District expands summer meals with grab-and-go distribution; registration options offered

The Yankton School District 63-3 will run a summer food program from May 30 through Aug. 1 that includes a grab-and-go meal option, Child Nutrition staff told the board.

Under the plan, the district will distribute meals from the middle school cafeteria on Tuesdays and Fridays between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Tuesday packs will include three breakfasts and three lunches; Friday packs will include four breakfasts and four lunches. The child-nutrition presenter said the summer menu was designed to be eaten cold so children who are unsupervised can still eat safely.

If a child picks up meals personally, no registration is required. Parents who wish to pick up meals for multiple children must complete a one-time registration form available as a Google Doc on the district’s Child Nutrition website; materials will be posted in English and Spanish and promoted on the district Facebook page. The presenter said about 500 children had signed up to participate at the time of the meeting, noting a broader age range from pre-enrolled children to high-school seniors.

The program will partner with community organizations, including the United Way’s “big red bookshelf” and the fire department, which will offer free swim lessons and safety information on Tuesdays. Staff said program participation helps the district secure reimbursement and supports nutrition access for children 18 and under.

Board members asked procedural questions about distribution logistics; staff noted state requirements that meal distribution be recorded to prevent duplicate meals and said they would use tablets for check-in. The board did not take a separate vote on the program at the meeting; the presenter thanked the board for its support.