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Superintendent urges board to keep free student meals through October amid stalled state budget
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Schultz told the Bedford Board of Education the unsettled Michigan budget threatens universal free breakfast and lunch; he recommended the district continue the program through October while awaiting state action, noting an estimated district cost of about $200,000 per month and roughly $2.5 million last year.
Superintendent Dr. Schultz told the board the state of Michigan had not passed a final school budget and that a road‑package dispute has held up state aid. He said he had heard “positive news” and that new floor time had been scheduled in Lansing, but he warned a final outcome was not yet guaranteed and reminded the board of the Oct. 1 deadline for budget action.
“We might see some movement before the October 1 deadline,” Dr. Schultz said, adding that if the budget does not include continued universal free meals the program would revert to eligibility‑based meals and families who do not qualify would resume paying. He said the district has been serving far more meals since universal service began and that continuing the program is a significant cost: “It’s roughly $200,000 a month for that particular cost,” and “it’s almost $2,500,000 for our district for last year.”
Dr. Schultz recommended the board consider authorizing the district to continue providing free breakfast and lunch at least through October, with the expectation the state will include funding and the district would be reimbursed when funds are disbursed. He said continuing through October would likely not require a budget amendment “if we’re not taking anything out of our pocket and we do get reimbursed.”
Board members reacted with a mix of support and skepticism. Griffin said he was “bored with the plan to do the lunches” and doubted it would last more than a month, while Amy Driehorst and others thanked the community and district staff for work that has kept the district fiscally strong. No formal vote on a multi‑month continuation was recorded in this meeting; the superintendent opened the topic for board dialogue and asked the board to consider direction.
The superintendent framed the decision as contingent on state action: if the legislature and governor include universal free meals in the final budget and it is signed, reimbursement would follow; if not, the district faces a local funding decision. The board did not adopt a final policy at this meeting; next steps would include a board discussion and possible action to authorize continuation pending state resolution.
