Changes are being made to the school meal program that is being implemented by the Black River Falls School District.
In the past, the school system offered free lunches to each and every one of its pupils. At this point, it has decided to make the decision to stop doing that.
Dr. Shelly Severson, the superintendent of the Black River Falls School District, stated that the district is “looking at a projected loss of between $130 and $200,000 per year.” “That is more than we really believed we could risk,” the speaker said.
The Community Eligibility Program (CEP) was something that the district participated in for the past two years since it began. Free meals were provided to each and every student by the CEP. During the pandemic, the district launched a variety of food programs to assist in providing sustenance to families in the surrounding area. It was able to obtain a substantial refund by means of those initiatives, and the monies obtained from those reimbursements contributed to the financing of the CEP.
In reference to the CEP program, Severson stated that the school is operating at a deficit. “Before each of those years began, we were aware that there would be a loss, and due to the fact that the fund balance was in a healthy state, we determined that the investment was worthwhile.”
However, at this point in time, the school district is unable to continue funding the program.
“Over the course of the previous year, there was a fairly marked increase in the cost of food, and our labor costs continued to rise,” Severson stated. Following a period of three years, the fund balance has experienced a severe degradation.
“We anticipated that we would not be able to provide CEP for an indefinite period of time; however, it was our hope to continue doing so for as long as we could,” said Connie Seiber, who represents the Nutrition Services Supervisor for the Black River Falls School District.
There will be no change to the fact that all kids in the Black River Falls School District will continue to get lunches; the only change is that families who are able to pay for lunches will now be required to pay for them.
Seiber stated that students who are enrolled in the Black River Falls School District will be provided with the option to participate in the free universal breakfast program, and they will be given a second chance. “There will be no child who is hungry during lunchtime.”
According to Severson, families who are concerned about the implementation of the modifications should submit an application for the free and reduced meal program.
According to Severson, “if there is a family that has a specific hardship that free and reduced — they don’t meet the federal definition — we can designate them as free and reduced locally,” he added.
Therefore, lunch will be provided to each and every student, regardless of the financial situation of their families.
“There will be food available, and breakfast will be provided at no cost to anyone,” Severson stated. When there is no lunch available, no one will be denied entry.
Additionally, the Black River Falls School District has an angel fund that people of the community are able to contribute to on their behalf. These money are allocated to senior loans and food balances that are in the negative. If you are interested in making a contribution to that fund, you should contact the district office or the main office of any of the schools in the municipality.
