Unclear back-to-school plans add uncertainty for meal providers - Roll Call

Shelly also stressed that her food program not only feeds children, but is an economic engine for area farmers, food manufacturers and food distributors as they fill her orders for thousands of meals a day. In pre-COVID-19 days, her staff of 400 served 16,000 breakfasts and 23,000 lunches each day. Right now, the school district is doing summer feeding and serving about 10 percent of students with 125 staff working.

In Littleton, Gould, the district’s nutrition director, is part of a task force that will recommend looking at several approaches for the district to reopen in the fall. If enough parents decide they want to continue online education for their children, Gould said her staff will need waivers to continue to deliver meals to designated stops for students rather than serving them on campuses. Her district covers 21 schools and before COVID-19 served more than 5,000 meals a day during the school year.  

For students in classrooms, Gould said her staff would provide meals for children who can pay full price as well as for those who qualify for meals at free and reduced prices. The classroom model might allow Gould to make a la carte sales for snacks like carbonated fruit juice, reduced-fat chips, popcorn and whole-grain cookies.

When the district suspended classes in March, waivers helped her continue meals for children who qualify for subsidized meals but the a la carte sales that comprise 25 percent of her $4 million budget ended.

Gould also would like the waiver for universal free meals, although 18 percent of the students in her district’s lunch program qualified for free or reduced-price meals before COVID-19. She said she has talked with parents who felt secure about their jobs before COVID-19 but now worry about staying employed as the economy recovers from a recession caused by the pandemic.

Let's block ads! (Why?)

"back" - Google News
June 10, 2020 at 06:01PM
https://ift.tt/3feQmV5

Unclear back-to-school plans add uncertainty for meal providers - Roll Call
"back" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2QNOfxc
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update

Bagikan Berita Ini