Board approves 2025–26 school nutrition budget after reporting large participation gains under universal free meals

The Chatham County Schools Board approved the district’s 2025–26 school nutrition budget after administrators detailed participation gains from universal free meals and outlined summer feeding plans.

Miss Smith (School Nutrition) told the board that districtwide breakfast participation rose about 3.6% and lunch participation rose “almost 16%” after universal free meals were provided. High schools showed the largest increases: breakfast participation up about 10% and lunch up about 17% at the high-school level, Smith said. As of the presentation, the district had served about 1,340,000 meals against a year-long goal of 1,500,000; administrators expected summer feeding would help close the gap.

Smith outlined summer plans that include feeding at camps, Boys & Girls Club sites, YMCA locations, and two added mobile-route stops in Siler City and a Food Lion parking lot in Pittsboro. Summer sites will operate five days a week and include open site meal availability, she said.

On costs, Smith said labor and food costs have continued to rise; she requested an increase to next year’s school nutrition budget. Smith told the board the district experienced a roughly $600,000 increase in labor costs from the prior year because more permanent staff were hired (with associated benefits) after a period of heavy reliance on substitutes.

The board moved and seconded approval of the 2025–26 school nutrition budget; the motion carried on a voice vote.

Action: Board approved the 2025–26 School Nutrition Budget as presented.