Parent tells Grand Forks School Board to fund meals as SNAP benefits pause Nov. 1

Amanda Fackler, a clinical social worker and parent, urged the Grand Forks School Board on Oct. 27 to allocate district funding and to press city leaders to ensure students do not lose access to meals when Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits pause Nov. 1.

"On November 1, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program grama as SNAP will pause," Fackler said, arguing the pause would cut benefits for families in Grand Forks. She told the board that "about 10 percent of Grand Forks population receive SNAP benefits" and that "2700 of those individuals are children under the age of 18," which she said means roughly "36% of the students attending Grand Forks public schools from grades K through 12 receive SNAP benefits." Fackler added: "In less than 1 week, 2,700 of our students, our children in our neighborhoods, will go hungry."

Fackler asked the board to allocate funding so those children continue to receive free and reduced-price lunches and meals to take home in the evenings and on weekends. She provided a budget estimate, saying that "based on the current USDA max allocation for each meal, for free breakfast and lunches of 65¢ per meal, it would cost approximately $100,000 to ensure the 2,700 children in our community do not go hungry." She noted the city budget is "$229,000,000" and framed the request as representing under 0.1% of that figure.

Fackler also requested the board issue "a statement outlining how you intend to ensure a supportive environment in which all students have access to a quality education and the support they need, including nutritional assistance during a time when families are being denied the life saving benefits of SNAP." The chair thanked Fackler and said he expected to hear a response soon from the district and the city.

No board action on Fackler's request occurred the same night; the meeting moved on to the retreat recap and other agenda items.