[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6274453,"mediaKeyId","2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc","parentId",2990389,"title","Boston Public Schools outlines menu changes, local procurement losses and plans to reduce meal waste","audioSeconds",2608,"startMs",476000,"endMs",3084000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc&start=476&end=3084","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc/thumbnail_476000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6274453/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/Boston-Public-Schools-outlines-menu-changes-local-procurement-losses-and-plans-to-reduce-meal-waste","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274453-715cf63817d31c843f2824281a00c3f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123233&Signature=T0BJLHstKVyxXTzJA-qChb9xAx3qIUdwCK3858u7u6-5f~MmOBLby4bIbzHGMvo0LOEYetanmS2mqjY-~isAPZm8PqEfMaK4kykbCH5EFzXwbufqXTdVj~JG8ufgGHoc8IXIVTL1njVH8HorzjXnOjkPwUZxbjwvaLRW5tICw-MbT9xnmWq-GSY5Aum7coSwUcdAuQHwzzBEcCaBr6aWcOl57e7cowN7LupZ0Hekv-iXUVglxpT~hP3-XQNsT~dONiv-vsjqXtDhuAiTrw5odk~qUM2olESiR9pxINkzXO~L4XLEroB1eF3HKXRqRuQjCxLKYNcJTRRyj2znuPV~PQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Boston City, MA","date","2025-04-15T00:21:26Z","article","Boston Public Schools officials told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14 that the district serves tens of thousands of meals daily, is expanding culturally specific menu options and is working toward greater in-house food production after a recent federal funding change.

The district said food and nutrition services (FNS) currently offers breakfast, lunch and an after-school meal free to all students, and provides summer meals for people under age 18. Staff said the department also runs student-facing programs to collect menu feedback and to source culturally representative foods from local producers.

Why it matters: School meals are a daily touchpoint for most BPS students and affect nutrition, school participation and local food economies. The district framed menu changes and procurement decisions as efforts to keep meals appealing while balancing newly constrained resources.

BPS staff described several steps to increase student voice and cultural relevance. \"We have our chef team goes out to our schools every week and does a chef in the dining room event where they interact with students, taste test new items, and also get their feedback,\" said Annalise (food services chef/manager). The district also holds two \"global food choice\" days each year when students vote on options to be served systemwide.

Tiana, director of Food and Nutrition Services, told the committee: \"We currently are offering breakfast and lunch and an after school meal that's free to all students.\" Staff also described a pilot of nondairy beverage options and menu items sourced from Asian American producers to mark Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

Budget and procurement changes: Officials said a planned federal grant for local food purchases did not arrive, costing an expected $250,000–$350,000. The panel described menu and procurement adjustments intended to preserve relationships with local producers despite the loss. Staff said they currently purchase about 16% of food locally and are working toward a 20% target.

\"Because it's been so important to us to support our local producers and they have literally scaled up and built their businesses around serving Boston students, we knew that we had to figure out how we could maintain those relationships, even without the additional funds,\" a food services official told the committee.

Waste, scale and production plans: District staff said they are cooking on-site at a growing number of schools (reported as 105 sites with a goal of all 108 school kitchens by year-end) and that expanding in-house production will give the district more control over ordering and portioning. Officials said that, while participants first cited a 46,000 meals-per-day figure, the total is roughly 50,000 meals daily when breakfast, lunch and dinner across sites are added; the committee heard both figures during the hearing.

Staff acknowledged they have not yet completed district-wide food-waste studies but said reducing waste is a future operational priority once on-site cooking is fully ramped. The district also described share-basket programs to redistribute unopened or extra packaged items and said central office staff check share-basket usage during site visits.

Other supports and partnerships: Committee members and staff discussed Katie's Closet — a school-based pantry program present in roughly 50–60 schools — and community food hubs that distribute millions of meals annually. City Fresh remains a contracted vendor while the district builds its central kitchen capacity; BPS officials said the central kitchen build-out will be incremental and contingent on construction funding.

