Child Nutrition reports rising participation, central kitchen deliveries and concerns about federal verification changes

Gaye Anderson, director of Child Nutrition for Sioux Falls School District 49‑5, told the board that breakfast and lunch participation are up so far this year and described changes intended to improve meal quality and reduce waste.

Anderson said breakfast participation was up about 3.85% compared with the prior school year, serving roughly 4,700 breakfasts per day at the time of the report, and that lunches were up about 1.8% with approximately 15,237 lunches served daily. She said the district is preparing between 10,000 and 11,000 hot meals a day in central facilities and delivering freshly prepared hot food to partner schools in order to improve temperature and quality for students. “When you're doing between 10 and 11,000 hot meals a day in a central facility, we're able to cook that food later in the morning and shift some of that so we can improve the quality,” Anderson said.

The department has tested a central‑kitchen delivery model at several schools and expanded it so Ben Reifel (Ben Bridal in transcript) and other secondary kitchens prepare hot food for nearby elementary schools; Anderson said the changes have produced warmer food, less waste and more accurate lunch counts. She reported a high average health inspection score last year — “99.99,” she said — and noted the department is working to meet new USDA meal pattern rules that reduce sodium and add limits on added sugars.

Anderson also reviewed free and reduced meal application activity. She said more than 5,200 families had submitted applications online or on paper and that roughly 69 applications were pending. Under the 30‑day reapplication grace period, Anderson said about 1,235 families still had not reapplied as of the report, affecting about 1,800 students; she expected that number to decline before the district’s 30th day (October 3 at the time stated). The district’s free and reduced rate was reported at about 49.7%.

Anderson detailed proposed changes tied to federal legislation that will affect SNAP direct certification and verification requirements for income‑based applications. “We currently only verify 3% of applications,” she said; “if we have to verify 100%, that's a little bit of a daunting thought process.” Anderson and board members discussed the potential need for additional staff or temporary workers to handle verification and noted language barriers and the need to collect pay stubs and other documentation.

Anderson also outlined revisions to the district’s Angel Fund strategy, which pays for meals for families who fall just above income thresholds. She said the district is expanding the income band covered by donors so more students receive free meals as long as funding lasts; the Angel Fund covered 211 students last year and is currently supporting about 336 students in the “Angel Fund free” category. Anderson said the program will be re‑assessed in November or early December to confirm donor funding levels.

A motion to acknowledge the Child Nutrition report passed by voice vote.