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Board approves food service evaluation; discussion centers on uncollected meal balances and federal funding uncertainty
Summary
Mister Gilkey presented the food service program evaluation, reporting higher participation and that the program operated ‘‘in the black,’’ while trustees pressed him on negative meal balances (about $33,000 last year; about $48,000 currently). The board approved the evaluation 6–1.
Mister Gilkey presented the food service program evaluation to the EXCELSIOR SPRINGS 40 Board of Education and asked trustees to approve it. The board approved the evaluation; the meeting record shows the motion passed with a tally of 6 in favor and 1 opposed.
Why it matters: The evaluation describes student meal participation, program finances and federal funding dependencies. Food service funds and USDA reimbursements support equipment and programming, and changes in federal policy could affect district operations and eligibility for programs such as community eligibility provision and CACFP.
Findings: Gilkey said district-wide breakfast participation rose about 13 percent and lunch about 8 percent compared with the prior review. He told the board the food service program runs ‘‘in the black’’ after the annual audit, which allows the district to spend food-service-only funds on items such as kitchen equipment and to subsidize meals during testing windows.
Uncollected meal balances: In response to trustee questions, Gilkey reported the district ended the previous year just north of $33,000 in negative meal balances and that the district is currently about $48,000 negative this school year. He said the trend is consistent with what other districts are seeing and that the district is working on creative strategies and community partnerships to reduce balances while ensuring students are fed.
Other program notes: Gilkey described efforts to maximize student access (second-chance breakfasts, grab-and-go options), noted the district has received recognition in county health awards, and recommended an audit of kitchen equipment approaching end of life. He and trustees discussed the decline in free-and-reduced meal application submission at the secondary level compared with elementary, emphasizing that the applications influence not only individual student eligibility but also district revenue streams and program qualification (for example, for CACFP and E-rate eligibility).
Board action: Trustee Darren made the motion to approve the food service program evaluation; Trustee Jill seconded. The motion passed, recorded in the meeting as 6 in favor, 1 opposed.