What comes next: Officials said the district will continue to report operational changes to the council and plan to phase in additional in-house production and central-kitchen capacity when funding and construction allow.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ways & Means FY26 Budget - BPS Enrichment on April 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Boston Public Schools officials told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14 that the district serves tens of thousands of meals daily, is expanding culturally specific menu options and is working toward greater in-house food production after a recent federal funding change.","taxTitle","Boston City, Suffolk County, Massachusetts","taxId",3381,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6274433,"BPS details athletics funding per student, expands swim programs and outlines White Stadium access plan",7417,378000,7795000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc&start=378&end=7795","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc/thumbnail_378000.jpg","/articles/6274433/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/BPS-details-athletics-funding-per-student-expands-swim-programs-and-outlines-White-Stadium-access-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274433-01f3272efb85fefbd19fdfba9c024b2c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123233&Signature=Rf9JfVY886h7kMBNqE-tTbvjDokRVnjimYdL1NkOvhRg3v6gGN8fd7Yzh-NlqhfeY6Ms0SsnQ4u~hwKWkVSRw0uTbrKPGl1WM2oy2yztIxDzDjmwfAhdlOJT8-w7hz6dkdb7GdvDy~Y3co7V~xs7KHW6cqGEJpglhsgxBTPiDqn~HJk4Bv7yOKIT0uSXgdasbk3BYRyqO3zlmpIdhpOlOnbYTtzh0~iwCp5chL3htnxWae97c7zRWvwaQmnUeAOBKpd3W~9FNXogvTpRoynWueKj4cS0F273C-DGGn3I6Kc934kvVbSyu0~PH131bdZD93H3r-uajtltGXWUtG-9Vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston Public Schools officials told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14 that the FY26 budget maintains and modestly increases athletics funding, is expanding district swim programming and has contingency plans to preserve student access during White Stadium renovations.

Why it matters: Athletics and facilities influence student opportunities, after-school engagement and safety. Council members raised questions about per-student athletics spending, pool staffing and future use of White Stadium.

Spending and participation: Councilors were given a headline figure of \"just over $100 per student\" for athletics operating expenditures in the current year; officials cautioned that operating figures exclude capital projects such as White Stadium improvements. Staff noted that comparisons with other districts can be misleading because of scale, parental contributions in some districts and different capital-operating splits.

Swimming and pools: The district said it is expanding swim instruction and staffing at pool sites. Officials described an assessment of pool conditions and the creation of a staffing model that will provide a three-person swim-instruction team at a number of pools next year and funding for schools to staff to required models. Earlier in the hearing the presentation listed seven schools selected for expanded swimming programs and noted central funding for pool maintenance.

White Stadium and access concerns: Councilors raised questions about White Stadium's remodeling and whether neighborhood students will retain access. BPS athletics staff said they planned shifts of programs to alternative facilities during construction so teams could continue practice and competition. The athletics office told councilors that the district has negotiated majority or increased use for BPS students in the new schedule and that a separate building on the site will support BPS-run programming. Staff said they will monitor usage and work with city partners and the professional-soccer tenant to protect student access.

Safety and training: BPS said it maintains AEDs in schools and provides CPR training to safety specialists and coaches; the district monitors AED maintenance and trains staff in coordination with city emergency services.

What comes next: Officials said they will continue to track per-athlete spending, monitor pool staffing and keep the council informed about White Stadium scheduling during construction and after re-opening.","BPS officials said athletics spending is \"just over $100 per student,\" are expanding swim programs at seven schools with a staffing model, and said White Stadium renovation will include protections to preserve or expand student access during construction and after completion.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6274438,"BPS proposes library hires, expands arts and music access; digital collections and partner grants play key roles",3815,422000,4237000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc&start=422&end=4237","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc/thumbnail_422000.jpg","/articles/6274438/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/BPS-proposes-library-hires-expands-arts-and-music-access-digital-collections-and-partner-grants-play-key-roles","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274438-64bf0fa7e8559fe44f5a4c63edf76612/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123233&Signature=VEjuJygreH-fhsH2rPzIydBoAFbbTKWbuVts-cu6LeO97r~atVirQUUMOM3NI-c9qmGK4pO2Sn8iP36Oe-r7WIprLD6DdZpMIClxmo40sCoIje7dmv7LeRcVA93Su5PZWYTluZG1OkuXHv3FfVkynAFVhX-W1uiX5RG7S--llA1HDt-MkNv1CQJn0~DZ7r6wHDnESL1BC4nLKYmqx80IQdpPcVaHOOJQEN4a-vEGdQ5ZToVivPcBpv8ynpar1yBlZifNmsels5ZTJ8ZG6GvlOuHNs3ygp9WwSeMhAMtjMfPcOjHRBHx6TpDOmXYR7FFFmE-KzSmNKAwL2Wq-tRneFw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston Public Schools officials told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14 that the FY26 budget proposal includes additional librarian positions, continued arts expansion and investments to expand students' access to music and other arts.

