Osseo expands summer meals to 43 sites, officials say program doubled reach since 2019
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Summary
District nutrition staff detailed this year’s summer food service: 43 sites (including three new sites), partnerships with Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, and stricter Minnesota Department of Education rules on serving times and meal accountability.
The Osseo School Board on June 24 heard a presentation on the district’s summer food service program, which nutrition staff said now serves 43 sites across the district and nearby communities and has more than doubled meal service since 2019.
Nutrition staff said the program operates at district-driven sites (scholar programs such as Kidstop and credit recovery) and at community sites through partnerships with Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center. Jeff, director of food and nutrition services, told the board the district has focused on expanding community partnerships and “going to where the kids are” to increase access.
The presentation said the district serves meals at 14 ISD sites for district programming and maintains eight ISD sites designated as open sites, meaning community children can eat there during posted serving times. With Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center partners, staff reported 15 park sites, five camp sites and six apartment complexes on this year’s route. The district also supports Salvation Army camps and partners with outside programs such as I Strive and District 287.
Melanie Gates, a nutrition services coordinator, explained how summer service differs from the school-year program: serving times must be reported to the Minnesota Department of Education and staff cannot claim reimbursement for meals given outside the approved windows. She said the district must keep daily paper meal-count sheets for every meal, for each site, and retain those records on site for three years in case of audit.
Staff summarized program growth using district data: in summer 2019 the district recorded about 25,000 breakfasts, 29,000 lunches and 1,700 dinners (roughly 57,000 meals total). Last summer the district reported about 27,000 breakfasts, 45,000 lunches and 7,800 snacks (just over 80,000 meals). Presenters said 43 sites this year include three new locations and that most summer staff are district employees drawn from the nutrition team and the on-call substitute pool.
Staff described other program requirements: civil-rights training for all staff and partners, notification to the Brooklyn Park and Hennepin County health departments of meal sites, and pre-operational and follow-up site visits (some sites are visited three times during a short program). The district also expects to roll out a food truck that is “not mobile yet” but intended to expand meal distribution options.
Board members thanked staff for the strategic approach and the program’s culturally responsive menus. Jeff and coordinators urged families to check district279.org/summermeals for site lists and serving times; staff reiterated that all meals must be eaten on-site under state summer-food rules.
District contact: district279.org/summermeals for site lists and times.
