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State Board Adopts Rule Change to Give Local Schools More Flexibility in Child Nutrition Staffing
Summary
The Alabama State Board of Education on Nov. 13 adopted an amendment to the Alabama Administrative Code (290-080-030-.05) allowing broader local flexibility in qualifying school-based child nutrition program personnel after federal rule changes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Board staff described the change as years in the making and intended to help rural districts recruit managers.
The Alabama State Board of Education on Nov. 13 voted unanimously to adopt an amendment to the Alabama Administrative Code (290-080-030-.05) that changes qualification requirements for school-based child nutrition program personnel.
Board members moved and seconded the measure during the meeting and approved it by voice vote. The change follows an update from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2025 that relaxed federal qualifications and gave states more flexibility, the board heard.
Mister MacKenzie, who delivered the staff report, said the rule revision was the product of years of work and was intended to address staffing shortages, particularly in rural districts. "If we're gonna have more flexibility, we're gonna be responsive to our local superintendents and school boards and give them more flexibility," MacKenzie said, describing how the state picked up the federal changes and updated the state rule accordingly.
MacKenzie told the board that previous federal qualification standards limited the pool of eligible candidates for child nutrition management positions in some districts and that the 2025 USDA change allowed states to modify those requirements. "So the adoption of this rule does that and it allows more people to enter the pool of who could be child nutrition program directors," he said.
The board did not record individual vote tallies on the motion beyond noting the vote was unanimous. No public speakers were signed up to address the rule change at the meeting, and staff indicated there were no separate legal items to report this month.
The rule amendment is listed in the meeting materials as Alabama Administrative Code 290-080-030-.05 and was described at the meeting as updating state regulations to align with federal flexibility and local needs. Board members were told the change is intended to help districts fill management roles and to support continued child nutrition operations across the state.
The board completed its other routine business and recognized multiple schools for Advanced Placement and inclusion efforts before adjourning.
