Wendy Wire, the district’s director of Nutrition Services, told the board on July 31 that Bellevue served about 1,470,000 lunches last year — roughly 8,200 lunches per day — a 10% increase from the prior year and about 20% growth over two years. Breakfast participation increased approximately 25%, adding an estimated 250 students daily, she said.

Wire said the district doubled the number of schools offering no-cost meals to all students at several locations this year, which contributed to participation gains. She told the board that while federal and state funding covers meals for students who qualify, the district is required by state law to provide a meal to any student who requests one; unpaid purchases become a charge on the student meal account.

By the end of the year the district had more than $40,000 in unpaid meal debt on active student accounts affecting roughly 1,000 students, Wire said. Bellevue LifeSpring, a local nonprofit that provides grocery vouchers and other supports, donated $45,000 to Nutrition Services to eliminate the outstanding charges. Wire asked the board and community to join in thanking Bellevue LifeSpring and its executive director, Jennifer Fisher, for the contribution.

A board member said erasing the debt was an "easy decision" for the board and consistent with district goals to end hunger and homelessness among students. The board’s public acknowledgement indicates the district will apply the donation to clear outstanding student meal debts, allowing families to start the next school year without meal-account charges.

Context: Nutrition Services said participation growth is related to menu changes, expanded no-cost meal programs at specified schools, and general outreach. The district said unpaid meal debt can cause stress for families and that community donations and graduating families’ unused account funds historically help reduce outstanding balances. Nutrition Services said the $45,000 gift will cover the unpaid balances referenced in the presentation.

Provenance: District Nutrition Services presentation during the superintendent update included participation metrics and the report of Bellevue LifeSpring’s $45,000 donation to pay off student meal debt.