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School nutrition director says USDA delays, rising costs and composting program shape RSU 22 food‑service budget
Summary
Pete Merritt, RSU 22 school nutrition director, reported that USDA commodity delivery delays and rising labor costs are stressing the self‑funded nutrition program; he described a district composting program (≈1,500 lb/week), equipment needs at Weatherby, and a $679,000 fund balance with a state‑mandated $100,000 spend‑down plan.
Pete Merritt, the district’s school nutrition director, told the RSU 22 budget committee that the nutrition program operates on a self‑contained fund and is dealing with late USDA commodity deliveries, rising labor costs and some facility equipment shortfalls.
Merritt said the program receives federal and state reimbursements through the National School Lunch Program, about $113,000 in USDA commodity allocations, and roughly $41,000 from the DOD fresh‑produce program. He said reimbursement rates are approximately $4.75 for lunch and $2.76 for breakfast, and that participation counts (used for budgeting) are measured against enrollment figures.
“Now every student in the school district eats free, breakfast and lunch,” Merritt said, noting the district still asks families to complete free/reduced paperwork because the district’s broader state funding formulas rely on those returns. He explained that while all students receive meals at no charge, the district’s percentage for formal free/reduced reporting remains below CEP thresholds (25%). Staff urged outreach to increase form returns because the district’s eligibility rates affect state support.
Merritt described a trucking‑and‑logistics issue: significant USDA commodity items expected in October arrived late, starting in February, requiring the program to purchase proteins and other items to cover the earlier months. He said the late deliveries will permit use of the commodity goods this fiscal year but some will roll into the next year.
On staffing, Merritt said labor costs rose about 4.75% under the current collective bargaining agreement; the program added a 30‑hour position for two schools and a 24‑hour permanent substitute to provide flexibility across six schools. He reported recent infrastructure fixes (dish machine, sinks) and identified Weatherby as a kitchen with limited cold storage and cooking equipment that needs a small project for additional storage and new equipment.
Merritt also highlighted a districtwide composting program that collects roughly 1,500 pounds of food scraps weekly at all six schools and costs about $4,000 a year; compost returns are used in school gardens. He said the program does not save the department money outright, but shifts some hauling costs off facilities and provides educational value.
On finances, Merritt reported a nutrition fund balance of $679,000 as of July 1 and said the state asked for a $100,000 spend‑down plan because the fund held “a little too much cash on hand.” He said planned equipment and small capital projects should address the state requirement.
Committee members asked for clearer spreadsheets and figures to help advocacy; Merritt and staff agreed to provide follow‑up documents showing the key numbers, savings and what would be required if district funding were reduced.
No formal action was taken on Article 11 at this meeting.
