State Closes Lunch Program, Cites Missing Money

FRESNO —  The state is shutting down Fresno’s free lunch program for low-income children and teenagers after years of financial mismanagement.

“We’re talking about hundreds of thousands of dollars that can’t be accounted for,” said Doug Stone, communications director for the state Department of Education.

City lunch supervisor Rita Frutoz was fired and is scheduled to be arraigned Oct. 5 on charges of stealing about $23,000 in government funds. Another manager also was replaced, although he remains a city employee and faces no criminal charges.

During the school year, lunches are served to about 900 children a day at 42 sites. In summer, the program expands to include about 3,700 children at 81 sites.

Summer visits by state auditors revealed that program employees were allegedly submitting false meal counts to the state, claiming reimbursement for meals served to adults, charging recreational activities to the state, and claiming more meals than were needed.

“There have been repeated warnings to the city with regard to sack lunch programs,” Stone said. “Eventually, there has to be some degree of accountability with this program.”

The Fresno Unified School District has agreed to take over serving meals at some sites, but it is not known how soon that will begin, said Janice Hunt, manager of the state’s summer food services program.