Free-lunch lag unkosher: pols

A free-lunch pilot program for Jewish and Muslim city schoolkids with religious dietary restrictions has been plagued by delays, two city elected officials charge.

The chairman of the City Council’s education committee says he plans to grill Department of Education officials at a budget hearing Monday about the taxpayerfunded program for kosher and halal lunches at 10 public schools.

Councilman Mark Treyger (D-Brooklyn) said he’s anxious to learn why the DOE couldn’t get the $1 million program scheduled to start in September off the ground until April.

He said the delays are especially troubling considering the pilot’s goal is gauging interest in making these meals available at all city schools.

Since many Muslim students are now fasting because of Ramadan, which began May 6 and runs through June 4, an accurate accounting might not be possible.

“I insist on finding out how much [funding] has been spent, where the money went, and how many meals have been served,” Treyger said. “The lack of transparency is deeply troubling and unacceptable.”

Brooklyn Councilman Chaim Deutsch secured $1 million for the program and said he inquired about the delays. The DOE attributed some of it to trying to first figure out “how best to avoid bullying” of the students, he said.

But he and Treyger said DOE has repeatedly blown off questions about how the money has been spent.

DOE spokeswoman Miranda Barbot declined to answer specific questions about the program.

“After careful planning, community engagement, and extensive work to ensure food and kitchens meet standards set by these communities, we’re excited this pilot is underway in 10 schools,” she said. “We look forward to evaluating the program.”

About 430,000 students in city public schools are Jewish or Muslim.