North Gwinnett News

State Representative Scott Hilton, in partnership with Fulton County Schools, has eliminated student lunch debt for three House District 48 elementary schools ahead of the holiday season. The initiative by Hilton is driven by a desire to alleviate financial strains on families and to combat meal insecurity resulting from unpaid fees.

According to a press release by the Georgia General Assembly, Hilton said, "As the father of three young children, I am on a mission to ease the financial burden on parents ahead of the holidays. As families struggle with record high inflation, I am honored to deliver relief to hardworking Georgians in our community. Students who struggle with food insecurity often wear their financial stress on their sleeves at school. No child should have their breakfast or lunch taken away because parents could not pay. As Vice-Chairman of the House Committee on Education, I believe we must care for the whole student so they are ready to excel in the classroom and beyond. I am excited to know that families will go home for the holidays with zero debt remaining on their student lunch account."

The same press release revealed that Hilton's effort was concentrated on clearing school lunch debt amounting nearly $1,000 for three elementary schools: Northwood Elementary in Roswell, Barnwell Elementary in Johns Creek, and Mimosa Elementary in Roswell, Georgia.

Statements made to X indicate that this news follows Hilton praising Governor Kemp's recent decision to allocate over $100 million for school safety initiatives. These initiatives provide each public school in Georgia with $45,000 annually for infrastructure enhancements or hiring security officers—offering reassurance and flexibility to enhance campus safety. On X, Hilton stated: "I know many parents would love the peace of mind of having a full-time officer on campus - these funds can help deliver that solution."

In another press release by the Georgia General Assembly, it was noted that Hilton represents District 48 which includes parts of Fulton and Gwinnett counties. Elected to the House in 2016 and re-elected in 2022, Hilton currently holds the Vice Chair positions in the Creative Arts & Entertainment and Education committees, while also playing active roles on the Public Health and Urban Affairs committees.