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Colton Buck tells board district served about 12,229 breakfasts and 23,981 lunches in October, highlights composting and grab‑and‑go plans
Summary
Buchanan Community Schools’ food‑service presenter reported high participation in school meals (12,229 breakfasts and 23,981 lunches in October), described benefits tied to free meals and federal funding, and outlined initiatives including composting, a reopened deli bar and a grant application for smoothie grab‑and‑go meals.
Colton Buck, presenter for the district’s food service program, told the Buchanan Community Schools Board of Education that the district averaged 12,229 breakfasts and 23,981 lunches in October and that roughly 34.37% of students now take breakfast while more than 70% take lunch.
Buck said families can be eligible either through state direct certification (Medicaid, SNAP or other benefits) or by completing the household income form the district sends each year. She emphasized nonmeal benefits tied to participation, such as EBT access and free college‑application supports, and noted that the state’s policy change two years ago making meals free for all students reduced stigma and increased participation.
The presentation included details about menu and service changes across the district. "We're doing composting at the high school," Buck said, explaining a local farmer collects food scraps, and she described reopening a deli bar at Buchanan High School that offers made‑to‑order sandwiches. Buck also said she "just applied for a grant that would give me a great big gigantic blender to make smoothies at breakfast" as a grab‑and‑go option to boost middle‑school participation. She added the middle school’s breakfast counts rose from about 20 daily to roughly 120 on average.
Board members asked about local sourcing and farm‑to‑school opportunities; Buck said the state is encouraging purchasing from local farms but that procurement rules and the requirement to spend Michigan education dollars within the state can complicate using some nearby out‑of‑state suppliers. She invited board members and families to eat with students and encouraged outreach to increase participation and to help sustain related federal funding.
No board action was taken on the report. The presentation was provided as an informational item; staff said they will continue to pursue grants and local partnerships and bring updates to future meetings.