Why it matters: Libraries and arts programming play a role in literacy, student engagement and equitable access to enrichment; the district described targeted, data-driven additions as part of the FY26 funding plan.

Officials said five additional schools will receive district-funded library positions this year, building on an initial three schools named in an earlier draft. The district described criteria for selection that include book-circulation rates, use of digital platforms (Sora and Gale) and opportunity-index ratings.

Tony (library services) told the committee the district has grown from roughly 34 libraries to about 73 systemwide and is visiting schools without libraries to assess space and staffing needs. He also discussed an in-house librarian-certification program to address a shortage of certified librarians.

In arts and music, officials described sustained growth since the Arts Expansion Initiative began in 2009. The district reported that elementary students receiving once-weekly arts rose from about 60% to 98% and twice-weekly arts to about 73% in K–8. At the high-school level, the district said a three-years-ago investment of 24 positions increased arts-course-taking among graduates from about 50% to roughly 80%.

Partners and grants: Officials cited grant partnerships — including EdVestors and the Massachusetts Cultural Council's Creative Schools Grant — that provide hundreds of thousands of dollars to creative youth-development organizations. These partnerships provide supplemental instruction and creative learning opportunities not available at every school.

Digital access and book circulation: Staff said BPS uses Sora, an online digital book and audiobook platform, to supplement physical collections and that Sora's catalog expands daily. The district also operates a per-pupil allocation for new physical-circulation purchases at schools with libraries.

What comes next: District staff said they will continue assessments of library space and staffing, expand partnerships for arts instruction and monitor high-school scheduling changes to increase arts access where needed.","Officials said the FY26 budget adds district-funded library positions at five more schools, expands twice-weekly elementary arts access and reported growth in students graduating with a year of arts. The district also highlighted digital platform Sora and partner grants that support arts programming.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6274443,"BPS expands restorative-practices teams and substance-counseling access as vaping and social-media issues rise",0,5215000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc&start=5215&end=5215","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc/thumbnail_5215000.jpg","/articles/6274443/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/BPS-expands-restorative-practices-teams-and-substance-counseling-access-as-vaping-and-social-media-issues-rise","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274443-21bd459ffe42afd910c4662bf02cb23d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123233&Signature=Ngi2FmKnYrpcmEecmz8SzVc7PpttAOje-IOyFS7imFSPg4arApZosV0ZnKA60gyuNIKATrW638juDc~B454Cn7CaXsARVateSjtPK8FmbxfNNm5H69VSQSAoGUiVvsk~9hYV~ycHupgToJAfYhP1~ucADQOuNNEXrEzPtffbhOtyHOh6Yu7yHbRfuxhsPChHzzAnmKH5ToiwDpS~fEt-9MnG6QLf9w5a7oO0v0XuMSI5z62wA9Ivf61xCxTrswexRuMpwULUsyXtXMBjaF1sVnyCf0oJ3h8G8eflzQXkcU2vogltSSR5bnjm135PpUqmhRjhF7RBa3s55CezVhu1lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston Public Schools officials told the Boston City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14 that the district has increased investments in restorative practices, school-based substance counseling and social-emotional learning to address student mental health, vaping and the classroom effects of cell-phone use.

Why it matters: Mental-health supports and discipline approaches shape school climate, student safety and long-term academic outcomes. The district described prevention-focused, restorative models and clinical partnerships as central to its FY26 approach.

BPS said it has embedded restorative-practices staff within regional networks so coaches can build school capacity and respond to crises. \"We made it a deliberate decision to add the restorative practice coaches, which we call the RSAs, into the regional networks so that every network has one,\" said Corey McCarthy, chief of student support. He said restorative practices are used to reduce punitive discipline and to provide circles and peer mediation when community harm occurs.

On substance use and vaping, officials said the district shifted away from punishment toward counseling: incidents involving vaping or suspected substance use trigger referral to a regional substance counselor for immediate support rather than automatic exclusion. \"It's not about punishing the student, it's about supporting the student,\" a district official said.

