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Owasso estimates $5.5 million cost to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students after state guidance
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Margaret Coates told the board that providing breakfast and lunch at no charge to every student next year would cost an estimated $5,500,000 and that the district's administrative costs are 3.78% of its budget, below the 5% statutory limit cited by the State Department of Education.
The Owasso superintendent told the board the district has not received formal notification from the Oklahoma State Department of Education but will respond to guidance about providing free school meals next year. Dr. Margaret Coates said district staff estimate that offering breakfast and lunch to every student at no charge would add about $5,500,000 to the district's costs for the coming year.
Coates said the district submitted its budget to the state before the fiscal year began on July 1 and before the State Department of Education's July 7 press release and letter to parents. She also disputed claims in the state communication about administrative spending, saying Owasso's current administrative costs make up 3.78% of the budget, "which falls well below the 5% limit set forth in Oklahoma's state law, title 70, section 18-124." Coates said even eliminating administrative positions would not generate enough revenue to meet the estimated $5.5 million cost.
The district plans to send the board briefing to families with information about free and reduced-price meal applications and encouraged all families to complete applications, even if they are unsure whether they qualify, because some families who are eligible fail to apply.
Discussion only: No board vote on the meal issue was recorded at the meeting; Coates said the district will distribute information to families and continue working with the State Department of Education as guidance evolves.
What programs would be affected: Coates said the district currently uses federal reimbursements and local meal payments to support the Child Nutrition Fund; she noted federal reimbursements were about $2.3 million and locally paid meals about $1.7 million in the prior year, and that Child Nutrition had intentionally spent down fund balance this year.
