal donation as the article indicates. As such, I wondered why it was necessary to use anything associated with ECUA other than a photo-op as a re-election effort.

  6. Janine Singleton Walker on February 22nd, 2023 3:13 pm

    It is so refreshing to see an elected official give back his own money to the needy. Very nice. Good job Kevin Stephens.

  7. STEPH on February 22nd, 2023 2:33 pm

    @TJ It’s states in the article > 2nd paragraph > Stephens made personal donations to pay off cafeteria balances at Tate High, Ransom Middle and Kingsfield Elementary schools.

  8. Jlb on February 22nd, 2023 2:12 pm

    Its nice he is giving back to his community..

  9. Give me a break on February 22nd, 2023 12:08 pm

    Right there in the story, paragraph 2:

    “Stephens made personal donations to pay off cafeteria balances at Tate High, Ransom Middle and Kingsfield Elementary schools.”

    I would sure hate to be as mean-spirited and miserable as some of the posters on this site.

    Thank you Mr. Stephens for your good deed!

  10. Ashley on February 22nd, 2023 10:04 am

    He actually has donated all of his salary to a different charity every month since he was elected, it has all usually benefited district 5 as well.

  11. Bob on February 22nd, 2023 9:34 am

    Is he running for reelection this year???

  12. George on February 22nd, 2023 9:20 am

    How much did it cost to have those big checks printed for the photo opps.?

  13. Swamp Gas on February 22nd, 2023 9:19 am

    A wise man once said “You should never toot your own horn”

  14. TJ on February 22nd, 2023 8:20 am

    While I think this is a noble cause (and no child should go hungry), is he using ECUA funds to do this or his own? As a board member, I believe he’s paid $39,070 per year, plus $200 per month for expenses (unless that’s gone up), plus I assume he has another job or gets a retirement (Navy) of some sort. But where did the money come from? I wish that was mentioned in the story.

  15. CHA CHING!!! on February 22nd, 2023 7:44 am

    A grand? They pay off the whole schools dun?

    I guess the monies ECUA used is part of the four fees I pay monthly.

  16. Anne on February 22nd, 2023 6:54 am

    AWESOME..!!!!!
    This is a TREMENDOUS Relief to Many Families and kids.
    Thank You….

  17. Ensley Miss on February 22nd, 2023 4:55 am

    Wonderful!

  18. Just asking on February 22nd, 2023 1:35 am

    Whose money did he use?

  FNBT