Officials also discussed rising concerns about cell-phone use during emergencies and everyday school life. BPS said it is supporting a mix of school-level policies and technologies — including Yonder pouches in about 50 schools — and is encouraging local buy-in from students, families and staff. The superintendent described the district's communications protocol during emergencies: officials aim to provide correct information as quickly as possible but acknowledged that students' cell phones and outside media can spread information faster than district channels.

What comes next: BPS plans to continue training and expand restorative-practices capacity over multiple years, hold a restorative-practices conference next year, and monitor outcomes for referrals to substance counselors. District staff said they will also pursue increased family engagement about vaping and social-media effects and continue to pilot device-management solutions at willing schools.

","During a budget hearing, BPS leaders described a districtwide push to add restorative-practices staff, place substance counselors in regional networks and use school-based approaches to address vaping and social-media harms. Officials said the strategy emphasizes support over punishment.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6274448,"BPS: about 5,000 students estimated unhoused; schools rely on social workers and resource network",170,1318000,1488000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc&start=1318&end=1488","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990389-a952c840fa2786c169f7246273c23fcc/thumbnail_1318000.jpg","/articles/6274448/Boston-City/Suffolk-County/Massachusetts/BPS-about-5000-students-estimated-unhoused-schools-rely-on-social-workers-and-resource-network","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6274448-ce149d9076a33d5bd65ee8c59058daf2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771123233&Signature=olnkVj~EdX0IJixY2LfWABEuS4~PG8tfFSdpl8GmUSeS~EqlqnLCC0bYiAw3YavE1GK0AMRM6o1uf3J2eXwTZLQhzrMgzYg-EnHWL5di4C0wCe3I5NFfhJtJ8Jt74ieJmSApJHWi-D8XaQWytNkt7je1zSeN3~IEdbl-XkI58UI1UFWj~TzJr6XfBJrg2-QOwKfpQJDCM0g~SRsGXnRtLfdpUh1nTwz1UP8a0Hha5fUrS0rm8KsRiXBMJ-Lp7wKJaX7EaF8D7jhc43BUIBqmsNhnIs6~uMRqgWerLNxpSyJ2cZgjeFlm5ChNkEyPlA~nBKQ77epA~VrPvbjNzG2lLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Boston Public Schools officials told the City Council Committee on Ways and Means on April 14 that the district is responding to a significant increase in students experiencing housing instability and detailed how school-based teams, regional networks and community partners coordinate short- and long-term support.

Why it matters: Students without stable housing face barriers to attendance, learning and health; the district presented its response systems as part of the FY26 budget hearing on health, wellness and wraparound services.

BPS officials said they estimate roughly 5,000 students are experiencing homelessness — a sharp increase from prior years — and described an integrated approach that begins at the school level with student-support teams. \"The student support school based team, they typically, receive that information. We triage from there,\" said Corey McCarthy, chief of student support. He outlined how triage connects schools to the Homelessness Education Resource Network (HERN), housing vouchers and clinical partners when needed.

Superintendent Sam DePina (spelled in testimony several ways) told the committee the district tries to work with the entire family system and emphasized social workers in every building: those staff often are the first to spot issues such as clothing deterioration or regular absences and then activate city and nonprofit supports.

Officials said the district is also working to operationalize supports for older students, including 18-year-olds who may be separated from guardians and need immediate housing solutions. \"By then, it becomes like a serious tier 3, tier 4 case where we have to get that student housed, short term and long term,\" McCarthy said.

District staff referenced partnerships with city agencies and nonprofit organizations including Home for Little Wanderers and other local service providers to place families in temporary or more stable housing. Staff said the district's investments in social workers and a referral network are essential but that the underlying problem is driven by broader economic conditions.

What comes next: BPS said it will present more data and response metrics in follow-up briefings (Brian Marks was mentioned as presenting additional data the next day). Officials told council members they will continue to refine triage procedures and coordinate with city agencies to expand short-term housing resources and long-term stabilization for students and families.

","BPS officials told the council they estimate roughly 5,000 students are experiencing homelessness and described school-based social workers, the Homelessness Education Resource Network and regional triage teams as primary supports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Boston Public Schools outlines menu changes, local procurement losses and plans to reduce meal waste

BPS details athletics funding per student, expands swim programs and outlines White Stadium access plan

BPS proposes library hires, expands arts and music access; digital collections and partner grants play key roles

BPS expands restorative-practices teams and substance-counseling access as vaping and social-media issues rise

BPS: about 5,000 students estimated unhoused; schools rely on social workers and resource network