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Long Hill starts new school‑lunch program; board notes 10% free/reduced rate will trigger free breakfast
Summary
The Long Hill Township Board of Education reviewed the first week of the district’s new lunch program, reported strong volunteer support and early participation, and heard that the free/reduced lunch rate has reached 10%, a threshold that requires the district to offer a free breakfast program within a year.
The Long Hill Township Board of Education on Sept. 9 heard updates on the district’s newly launched National School Lunch Program and on transportation operations during the opening week.
Board member Melissa reported the lunch rollout drew about 30% participation in week one, assisted by 51 volunteers and newly hired food service aides. "We have 79 free and reduced lunch students," Melissa said, then noted the board’s current accounting places the district at 10% eligible — a level that triggers a required free breakfast program within a year under state rules that expanded eligibility to include many Medicaid recipients.
Why it matters: reaching the 10% free/reduced threshold changes program obligations and may require additional planning and staffing to deliver a daily breakfast to eligible students. Board members discussed the procedural steps the district must take and the timeline for implementing a breakfast program.
Details and rollout issues: the business administrator said food service served roughly 1,000 meals over the district’s first four days (about 250 meals per day) and that staff and vendor meetings produced a short list of operational fixes for October, including menu adjustments and vented food lids to reduce sogginess. The board heard that some items — notably lo mein in early service — were reported by parents as overly soggy when reheated, and administrators plan menu changes to favor steamed items that hold up better.
Transportation and capacity: board members also discussed bus routing and capacity constraints. The finance report noted the district budgeted about $55,000 for subscription busing revenue and now anticipates about $62,000, while a single bus route costs approximately $50,000 to operate. Because several routes are near full capacity, requests for new subscription routes may not be feasible immediately.
What’s next: administrators said they will continue collecting parent feedback through a Google form posted on the district website, adjust menu selections for October, monitor participation and certifications, and prepare for the free‑breakfast planning required by the state threshold.
