Child nutrition director reports higher participation, revised budget and local sourcing efforts

The Northfield Public School Board received an update May 12 from Director of Child Nutrition Stephanie Stromi on program participation, local sourcing efforts and proposed budgets for the child nutrition fund.

Stromi said breakfast participation increased about 1 percent and lunch participation increased about 2 percent from September through January, and the department served roughly 65,000 breakfasts and 228,000 lunches in that period. "Research has shown that starting the day with breakfast can really help to enhance the day for our students," she said, noting the district continues to operate under the state's free school-meals program that began last year.

Nut graf: The department reported higher participation that drove higher food and supply costs and prompted a proposed 2025–26 budget the director described as conservative on revenue and responsive to inflation, Buy American requirements and anticipated changes in grant funding.

Details reported: - Menu and local sourcing: The district piloted a "global trends" line at the high school and a "Minnesota Mondays" feature that used locally produced food items. Examples cited included chicken tikka masala, kielbasa, and collaborations with local farms such as Deeply Rooted Farms and Ferndale Farms. - Food-service review: The department completed a state-required USDA review; reviewers commended staff cooperation and how wellness policy elements are implemented in schools. - Budget: Stromi presented a revised 2024–25 child nutrition fund revenue estimate of about $2.8 million (previously proposed at $2.5 million), and said the revised 2024–25 expenditures are higher than originally budgeted because of participation and food-supply costs. The proposed 2025–26 budget shows total expenditures projected near $3.3 million and proposed revenue at about $2.8 million; the director said the revised fund-balance estimate for the current year would drop closer to $781,000 (from an earlier estimate near $817,000). - Federal/state reimbursements and grants: Stromi described the federal reimbursement process and said final state and federal reimbursement rates are not yet known and could change budget outcomes. She also noted a farm-to-school grant funded an oven purchase that reduced equipment needs this year; that funding is not guaranteed for next year. - Buy American and supply pressures: The director described federal "Buy American" requirements and explained that a portion of products (e.g., bananas, some canned fruit) are allowed as exceptions; she said the district tracks domestic sourcing and expects the allowable percentage of non-domestic goods to decline in coming years.

Discussion: Board members asked about how buses and school arrival times affect breakfast access, food-safety and inspection frequency, whether meal-prep (raw proteins) occurs at each level, the reliability of federal and state funding and whether the proposed staff meal and a la carte pricing would change. Stromi said staff meals were proposed to remain at $5 and that the department would revisit a la carte pricing as needed.

Next steps: The revised 2024–25 child nutrition fund budget is scheduled for individual action at the board's May 27 meeting, and the proposed 2025–26 budget for action at the June 9 meeting.