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Student advisory council finalizes community-service seal and warns of state food-funding cuts

2991636 · March 19, 2025

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Summary

Student Advisory Council presented a districtwide seal of community service and told the Chicopee School Committee that a Massachusetts Department of Agriculture cut could remove about $100,000 from Chicopee school food aid, potentially limiting locally sourced food in school lunches.

The Student Advisory Council told the Chicopee School Committee on March 19 that it has finalized a districtwide “seal of community service” that will appear on diplomas for students who meet certification requirements, and asked the committee to support continuing local food partnerships after a state funding cut.

The seal will be rolled out grade-by-grade, the council said, and organizers prepared a flyer and an online portal for students and families to submit service hours. “We have finalized the seal, which will be introduced to the schools by grade level,” the council said during its presentation to the committee.

The council also raised an immediate budget concern: it reported that the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture plans to cut roughly $12.2 million from the state’s local food-for-schools program and said that Chicopee stands to lose about $100,000 in aid. That, the council said, could reduce the district’s ability to buy fresh, locally sourced ingredients. The council asked the school committee and city council to explore ways to support the food services program if the federal and state funding is not replaced.

Director of food services Melanie Wilk joined the student presenters and was thanked for her work on meal quality and menu choices. The council said Wilk helped organize a tasting event at Chicopee High School and continues to explore ways to expand hot-lunch options.

The presentation closed with an invitation to the committee to attend a tasting of lemon pepper chicken at Chicopee High School, which the student council said is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. the next day and is limited to committee members and invited guests.

The council asked the district and city to consider contingency plans should the state or federal support not be available, noting the potential effect on both local farmers and student meal options.