Poverty Level in Port Jefferson School District on the Rise

Every community no matter how small has to confront the fact that there are children living in poverty within their midst. But numbers just released by the U.S. Census Bureau for poverty rates in school districts nationwide show 's is on the rise, though it still comes in below the average for neighboring towns, the county and New York State.

Out of a population of 1,271 children ages 5 years old to 17 years old in Port Jefferson, 3.5 percent or 45 children live in families in poverty, compared with Suffolk County's child poverty rate of 7 percent and New York State's 18.8 percent.

According Robert Bernstein from the U.S. Census public information office, a family of four making an annual salary of less than $21,954 is typically considered living in poverty.

Port Jefferson faired better than some surrounding school districts. Mount Sinai School District had a 4.3 percent poverty rate while Brookhaven-Comsewogue District was reported to have a poverty rate of 6.4 percent.

In Three Village, 2.8 percent of students were living in poverty, better than Port Jefferson.

The number of children living in poverty in Port Jefferson has been increasing for the past three years. In 2007 there were 35 children in poverty and in 2008 that number increased to 41. Before that, since 2004, the number of children living in poverty had been steadily decreasing. (See chart below.)

"The financial crisis and the economic outlook in the nation have affected many families, even our own," said Maria Rianna, Deputy Superintendent or the . "We are sensitive to that fact."

She said that the district doesn't exclude any children from school activities or events like field trips because of financial need.

"We do our best to support all the children in the district," Rianna said.

That includes the free and reduced lunch program. In Port Jefferson School District, 1 percent of the students take part in the program.

No matter what the economic situation, the responsibility of the district to the students remains the same, according to Rianna, .

"We're here to support our children," she said. "We have a generous and supportive staff. If we're aware of a child, a family or even staff member in need we do our best to support them."

The Mayor of Port Jefferson, Margot Garant, noted the increase in children living in families below the poverty level as a worrisome trend.

"I'm concerned that the number is increasing," she said.

In Port Jefferson, the Welcome Inn food pantry network helps to feed those families in need. Many churches in town run soup kitchens weekly as a part of the network.

"Welcome Inn serves about 250 meals a week in Port Jefferson," said Barbara Curtis, a volunteer.

She said that the number of meals they serve is going up.

The Village of Port Jefferson has helped out Welcome Inn as well with money for food and transportation.

"We helped the Welcome Inn food pantry this year by giving them $1,000 community development dollars," said Mayor Garant. "We also give support by providing funds to bring people by free taxi cab to the food pantries to eat."

The chart below tracks children aged 5 – 17 in Port Jefferson School District from the U.S. Census Bureau report "2009 Income and Poverty Estimates for All Counties and School Districts."

Year

2008