DETROIT LAKES – Typically there are a couple of hundred pages of student names printed on the free and reduced lunch program list every school year.
“This year, we printed 1,000-plus pages,” Food Service Director Anne Skjold said. “We had some inquiries from families as to why they got a letter of approval.”
The substantial increase began with the U.S. Department of Agriculture offering a pilot program that automatically enrolls students of families that receive Medicaid into the free and reduced lunch program. The pilot program starts during the 2022-2023 school year.
Minnesota was one of the states that threw their hat in to join the pilot program, and one of eight states that were chosen, Skjold said.
The new program does not mean all families are automatically added to the free and reduced lunch program, Skjold explained. Some families in the district receive aid through programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or are foster parents, which are also eligible for the free and reduced lunch program benefits.
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Barbie Porter / Detroit Lakes Tribune
“If a family has not already received a letter of approval for the program, then they should fill out an application,” Skjold said, adding applications are in every school office or can be printed from the food service link on the school website.
Parents with questions or concerns with the free and reduced lunch program should contact Jill Jaeger at (218) 847-2309.
Free lunch for all ends
For the past two years, federal and state government programs have covered the cost of lunches for all students. With free lunch, Skjold saw the average student lunch count spike upwards of 60 percent.
The federal and state-funded program offering free lunches for all school children was not extended and expired at the end of the last school year.
“I think that will impact the number of students eating school lunch,” she said.
The district offers open campus lunch to students in grades 10-12, but some families opt to have their students bring lunch.
“The average cost of sending lunch with a student is about $4,” Skjold said. “What parents spend by having students buy lunch at school is less than $3.”
While there is no free lunch, students still receive a free breakfast. Skjold explained there are state reimbursements to the school district for breakfasts served. Whatever is not reimbursed, the district pays through the food service fund.
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The food service fund is independent of the school general fund and must operate on its own accord. Therefore, the district agreed a way to benefit those families using the food service would be to put some of the surpluses towards providing all students a breakfast.
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Supply chain not expected to correct itself until 2025
Stocking products for student meals became bumpy last summer, Skjold recalled. It was as if all of a sudden they couldn’t get one item, then another and another.
“It goes in cycles,” she said.
Skjold was told at a food service conference to expect disruptions in the food supply until 2025.
Thankfully, the Detroit Lakes School District has several vendors. Skjold said the vendors are very helpful with providing alternative food options to fill nutritional needs. Still, that means publishing lunch menus for the following week may not happen until Friday afternoon or Saturday morning.
“I want to have it in stock, in the freezer, before I put it on the menu,” she said.
With so much turbulence in the industry, Skjold took time to applaud the district food service staff for being adaptable.
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“They are all rock stars,” she said. “There were frustrating days for all of us, but overall they have been fantastic. It doesn't matter what curveball is thrown, we catch it and move on.”
The staff was also recognized by the state health inspector. The district food service department is checked twice a year. In the most recent review, there was one minor violation that was fixed on the spot.
“A hand washing sign that was taped to the wall had fallen down,” Skjold said, noting that when the sign was noticed, it was picked up and reattached to the wall.
Having such a sparkling clean inspection may impress some districts, but Skjold explained the food service staff in Detroit Lakes takes pride in what they do and are meticulous when it comes to cleaning before, during and after shifts.
Thousands added to free and reduced lunch program in Detroit Lakes - Detroit Lakes Tribune
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