District plans summer meal bulk-distribution to improve participation; eligibility may change after this year

District nutrition staff told trustees they will run the summer food service program during the district’s summer-school weeks and add a weekly bulk distribution option at one low-use site to improve participation and reduce program losses.

Char Boyd, the district’s nutrition services director, told the board the program will again offer congregate breakfast and lunch at the middle school and non-congregate pickup at Timberlake and Apple sites. Because participation at Apple Elementary was extremely low last year, staff recommended moving Apple to a weekly bulk distribution model in which families sign up in advance (via a simple form or QR code) and pick up a week’s worth of meals at a designated time.

Boyd said Minidoka School District shared program materials and a bulk-distribution template the district will adapt. The district noted Timberlake — which hosts summer school Monday–Thursday — saw higher participation and will continue a hybrid model that supports students attending classes and provides take-home meals for weekends.

Eligibility and funding: Nutrition staff said district census and free-and-reduced data suggest this may be the final year the district is eligible to offer fully free summer meals under the current federal/state mechanism; future summers could require use of the paid/free/reduced-tiered model or closed-site rules restricted to enrolled students.

Why it matters: Low participation can make congregate meal sites financially unsustainable; bulk distribution aims to serve families while reducing program losses. Changes in eligibility would change whether the district can offer universally free summer meals in future years.

What’s next: Nutrition staff will provide participation data to the board in the next financial follow-up and finalize outreach materials to publicize the new weekly sign-up option.