PITTSFORD, N.Y. — Pittsford Central School District officials said on June 17 that they must decide in about two weeks whether to opt into the state’s universal free school meals program for the start of the 2025-26 school year, and they have hired consultants to assess the district’s kitchen capacity and serving lines.

Superintendent Mike Perro said the district received what appears to be final state guidance indicating a district choosing to adopt universal free meals must begin either this September or next September, removing the option to start midyear. “We do not have the luxury of saying we need a couple months to prepare,” he said, adding that the food-service department needs roughly six weeks of lead time to prepare for the next school year.

Why it matters: moving to universal free meals would expand access to school lunches for all students but requires operational capacity, equipment and service-line adjustments across the district’s nine schools and could change meal volumes and staffing needs.

The district sent an online survey to about 6,200 parents and guardians and received roughly 2,500 responses within a week; Perro said a large majority of those respondents favored opting in. In preparation, the board has formed a food-service committee that will meet Thursday; its membership includes four PTSA volunteers, an elementary administrator, a secondary administrator, two food-service leaders, the district communications specialist and the interim assistant superintendent for business. The district expects to add students to the committee soon.

Two consultants who specialize in school food service began site visits the day of the meeting and will continue into the next day to review kitchens, equipment and service lines. Based on the survey, the district anticipates a 25% to 30% increase in lunches served if it opts into universal free meals, and Perro said the consultants will evaluate whether the district’s current infrastructure can accommodate that increase or whether upgrades would be necessary.

Perro said the consultants may conclude the district is prepared, or they may recommend doubling capacity in some kitchens or adding serving lines. He said the board expects to make a final decision about September implementation within one to two weeks and will continue committee and consultant work throughout the school year regardless of the decision.

No formal board vote to opt into universal free meals was taken at the June 17 meeting; the topic remains under active consideration and the board plans additional community engagement and reporting before any final action.